Blackpool Illuminations Switch-On 2026 - everything you need to know including times and performers
Everything you need to know.
Blackpool is preparing to switch on its famous Illuminations for another season, with Five, The Feeling and Lucy Spraggan among the performers at this year’s free Switch-On event.
The event takes place on Friday, September 4, at the Tower Festival Headland, with BBC Radio 2 presenter and comedian Paddy McGuinness pulling the switch at 9.15pm.
Here is everything you need to know about the 2026 Illuminations...
When is the Switch-On?
The free outdoor Switch-On event takes place on Friday, September 4, at the Tower Festival Headland, directly opposite The Blackpool Tower.
Gates open at 4.30pm, with entertainment beginning at 5.20pm. The Illuminations will be officially switched on at 9.15pm, followed by fireworks from The Blackpool Tower.
The event is being hosted by BBC Radio Lancashire presenters Graham Liver and Sharon Hartley, with regional performers also appearing through BBC Introducing.
Who is performing?
British pop favourites Five will headline the entertainment, with rock quintet The Feeling and singer-songwriter Lucy Spraggan also performing.
The running order is:
4.30pm – Gates open
5.20pm – BBC Introducing
6.15pm – Lucy Spraggan
7.05pm – The Feeling
8.10pm – Five
9.10pm – Switch-On with Paddy McGuinness, ending with Tower fireworks
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How can you guarantee entry?
A public ballot for 20,000 tickets has closed, but people without tickets are still encouraged to visit.
Golden Circle access is also available for £12, plus an administration fee. It guarantees entry to an area at the front of the stage, although tickets are strictly limited.
Is there another way to watch?
For the first time, a dedicated Watch Party will take place inside the Blackpool Tower Ballroom.
The free event will allow residents and visitors to watch the entertainment live on the Ballroom’s big screen before seeing the Illuminations switched on. It will be hosted by Ged Mills, with standing and seated tickets available.
A fully licensed bar and hot and cold food will also be available to purchase.
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Where is it and how do you get there?
The Switch-On Arena is on the Tower Festival Headland, opposite The Blackpool Tower.
Drivers are advised to use the Central Car Park Multi-Storey. Blackpool North station is around a 10-minute walk away, with the arena located just to the left of North Pier when heading towards the Promenade.
What is new in 2026?
New features include illuminated neon sandcastles, a “creatures of the deep” display, a sky forest featuring LED cherry blossom trees and an immersive deep-space display.
Performer Toyah Willcox will also feature in a display telling a story of courage, resilience and self-discovery.
Visitors will have photo opportunities including an oversized seaside postcard and a giant teddy bear inside an illuminated car.
When will the Illuminations be on?
The display will run along the traditional six-mile route from Starr Gate to Red Bank Road until Sunday, November 1.
From Monday, November 2, until Sunday, January 3, the lights will run between Pleasure Beach and Gynn Roundabout as part of the resort’s festive programme.
The lights will be switched on nightly, with times varying as the evenings become darker.
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What safety measures are in place?
Safety barriers will be in place along the Promenade and at the Tower Festival Headland as part of a national approach to improving public safety and security at large-scale events.
The barriers were installed ahead of the Air Show weekend and will remain until mid-October, following the World Fireworks Championship Blackpool.
The arena gates will close during the Switch-On concert.
Why are the Illuminations important to Blackpool?
The Illuminations generated a £300m boost to Blackpool’s economy in 2025. A Blackpool Council report found that two in every five visitors during late summer and autumn came specifically to see the displays.
Council leader Lynn Williams said the resulting footfall “brings real economic impact”, supporting attractions, businesses and venues and creating jobs.
She said: “Investing in the Illuminations isn't a nice-to-have, it's a no-brainer investment in Blackpool's identity, talent, heritage, and future.”
How did the Illuminations begin?
Blackpool’s Illuminations date back more than 140 years to 1879, when the council spent £5,000 experimenting with electric street lighting.
Eight arc lamps were installed on 60ft poles along the seafront. At a time when homes were lit by candles, the lights were described as “artificial sunshine”.
The modern-style display emerged in 1912 for the royal visit of Princess Louise, when around 10,000 lights decorated the Promenade. The First World War then halted the display for 11 years.
The Illuminations returned in 1925, stretching several miles, with all three piers illuminated by 1929. The Second World War brought another interruption, with the lights returning in 1949.
Since the 1950s, the Illuminations have continued without further interruptions. Famous Switch-On guests have included Ken Dodd, David Tennant, Tim Burton, Lucy Fallon, Red Rum and Kermit the Frog.
The display now attracts more than three million visitors each year and has also been extended into the festive season since 2020.