St Annes International Kite Festival rated an 'incredible success' as tens of thousands flock to town
Skies were filled with colourful kites galore as visitors flocked from across the country and kite flyers from across the world
St Annes International Kite Festival 2026 has been termed “an incredible success” by Fylde Council after tens of thousands of people flocked to enjoy the event over the weekend.
Kite fliers from as far as Tasmania, along with all over the UK, USA and Europe took part in the Festival, which is a partnership between the council and kite fliers SmileFactor10, with ongoing support from St Annes Town Council.
It attracted visitors from across the country as he skies above St Annes sands were filled with colourful kites of all shapes and sizes on Saturday and Sunday after strong winds hit plans for an evening flight of kites on Friday.
Alongside the Festival, there was also an artisan market in the Promenade Gardens, live music in St Annes Square and a kite art trail involving the town’s shops, new for 2026.
The Saturday also featured an open day at the nearby St Annes RNLI boathouse, which proved a big draw.
A Fylde Council spokesperson said: “Despite challenging weather conditions on Friday night, visitors were treated to two fantastic full days of kite flying, even featuring a Red Arrows flyby on Sunday morning.”