Blackpool has drawn visitors to its Lancashire seafront for more than 150 years. And in 2026, there is more reason than ever to make the trip. The show calendar is packed, the major attractions are fully open, a brand-new thrill ride is landing at Pleasure Beach, and the town has a string of events running from spring right through to the New Year.
Whether you are planning a day trip, a weekend away, or a longer group holiday, this guide covers everything you need to know to get the most out of trips to Blackpool in 2026. Shows, nightlife, attractions, travel tips, and a straight-talking itinerary to put it all together.
Let’s break it down.
Start Your Trip at Funny Girls: Blackpool’s Best Show
If there is one thing to book before anything else, it is a night at Funny Girls. Running in a restored 1939 Art Deco theater on Dickson Road, this drag cabaret show has been Blackpool’s best-rated live entertainment venue since 1994. The premiere drag show in Blackpool has been running at Funny Girls since 1994.
Funny Girls is rated in the top 10% of attractions worldwide on TripAdvisor and has been voted the number one show in Blackpool for five years straight. With over 35,000 five-star reviews across TripAdvisor, Google, and Facebook, the reputation is not built on hype.
Here is what to expect: a 7pm start seven nights a week, around seven cabaret acts across the evening separated by comedy from a sharp-witted host, lavish costumes, and genuine dance talent from a professionally trained cast. The show is set in the historic 1939 Art Deco Funny Girls Theater, adding charm to every moment.
Tickets start from £10.00 on weeknights and reach £34.00 for premium Saturday seats. Add the three-course pre-show dinner at Garbo’s, the Art Deco restaurant inside the venue, for £29.85 per person. That gives you a complete evening: dinner, drinks, and a two-hour show without leaving the building.
Book at their website and do it early. Saturday nights fill up weeks in advance, and the Summer Show in particular sells fast.
Must-Visit Attractions for Your Blackpool Trip
Blackpool Pleasure Beach
For over 120 years, this 42-acre amusement park has been drawing fun-loving visitors to England’s northwest coast with its roller coasters, family-friendly rides, and immersive shows and events. The 2026 season brings a new addition: Aviktas, a brand-new thrill ride opening at Pleasure Beach this year. The park already holds ten rollercoasters, the most of any UK theme park, including the record-breaking Big One and ICON, the UK’s first double-launch coaster. Blackpool Pleasure Beach features ten rollercoasters, five dark rides, and five water rides. Pre-book tickets to save money and avoid long queues on busy days.
The Blackpool Tower Complex
Perched 380 feet up the Blackpool Tower, the Blackpool Tower Eye has indoor and outdoor observation decks and commands spectacular views. Visitors can soak in the panoramas, stand on the glass SkyWalk above Blackpool Promenade, and enjoy a 4D cinematic journey through Blackpool’s history.
Inside the same building, the Tower Ballroom is one of the most famous dance venues in Britain and the annual filming location for Strictly Come Dancing. Enjoy a delightful afternoon tea in the iconic Blackpool Tower Ballroom, savoring freshly prepared sandwiches, cakes, and scones while relaxing in a stunning historic setting. The Tower Circus, running since 1894, returns for 2026 with a new program from the world-class contemporary variety show High Jinx.
Showtown Museum
Showtown opened on 15 March 2024, filled with artifacts, film, music, and performance. It is immersive, participatory, and inclusive as both a museum and visitor attraction and the first permanent display in a UK public museum relating to circus, magic, variety, and ballroom dance. Tickets cost £9.50 for adults and £4.50 for children. Blackpool residents who pay council tax get free entry. Find Showtown on Bank Hey Street, right next to the Tower.
Sandcastle Waterpark
Sandcastle Waterpark in Blackpool is the UK’s largest indoor waterpark, with 18 slides and attractions, open year-round. Among the slides is Master Blaster, the longest indoor roller coaster waterslide in the world. It also has a spa area for adults who prefer a calmer experience. A solid choice whatever the weather.
The Three Piers
Blackpool is the only British resort with three piers, and each one has a different feel. Central Pier is the go-to for couples and families, with a famous Ferris wheel that offers panoramic views of the coastline and Blackpool Tower. North Pier is the oldest, dating back to the 1860s, and runs a traditional theater program. South Pier has wide open views and a range of adrenaline rides. Walking all three in a day gives you the full Blackpool seafront experience at no entry cost.
Shows and Events in Blackpool 2026
The West End at the Winter Gardens
Blackpool’s Winter Gardens is hosting touring theatre productions in 2026, with announced shows including Fawlty Towers, Mamma Mia, Single White Female, and The Silence of the Lambs. The Strictly Come Dancing – The Professionals tour also calls at the Blackpool Opera House on 30th May 2026.
The Winter Gardens Opera House is one of the UK’s biggest theaters, with a 3,000-seat capacity, and has seen a cast of thousands tread its boards since it first opened in 1939. If you are planning a group trip, Winter Gardens offers group discounts and a dedicated group contact to help tailor the visit.
Rebellion Punk Festival
Rebellion Festivals return to the Winter Gardens in August 2026 to celebrate their 30th anniversary, bringing over 350 bands across eight stages during a four-day event. The 2026 festival runs from 6th to 9th August and marks both 30 years of Rebellion and the 50th anniversary of punk itself, with headliners including The Stranglers, Cock Sparrer, Stiff Little Fingers, and Sham 69. Tickets for the 2026 edition sold out, so keep an eye on the official site for any returned tickets.
Blackpool Air Show
Blackpool Airshow 2026 takes place on Saturday 8th August along Blackpool Promenade, drawing large crowds to the seafront for a free aerial display. It falls during the same week as Rebellion, making early August one of the best weekends of the year to visit if you want a full events calendar.
Blackpool Pride
The Pride Street Party Blackpool takes place on Saturday, 6th June 2026, from midday on Lord Street. It is one of the most attended free events on the Blackpool calendar and sits naturally alongside a night at Funny Girls if you are planning a Pride weekend trip.
The Blackpool Illuminations
Blackpool’s annual Illuminations display will shine nightly from 4th September 2026, covering six miles of traditional festoons, tableaux, and interactive features along the Promenade. Entry is completely free. The display has been running since 1879 and remains one of the most iconic autumn events in the UK. Time your Promenade walk for just after dusk and ride the heritage tram back along the seafront.
Nightlife in Blackpool
Beyond the shows, Blackpool has a lively nightlife scene that suits a range of tastes.
The Winter Gardens complex hosts club nights, tribute acts, and DJ events throughout the year, including an 80s Weekender in September 2026 and regular Northern Soul events in the Tower Ballroom.
Trilogy Nightclub on the Golden Mile runs regular club nights, including the popular DIY AGM event in May 2026 with Dappy, Bad Boy Chiller Crew, and others.
The North Shore area is particularly noted for its fantastic nightlife, with Funny Girls and North Pier among the highlights of the area.
For LGBTQ+ visitors, The Flying Handbag is Blackpool’s purpose-built LGBTQ+ venue, sitting alongside Funny Girls as one of the most inclusive and well-regarded nights out in the town.
Getting to Blackpool: Travel Tips
By Train
The fastest trains to Blackpool take under three hours from London. While there are direct services available, the fastest journeys involve one change at Preston station. You travel on the West Coast Main Line on an Avanti West Coast train from London Euston to Preston and then take a 20-minute train to Blackpool.
From Manchester the journey takes just 1 hour and 20 minutes. Blackpool has three train stations: Blackpool North, Blackpool South, and Blackpool Pleasure Beach. The main station is Blackpool North, and it is a 10-minute walk from the North Pier.
Book tickets in advance to save up to 50% compared to buying on the day. Off-peak travel and Railcard holders get further discounts.
By Car
Blackpool is well connected to the motorway network via the M55, which feeds directly into the town center. Parking is available at multiple sites along the seafront and town center. On busy summer weekends, arriving early or using park-and-ride options saves significant time.
Getting Around
Once you are in Blackpool, most of the major attractions are walkable from the Promenade. The heritage tram line runs the length of the seafront and is one of the most pleasant ways to move between North Shore and South Shore. Buses cover the rest of the town, including routes to Stanley Park and Blackpool Zoo.
A Three-Day Blackpool Trip Itinerary
Here is a practical plan that covers the best of what Blackpool offers in a long weekend.
Day one: Arrive in the afternoon. Check in and walk the Golden Mile from North Pier to South Pier. Book an evening show at Funny Girls, arriving in time for dinner at Garbo’s before the 7pm start.
Day two: Morning at the Tower complex: the Tower Eye, a walk through Showtown, and afternoon tea at the Tower Ballroom. Evening at the Winter Gardens for whatever is on the program.
Day three: Pleasure Beach in the morning. Stanley Park in the afternoon for a walk and a stop at the art deco café. Walk the Promenade at dusk before heading home.
If you visit between September and January, replace the Day Three Promenade walk with an Illuminations walk after dark. The whole experience takes on a different atmosphere once the lights come on.
5 FAQs About Trips to Blackpool
1. When is the best time to visit Blackpool?
September is a strong pick. The illuminations switch on from 4th September; the summer crowds thin out after the school holidays end, and the weather is still reasonable. August is the best choice if you want the full events calendar, with the Air Show on 8th August and Rebellion Festival running 6th to 9th August.
2. How long do you need for a trip to Blackpool?
Two nights covers the main highlights at a comfortable pace. On average, most travelers book two days in Blackpool, finding that enough time to enjoy top attractions like Central Pier, Sandcastle Waterpark, and Blackpool Zoo. Add a third night if you want to take in a second evening show or spend a day at Pleasure Beach without rushing.
3. Is Blackpool good for a group trip or hen do?
It is one of the most popular group trip destinations in the UK. Funny Girls is particularly well-suited to mixed groups and hen parties, with table seating and pre-show dinner options making it a complete evening. The Winter Gardens accommodates large groups across its venues, and Pleasure Beach has group ticket packages.
4. What events are happening in Blackpool in 2026?
The main events are: Blackpool Dance Festival (May), Strictly Come Dancing – The Professionals at the Opera House (May), Blackpool Pride Street Party (June), Blackpool Air Show (August), Rebellion Punk Festival (August), Blackpool Illuminations Switch-On (September), and the Lightpool Festival (October).
5. How do I get to Blackpool from London?
Take an Avanti West Coast train from London Euston to Preston, then switch to a Northern train for the final 20 minutes to Blackpool North. The full journey takes around three hours. Book in advance for the best fares, and use a Railcard if you have one for further savings.
