Ticket holders have been told entry to the promenade “is on a first come, first served basis”
Ticket holders for the Blackpool Illuminations switch-on event should be advised their entry is not guaranteed. A disclaimer from VisitBlackpool states more tickets are sold than there are places available to accommodate requests.
Blackpool Illuminations will light up the Lancashire coast with another dazzling switch-on event. This year’s schedule is filled with new attractions, projections and celebrity appearances, with thousands expected to attend the opening spectacle.
The switch-on event precedes the start of the Illuminations season, which has been drawing in millions of visitors each year since 1879. What started as the UK’s first ever public display with eight carbon arc lamps has now grown into six miles of immersive light and art displays.
Blackpool Illuminations’ switch-on event will take place on the evening of Friday August 29. Gates open at 4pm with performances approximately starting from 5.30pm.
Pop superstar Olly Murs will take to the stage on Blackpool’s Tower Festival Headland to deliver an hour-long set before he flicks the switch. Olly will be joined by X Factor winner Louisa Johnson and English rock band Toploader for an evening of live entertainment.
24,000 free tickets were made available on the VisitBlackpool website. There is strictly no admission without a ticket and this applies to all attendees, including young children and carers.
A disclaimer on the VisitBlackpool website states that access will be on a first-come, first-served basis and not everyone may be able to attend.
The disclaimer reads: “Unfortunately, your ticket does not guarantee you entry and you are recommended to be in the arena by 20:15 at the latest.
“Entry after this time may be refused. As tickets are complimentary, people often request more than they need, so we have to issue more tickets than there are places available to allow for this.
“We do consider carefully how many extra tickets to issue, but we recommend that you arrive in good time to be sure that you are not disappointed. Entry into the premises is on a first come, first served basis.”
Anyone without a ticket can still enjoy the show with a live screening zone set up on the Promenade near Central Pier. Screens will broadcast all of the entertainment, including performances and the switch on.
The display will run from August 29 until January 4, 2026. You can see a full run down of display times here.
