The Lightpool Festival once again illuminated Blackpool with colour, sound, and creativity, reaffirming its status as one of the UK’s most imaginative seaside destinations. During October 2025’s half-term week, the town came alive with a spectacular programme of large-scale light installations, immersive live performances, and breathtaking 3D projection shows that transformed familiar landmarks into glowing canvases. From the Comedy Carpet to the Winter Gardens, each site offered a unique experience that celebrated the power of art, light, and community. Free for everyone to attend, the festival blended accessibility with innovation, welcoming families, artists, and visitors from across the country to witness Blackpool at its most vibrant.
Now celebrating a decade of creative brilliance, the Lightpool Festival began in 2016 as part of the legendary Blackpool Illuminations. What started as an experimental addition to the lights has since grown into a nationally recognised showcase of contemporary light art, where imagination meets state-of-the-art technology. Over the past ten years, it has featured hundreds of works by both established and emerging artists from around the world. The 2025 edition marked one of its most ambitious yet, with a range of new commissions and collaborations that pushed the boundaries of what light-based art can achieve. Each installation reflected not only artistic talent but also the festival’s ongoing commitment to education, accessibility, and community participation. Every year, the Illuminations team partners with local schools, creative collectives, and artists-in-residence to ensure that the people of Blackpool have a genuine hand in shaping the festival’s dazzling displays.
This year’s festival also highlighted the continued success of Blackpool Illuminations’ National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) status, granted by Arts Council England for the 2023–2026 investment period. As the only light-sector organisation in the Arts Council portfolio, the Illuminations team has used the funding to pioneer new creative methods and strengthen Blackpool’s reputation as a national hub for light art. The 2025 festival benefited directly from this support, which funded a wide range of initiatives including the commissioning of new installations developed in collaboration with British and international artists, the expansion of research and development residencies at the town’s Lightworks creative facility, and the growth of professional development programmes such as LightLab, DigiLab, and SHINE. Together, these projects have built a thriving creative network that nurtures emerging talent and empowers local communities to engage directly with contemporary art and technology.
By the end of 2025, Blackpool had cemented its position as a leading centre for creativity and innovation. The festival acted as a magnet for artists, technologists, universities, and cultural organisations eager to collaborate in this unique coastal setting. Beyond the art itself, Lightpool brought significant benefits to the local economy, drawing thousands of visitors into the town’s restaurants, shops, and attractions, and boosting cultural tourism throughout the region. It also transformed how many people perceive Blackpool — not just as a place of nostalgia and seaside charm, but as a modern, forward-looking town brimming with creative energy.
Looking ahead to 2026, the momentum shows no signs of slowing. Planning is already underway for the next edition of Lightpool Festival, which promises to build on the success of 2025 with even more ambitious installations and partnerships. With ongoing support from Arts Council England and the unwavering enthusiasm of the local community, the festival’s organisers are determined to continue expanding its reach and impact. The vision remains clear: to make Blackpool a global beacon for light-based art and innovation, shining brightly as a symbol of creativity, culture, and collaboration on the UK’s northwest coast.
Text source: Taken from ChatGPT and theirwebsite
Images by © Mitchell Morton
