Showzam is a vibrant festival that celebrates Circus, Magic, and Variety, and since its debut in 2008, it has grown into a major highlight of Blackpool’s event calendar. It has been on for several years and stopped prior to the COVID epidemic, but it’s back in February 2025. Each year, the festival becomes more ambitious, offering a diverse range of performances that appeal to all ages. For five days, Blackpool is transformed into ‘Circus Town,’ showcasing the very best in international circus and street performances. Over 25,000 visitors flocked to see performers from eleven different countries taking over the streets, stages, and iconic venues such as the Blackpool Winter Gardens, The Blackpool Tower Ballroom, and the town centre.
The festival features an eclectic mix of acts, from a South American circus concert to dinosaurs roaming the streets, a jetpack-wearing roller-skater, and a Swedish duo performing jaw-dropping circus stunts. These, along with many other unexpected acts, kept audiences captivated throughout the event. Thousands gathered to enjoy four days of action-packed, free performances in the opulent surroundings of the Winter Gardens. The Floral Hall, Grand Vestibule, Derham Lounge, and Pavilion Theatre all became stages for stunning circus displays, offering fun and excitement for families.
One of the event’s key highlights was the iconic Blackpool Tower Circus, where the South American circus troupe Circolombia kicked off the festival with a special preview performance on 13th February. The show, which blended incredible circus skills with a live hip-hop soundtrack, was a hit with audiences, with the circus arena packed to capacity for its six-day run. On Valentine’s Day, the Showzam! Carnival Ball turned the Blackpool Tower Ballroom into a spectacular variety stage, featuring performances from festival acts like Barnard, Hicks and Jones, Abigail Collins, Swedish duo Magmanus, and Circolombia. Hosted by Jonny Woo, a London club scene star, the event also featured live music from Portuguese band Kumpania Algazarra and DJs The Broken Hearts, ensuring the dance floor was alive until the early hours.
For those seeking thrills after dark, Showzam also offered three nights of edgy comedy and daring performances. The Canadian duo, Monsters of Schlock, wowed audiences with their death-defying stunts, leaving spectators both horrified and amazed, while Abigail Collins, in her role as Peggy Sued, a former Las Vegas showgirl, entertained with a hilarious, interactive storytelling performance about her ten ex-husbands.
The background image shows ‘Heat the Streets’, a part of the Showzam! festival.
