LIGHTPOOL FESTIVAL • 21-31 OCTOBER 2026

LIGHTPOOL FESTIVAL
21-31 OCTOBER 2026

Lightpool Festival 2021

18-30 October 2021

Lightpool Festival 2021

After last year’s break due to the pandemic, Blackpool’s award-winning Lightpool Festival is back. For 16 nights a myriad of indoor and outdoor spaces will come alive with spectacular large-scale light installations, larger than life projections, music and performance.

This year, through a varied and imaginative programme from national and international artists you can look forward to 16 new artworks, 9 world premieres and one UK premiere, showcasing an unforgettable experience.

It’s 16 nights of pure magic, music and illuminated magnificence – and it is all free!

Lightpool Festival 2021 Art Trail

Digital Playground

A walk-through forest installation of oversized robotic flowers. Reminding us all to take it slowly, breathe and play! As visitors move around, the sculpture will subtly change in mood and appearance.

UK

Brilliance

This light and sound show was the first of its kind in the UK. Based on a continuous ribbon spiralling in and out of the ground, its six metal arches criss-cross Birley Street with custom-designed luminaires.

UK

Blackpool Light Of My Life

Grundy Art Gallery, Blackpool Illuminations and Lightpool Festival are excited to announce a new light art installation by the internationally recognised artist, Chila Kumari Singh Burman

UK

The Nature Takeover

Vines, flowers, fruit, fungus and creatures take over St.Johns Church as it is reclaimed by nature as a large scale, playful, rhythmic projection.

UK

100 Local Lanterns

All ages are invited to take part in a drop-in lantern-decorating workshop at Blackpool’s newest creative venue The Old Electric (Springfield Rd, FY1 1QW) 4-6pm on Mondays during October (4,11,18,25) with artist Janine Walker.

UK

Local Rock

Bringing together his passion for design with his elegant artwork, Laurence Llewellyn-Bowen creates a playful wrapper for this larger than life stick of Blackpool rock. This is LLB at his playful best

UK

Spaceman

Originally designed for the Space Age road section by Alan Cockcroft in 1970. Get up close and personal with a giant interpretation from the famous moon landing over 50 years ago – they’re out of this world!

UK

Aqualux Tour

Driven by an illuminated one-of-a-kind Peterbilt owned by Fox Bros., the artwork will be touring the streets of Blackpool, bringing Lightpool Festival up close and personal to residents and visitors alike

UK

Entwined Light

Entwined Light tells the story of the ever-evolving relationship between the artificial and the natural through the transitional interplay of form and light.

UK

Tardis

A replica of the famous Tardis from the BBC tv series

UK

And Then I Slipped

Slip under the shimmering lights of the waterfall and see where it takes you. idontloveyouanymore’s And Then I Slipped allows you to step into a scene reminiscent of your childhood films, a dreamy space, where anything could happen

UK

Exponential

Exponential is a kaleidoscopic audio responsive installation with an immersive soundscape, surprise reflections and an ever changing swirling core.

UK

Luma

Luma is a huge robot; an 8m long, inflatable snail who loves an audience. She looms above visitors with a presence which is gentle, welcoming and otherworldly. Luma is a joyful and hopeful work which champions both nature and technology, and reimagines what robots can be for.

UK

Stained Glass

Originally part of the Blackpool Illuminations ‘Leaded Lights’ road section, designed by Graham Ogden in 2004

UK

500

At 500 we show you a small part of Britain's most popular resort, as we celebrate four of the town’s glittering venues that have been a mainstay of Blackpool for 125 years each, each with their own film. So grab a deckchair, relax, and enjoy our enviable history.

UK

Illuminate

Blackpool’s Grand Theatre in partnership with the renowned Lightpool Festival create a two-year project ‘Illuminate'

UK

Aqualux

Aqualux - An 8m by 3m creative lighting installation composed of 48 unfilled water containers, which typically hold 1,000 litres of water each, specially adapted to create a stunning light feature.

UK

White Tiger 2021

White Tiger was created to celebrate the launch of the critically-acclaimed film The White Tiger, which is based on the New York Times bestseller and 2008 Man Booker Prize-winning novel of the same name

UK

Tower Projections

Step into a magical world and experience the delightful charm of the Blackpool Tower Projections! Let yourself be captivated by the mesmerising display of lights, colours, and music that will transport you to a whimsical era full of vintage allure and soothing tunes.

UK

Portrait of Self

Portrait of self is a deliberately and stylishly surreal statement that suggests that the self-revelatory image of a self-portrait is not always as honest as it seems.

UK

Power the Tower

Can you pedal hard enough on our specially adapted light up bike, to generate enough power to light up our Blackpool Tower model?

UK

The Moon Folk

This stunning projection follows a group of curious animals on a journey of discovery.

UK

Astral Dreams

Laser-mapped projection show created by Lady Gaga designer, Jack Irving, beamed directly on the front of the Tower nightly - the ambitious light depiction has been inspired by abstract dreams.

UK

Spiro

Spiro is a family friendly immersive walk-through sculptural tunnel of light experience. This 26m long magical experience is made of individually mapped LEDs that allow complex patterns to dance around the audience. Get your camera ready and remember the moment.

UK

Big Bird

What’s 3.5 metres high and made out of ten London taxis? Big Bird of course!

UK

House of Cards

Our House of Cards is a beautiful light art installation that is slick and joyful in the daytime and turns into a fulminant lightshow at night time.

Israel

Lightpool Festival 2021 Events

Illuminated Tram Parade 2022

The Illuminated Tram Parade 2022 will celebrate Blackpool’s unique illuminated tramway history and presents a wonderful opportunity to witness and enjoy Blackpool’s dazzling, historic collection of illuminated tramcars.

Symphony of Light

Symphony of Light fuses music, lasers, artwork, and immersive lighting effects to create an unforgettable live experience.

The Nixies of Oakpool

This interactive story uses animation, puppetry, lights and music to retell how the illuminations really came about! How years ago, a magical oak forest inhabited by multi-coloured Nixies was destroyed by humans and how each year we try to entice them back, but nothing quite compares to a Nixie light show!

Carnival Magic 2021

An exhilarating menagerie of illuminated Carnival will hit the Tower Ballroom for an electrifying static showcase of music, puppetry and dance. Internationally recognised Carnival performers will present a showstopper over 30 minutes, bringing a diverse melting pot of Carnival magic.

Silent Disco

Suitable for all ages – our Silent Disco will have three different music choices playing continuously throughout the night. Catering for all music tastes young and old, you’re bound to find a track you want to dance to!

Lightpool Festival 2021 Engagement

Fit2Glow

Lightpool Festival in partnership with Blackpool Football Club Community Trust are to hold UV Football events for Blackpool Year 2 Primary Schools and Blackpool Academy, during September.

The Nixies of Oakpool

This interactive story uses animation, puppetry, lights and music to retell how the illuminations really came about! How years ago, a magical oak forest inhabited by multi-coloured Nixies was destroyed by humans and how each year we try to entice them back, but nothing quite compares to a Nixie light show!

Lumidogs 2021

We are hosting a series of make & create workshops across Blackpool and inviting dog owners and their pooches to get involved.

Lantern Making

All ages are invited to take part in a drop-in lantern-decorating workshop at Blackpool’s newest creative venue The Old Electric with artist Janine Walker. (Limited places are available)

Illuminate

Blackpool’s Grand Theatre in partnership with the renowned Lightpool Festival create a two-year project ‘Illuminate'

UK

Light Gallery