The council, working with the Arts Council England place partnership funded Creative Blackpool development group, submitted an expression of interest earlier in the year, and has been longlisted by Department of Culture, Media and Sport to submit a larger bid.
The council will receive a £60,000 grant towards creating a scalable bid, ahead of making a full application this summer.
If successful, Blackpool would receive £10m to host a year-long celebration of arts and culture for local people to enjoy, as well as increasing the tourism economy and creating new jobs.
Cllr Lynn Williams, Leader of Blackpool Council, said:
Blackpool’s relationship with culture is full of variety. From Showtown Museum, which celebrates the town’s iconic history, to the Grundy Art Gallery a National Portfolio Organisation presenting contemporary work from national partners alongside talent rooted in Blackpool itself. The town also hosts major international events such as World Dance Championships, through to community led arts and culture programmes delivered in local neighbourhoods.
In addition to the 150th anniversary of the Blackpool Illuminations, 2029 marks 135 years since the opening of The Blackpool Tower and the Blackpool Grand Theatre, while Blackpool Winter Gardens will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2028.
While not technically a city, Blackpool is the 45th largest place in the UK, with a population of 141,500 and a visitor economy valued at £2bn, which meets the bidding criteria for both competitions.
Blackpool has also been developing an Expression of Interest for UK Town of Culture 2028 competition for the 31 March deadline.
The two prestigious national competitions are led by the government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). Whilst UK Town of Culture is a new competition, the City of Culture runs every four years and was previously held in Bradford in 2025. During that year they hosted over 5,000 events for local people and visitors to enjoy., over 75% of which were free. The year involved over 650 local artists and resulted in capital investment for more than 30 local cultural organisations. It also led to increased opportunities for local people to get involved with events, with over 87,000 residents taking part in key projects throughout the year.
The nine longlisted locations are: Blackpool, Inverness-Highland, Ipswich, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Portsmouth, Sheffield, Swindon and Wrexham.
Creative Blackpool
Creative Blackpool has spent the past three years shaping a new Cultural Strategy that sets out a bold vision for 2030: for the town to be recognised as the UK’s Coastal Capital of Creativity. Building on more than 150 years as a national centre of entertainment, the strategy and Place Partnership programme (being delivered until December 2027) aims to harness Blackpool’s vibrant communities, rich cultural heritage and strong creative sector to drive a new era of cultural growth. By bringing together the town’s creative leaders and cross-sector partners, the approach will unlock long-term investment, support world-class artistic production and strengthen Blackpool’s position as an inspiring place to live, work and visit.
Blackpool is entering a major phase of regeneration, underpinned by a £2bn Growth and Prosperity programme and substantial UK government investment. This transformation creates the ideal conditions for culture to play a central role in shaping the town’s future. With new funding enabling a step change in cultural activity, Blackpool is poised to embed creativity into everyday life, building a legacy that is vibrant, inclusive and distinctly its own.
As the town continues its wider renaissance, culture is positioned to drive long-term investment and strengthen community pride — putting it in a strong position to pursue these years of culture opportunities.
Cultural assets in Blackpool
The Blackpool Tower – An iconic venue across the UK, including Blackpool Tower Ballroom, star of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing.
Blackpool Grand Theatre is an iconic Grade II* listed venue designed by Frank Matcham. As an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation, it has won the UK Theatre Award for Excellence in Arts Education and has long established relationships organisations including the Royal Shakespeare Company and Sadler’s Wells Breakin’ Convention. The Grand presents and co-produces world-class performances and champions local talent, with its Chief Executive named in The Stage 100 list for 2026.
Blackpool Winter Gardens – a large complex of theatres, pavilions and rooms, including the Opera House which has seen performances from the world’s greatest entertainers and shows, ever since it opened in 1939.
Comedy Carpet is one of the largest pieces of public art in the country, featuring jokes and catchphrases from 850 comedians and characters across 1,800 square metres on Blackpool Promenade.
Abingdon Studios is a dynamic contemporary visual arts studio and project space located in the heart of Blackpool’s town centre. As the flagship dedicated provider of artist studios in the area, we offer a vital hub for creative talent to thrive, collaborate, and push boundaries. Abingdon Studios is committed to nurturing emerging and established artists, offering a platform for experimentation, innovation, and professional growth.
Aunty Social is a community arts organisation that gives people opportunities to develop their creativity, learn new skills and connect with others through positive arty activities. The organisation coordinates a diverse programme of arts and cultural activities designed to bring people together in a safe, supportive, gentle space.
Showtown Museum, opened in 2024, a new interactive museum exploring Blackpool’s role as the home of entertainment and seaside holidays
Grundy Art Gallery is an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation known for its ambitious programme of contemporary visual art a contemporary art gallery dating back to 1911, which has recently hosted artwork from Grayson Perry and Tracey Emin, and will welcome an original Monet in March 2026.
LeftCoast is an Arts Council Creative People and Places programme. A socially engaged, artistically ambitious arts organisation that works directly with Blackpool’s communities to create meaningful, transformative cultural projects.
Blackpool and the Fylde College plays a significant cultural role in the town, acting as a major hub for creative education, skills development and industry-focused training.
House of Wingz is a Blackpool-based creative collective known for its high-energy street dance, youth development work and community-focused performance projects. It plays a key role in nurturing local talent and shaping the town’s contemporary cultural scene.
The Electric Sunshine Project, founded in 2016, provides workshops, events, projects, performances, and a creative community hub. By utilising the arts as an agent for positive transformation, the initiative seeks to lower barriers for residents to engage with their creativity, fostering critical thinking and self-confidence in an enjoyable environment.
Tramshed Theatre Company produces inclusive theatre throughout the Northwest, ensuring everyone is welcomed and valued. Through workshops, performances, training, and outreach, they break barriers and challenge bias, earning recognition for their community-driven approach and commitment to everyone reaching their full potential.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach and Arena is the United Kingdom’s most popular theme park, attracting over six million guests every year. As a family-run attraction, it features the world’s oldest purpose-built ice rink and hosts Hot Ice, the longest running ice show, where 30 Olympic and world champion skaters unite for an electrifying and spectacular performance bursting with passion, speed, and pure excitement.
Funny Girls is a burlesque cabaret venue established in 1994 by Basil Newby, renowned for its distinguished drag performances. Attracting visitors from far and wide, the show bar operates within the glorious art-deco former Blackpool Odeon, once recognised as the largest original Odeon cinema in the United Kingdom.
Blackpool BID supports a vibrant town-centre cultural scene by backing events, improving public spaces and helping local venues and artists reach wider audiences. Its work strengthens the town centre as an active hub for creativity and community activity.
Blackpool Piers – Blackpool boasts three Victorian piers, North, Central and South, all of which are essential to the town’s Victorian charm and culture.
Blackpool Libraries play a central cultural role in the town, providing inclusive spaces for learning, creativity and community connection.
Lightworks is Blackpool’s specialist illuminations depot and creative production hub, responsible for designing, building and maintaining the world-famous Blackpool Illuminations, now a National Portfolio Organisation.
Cultural events
Blackpool Illuminations – a free light show which predates Edison’s lightbulb and will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2029
Lightpool Festival – a free celebration of light held every October
February Festival of circus and magic – a celebration of magic held every February
Punk Festival - Rebellion Festival is the largest independent punk festival in the UK
International Magic Event - Blackpool Magic Convention — the world’s largest and most prestigious gathering of magicians, held annually at the Winter Gardens.