The world-famous Blackpool Illuminations have been one of the UK’s most enduring visitor attractions for more than a century. And the seafront show remains as compelling as ever thanks to new investment and innovation each year.
2021 welcomed the arrival of some stunning new features and the spectacular season was extended for the second consecutive year, shining over Christmas and New Year. For 2022, expect to see the largest 3D installation ever seen in the annual display.
New features for 2022
Odyssey
Introducing Odyssey, the biggest 3D installation in the Blackpool Illuminations to date. Odyssey has been created by international designer Jack Irving in collaboration with a team of computer scientists from Lancaster University.
Standing almost 10 metres high, the installation comprises six large-scale structures that are combined with state-of-the-art technology to create an immersive and interactive projection show themed on creatures from the deep sea.
Odyssey, which is being built at the Blackpool Illuminations Lightworks factory, will be located on the Tower Festival Headland opposite The Blackpool Tower from 2 September where work is also underway on re-imagining the section of lights along the Golden Mile.
Jack, who grew up in Blackpool and produced costumes for the Hot Ice show at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, has since gone on to specialise in extravagant, wearable art sculptures and has created amazing costume designs for the likes of Lady Gaga.
He and the talented university team created the Odyssey concept in a competition to deliver a new installation for the Illuminations. It attracted designers from all around the world. Look out for further teasers on this incredible project and we cannot wait for you to experience it in person from 2 September.
Blackpool Illuminations sponsors
Thanks to the generous support of our new and returning commercial sponsors and public donations, the world-famous Blackpool Illuminations continues to attract and entertain millions of visitors each year. Here is a list of new and returning sponsors for last year's display.
Comedy Station Comedy Club
The Comedy Station, Blackpool’s longest running comedy club, was a new sponsor of Blackpool Illuminations with a border box presence in the 2021 display.
Partingtons Holiday Parks
Location: Church Street to Talbot Road
We were pleased to welcome Partingtons Holiday Parks as a sponsor in the 2021 display with their blinging display of lights that wowed spectators on foot or in the car.
City Fibre
New for 2021, City Fibre, the UK's largest alternative provider of wholesale fibre network infrastructure, had their very own bespoke road section near Sandcastle Waterpark.
Returning sponsors for last year's display:
We are always proud to welcome back companies and organisations that have supported us financially and operationally over several years.
Access Fylde Coast
Location: Cliffs at North Shore
Showing their informative projection film at the Cliffs, 2021 marked Access Fylde Coast’s second year with Blackpool Illuminations
Affinity
Affinity’s second year with Blackpool Illuminations helped bring awareness to their Fleetwood-based retail park.
Barclaycard
In 2019, the public were encouraged to make cashless donations to support one of the UK’s biggest free attractions. In collaboration with Barclaycard, fast contactless systems were introduced at kiosk collections points at the north and south gateways to the display.
Barclaycard’s support in agreeing a greatly reduced merchant charge enables us to receive the maximum amount of donations to help maintain our fantastic light show. To find out more about donating to help the Lights shine for years to come, please click here.
Beaverbrooks
Location: Balmoral Road to Rawcliffe Street
Beaverbrooks are the longest standing sponsor of Blackpool Illuminations. Following their successful centenary celebration display in 2019, Beaverbrooks road section display lit up again in 2021, consisting of a shimmering show of white lights with a strong focus on diamonds that dazzled the public!
Blackpool Promotions
Returning for a second year, Blackpool Promotions’ border box featured in the 2021 display.
Coral Island
Location: Cliffs at North Shore
Ahoy me hearties! 2020 marked a particularly special year for one of the largest tableaux in the display. Thanks to sponsorship from Coral Island, the Pirate Tableau, a firm family favourite in the Blackpool Illuminations, had undergone a major refurbishment – or should we say had its timbers shivered? The main structural pieces have been rebuilt and the moving parts refurbished, giving them an extra spring of life.
For the second year running, Coral Island was a returning sponsor of the much-loved tableau.
Elgin Hotel
Location: Cliffs at North Shore
2021 marked the fifth year the Elgin Hotel has sponsored the original Fire and Water tableau which had been reimagined thanks to their continued sponsorship.
Fylde Coast Women’s Aid
Fylde Coast Women’s Aid returned for a second year with their border boxes along the Promenade.
Hangar 42 Visitor Centre
Location: Gynn Roundabout
In the 2020 display, one of the replica Spitfires named Holly was placed as the centrepiece at Gynn Roundabout in a touching tribute to the Battle of Britain. The Spitfire was refurbished and converted back into a Mark VB Spitfire by the Illuminations team in collaboration with Blackpool’s aviation museum, Hangar 42. The fighter plane was once again tastefully illuminated with sweeping search lights.
Hikvision UK
In 2020, one of the largest suppliers of surveillance equipment, Hikvision, donated CCTV security equipment to use at the Illuminations donation kiosks and projection units. 2020 was the first year Hikvision has partnered with Blackpool Illuminations and they were back for a second year.
Houndshill Shopping Centre
Location: New Bonny Street to Adelaide Street
Continuing our relationship with Houndshill Shopping Centre for the fourth year running, their stunning road section led the public towards the town centre.
Nickelodeon
Location: Blackpool Pleasure Beach
Nickelodeon returned for another year with their fun road section featuring Spongebob and his pals next to Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
Northern Rail
2021 was Northern's third year with their illuminated arches throughout the display.
Sooty and Friends
To honour the town’s friendship with Sooty, the Illuminations team created some additional features of Sooty, Sweep, Soo and Richard. For the third year running, these appeared across the roadway along the promenade in the form of 3D neon characters.
White Ribbon The White Ribbon’s border boxes returned to this year’s Blackpool Illuminations to raise awareness of domestic abuse.