Blackpool Illuminations 2026: All you need to know
Blackpool is set to light up once again in spectacular colour for the annual illuminations – with the switch-on set for 4 September at the Tower Festival Headland.
The free event will be hosted by BBC Radio Lancashire’s Graham Liver and Sharon Hartley. The illuminations run for six miles (9.65km) along the promenade and are on display until Sunday 3 January.
What’s new this year?
New attractions for 2026 include brightly lit neon sandcastles, a “creatures of the deep” display, a sky forest featuring LED cherry blossom trees and an immersive deep space display.
There will also be a display by performer Toyah Willcox telling a story of courage, resilience and self-discovery.
Also expect photo opportunities with attractions including an oversized seaside postcard and the chance to get a selfie with a giant teddy bear inside an illuminated car.
2026 marks the 50th year of Toyah’s career! Her very first professional job, playing the role of Sue in the BBC’s “Second City First” television play, Glitter, aired in November 1976 – having been filmed in 1975.
Dreamscape had the privilege of interviewing Toyah 15 years ago (back in 2011)… “Toyah Talks Music”: We talked to her about rediscovering her early albums in the 30th anniversary year of Anthem, the, just-about-to-happen, From Sheep Farming To Anthem tour, Joel Bogen, her amazing sophomore solo studio album, Desire, and much more.
• Read the interview here. Browse all of Dreamscape’s 2026 Toyah 50 posts.
We had a brilliant – and very sunny – day out in Arbroath & Carnoustie, both beautiful seaside towns on the East Coast of Scotland. Great visits to the beach and harbours of both places, delicious food, and a lot of laughs!
Favourite Singers With Nick Heyward: NOW 80s: Sunday 30th August: 7am
Mr Favourite Shirts is back on NOW 80s – this time he selects his Favourite Singers! Including some who influenced him the most such as David Byrne & XTC’s Andy Partridge.
Carol Decker’s 30 Rock Chicks!: NOW 80s: Tuesday 18th August: 8pm Carol Decker’s 30 Rock Chicks!: NOW Rock: Sunday 23rd August: 5pm
T’Pau’s Carol Decker brings a bit of Heart and Soul to a countdown of ’80s ladies who like to rock! With Joan Jett, Tina Turner, Stevie Nicks and Pat Benatar. (as well as Toyah via the Thunder In The Mountains video).
Toyah, who has did pretty much everything through her 50-year career has come up with something completely innovative and different to anything that’s gone before during that career. She has designed a tableau for Blackpool illuminations. The stunning interactive display is titled “Wishing Star”.
Toyah said: “I am thrilled to be part of this year’s illuminations. As a child I visited Blackpool at Easter time and I was always enthralled by the Promenade and the sea. This memory is so strong, I wanted to create a display of light and story-telling that takes everyone back to their childhood selves, while enjoying the sea, the sky, the stars and the coast. My story is about a child and her guitar meeting new friends who make her stronger while flying over the sea.”
As Toyah’s new studio album, Future Dreaming, is being finalised for release, take a look back – via Dreamscape’s huge news archive – at Toyah’s most recent studio album, Posh Pop.
Upon its release, almost five years ago, the album received great reviews from a number of magazines, there were some great articles published focusing on the album, fan reaction to the release was universally positive too. Toyah filmed videos for every song, and toured the album in late 2021/early 2022.
Toyah wrote and recorded each song almost entirely on her own – with only collaboration and input from Simon Darlow and Bobby Willcox. Toyah also filmed each video and captured all of the associated promo shots/photos with little outside assistance. Amazing!
The album charted at #22 on the Official UK Album Chart. Posh Pop became Toyah’s highest charting studio album since 1982, when The Changeling peaked at #6.
• Revisit the Summer Of Love of 2021 here, and browse all of Dreamscape’s 2026 Toyah 50 posts.
NB. When I look at the huge archive this website has created over the past 26+ years, and the work involved, when I could have not bothered to do any of it, I sometimes wonder why there’s been so much animosity directed at me, and I could name names. It’s just odd, but then it’s been going on for fucking decades now! I guess enthusiasm and positivity is threatening to it’s opposites!!
Dreamscape (Alternate Version) is premiering today, as a standalone video for #ToyahTuesday and the beginning of the countdown to the release of Revelations, after first being shown as part of Toyah At Home (July 2026)…
Toyah’s new B-Sides & Rarities album Revelations is released on 21 August 2026 on 2LP and 5CD Box Set. As we near closer to the album release here is a chance to hear a full preview of an upcoming track from the release. This is a new mix of Dreamscape by Joel Bogen which uses the song’s original arrangement as recorded in the 1983 album sessions at the Marquee Studios.
I’ve just completed the Scotties In The City trail by Maggie’s cancer charity. It took me a few weeks and I visited 40 large scottie dog art sculptures all around Glasgow and some outwith. I absolutely loved it, visited loads of places I haven’t been to for years, saw some amazing art, spoke to some lovely people and all for a great cause. Here are just six from the 40 I visited.
August is upon us and it means a new episode of Toyah At Home. Toyah is at The Mill and shares updates on how the new album is progressing, what’s coming up and there’s a sneak peek at the Revelations B-Sides & Rarities release out on 21 August. Pre-order Revelations at Cherry Red.
Favourite Singers With Nick Heyward: NOW 80s: Sunday 9th August: 7am Favourite Singers With Nick Heyward: NOW 80s: Sunday 16th August: 7am
Mr Favourite Shirts is back on NOW 80s – this time he selects his Favourite Singers! Including some who influenced him the most such as David Byrne & XTC’s Andy Partridge.
Celebrity Fantasy Homes: Really: Monday 10th August: 6am Toyah (Series 2, Episode 2). Celebrities hunt for a new home. Gaby Roslin helps the original punk-pop princess Toyah Willcox search for a second home, in Richmond upon Thames, with a budget of £650,000.
We had a great day in our glorious capital, taking photos on Princes Street with an ace view of Edinburgh Castle, breakfast at The Caley Picture House, a bit of exploring around the city, an absolutely amazing afternoon tea in the gorgeous TigerLily (definitely going back there very soon!), and rounding off a lovely day in Edinburgh’s long-running gay hot spot, CC Blooms. Yet another fun day out.
Minder: That’s TV: Saturday 15th August: 7.55pm All Mod Cons. Series 2, Episode 8. Terry tries to help his friend Kate evict some unwanted tenants, but comes to doubt her motives. Meanwhile, Arthur is desperate to get into the property market and tries to sell Terry’s flat without telling him. Guest starring Toyah Willcox and Simon Cadell. Director: Ian Sharp. Also starring: George Cole, Dennis Waterman, Peter Childs, George Layton, Patrick Malahide, Michael Troughton.
Blackpool Illuminations 2026: All you need to know
