Lytham Festival attendances can’t be compared to free switch-on event, says leader

A council debate raised questions about the actual attendance figure for the 2026 Blackpool Illuminations switch-on event amid unfavourable comparisons with figures for Lytham Festival.

Squires Gate councillor Gerard Walsh, speaking at Blackpool’s latest full council meeting, said he had heard that reports of the September 4 switch-on event being attended by 25,000 people were wide of the mark and it was closer to half that figure.

The switch-on show, hosted by Graham Liver and Sharon Hartley from BBC Radio Lancashire, saw Paddy McGuiness pulling the switch and performances from Five, The Feeling and Lucy Spraggan.

The councillor compared this to the huge crowds which turned up for some of the single night concerts at Lytham Festival, such as the Michael Bublé and Pitbull’s headliner events.

Cllr Walsh, who is a member of Blackpool’s hotel trade, raised the question as part of wider concerns that Blackpool had experienced a “slow season” in 2026.

But in response, Blackpool Council Leader, Cllr Lynn Williams, said a key difference was that the switch-on event was free, while Lytham Festival concert night tickets cost £150.

Reform UK member Cllr Walsh said: “Numerous business owners within Blackpool’s tourism and hospitality sector are reporting there’s been a challenging and in some cases, a noticeably slower season.

“With that in mind, I’d like to ask the Leader about the attendance of this year’s Blackpool Illuminations switch-on, which by all accounts was a great event.

“A number of media reports have stated that approximately 25,000 people attended this year’s event.

“However, other figures have been circulated suggesting that the actual attendance was considerably lower, in some instances cited as low as 12,500.

“Can the Leader confirm the actual number of people who attended the 2026 switch-on, including both ticketed attendees within the festival headlined arena and spectators, whether it be VIP or corporate hospitality.

“As a comparison, I would ask members to look at the areal shots of Lytham Festival and Blackpool Headlands.

“Pitbull sold 25,000 tickets, Michael Buble was 20,000. If you can compare those areal shots with Blackpool Headlands, something is amiss.

“Can the Leader provide the equivalent verified attendance figures for 2025 switch-on so that the residents and businesses can make a meaningful year-on-year comparison?

“Given the concerns raised by businesses within the tourism sector about a slow season, what assessment has the council made for visitor numbers and tourism performance during 2026? Does the Leader have any evidence to suggest why businesses may be experiencing a reduced footfall and spending?”

Cllr Williams responded: “I’m happy to provide a written response; it changed in relation to the switch-on this year because that was worked in conjunction with BBC, they were in charge of delivering that event this year.

“Councillor Walsh, I don’t have those figures yet. We are gong to have a substantial review because we haven’t had one for a long time.

“Certainly the figures I heard were in excess of 14,000 or 15,000. There’s “something amiss” between our event and Lytham festival – it’s probably about £150 a ticket.

“Our event is free. This is about celebrating for our residents as much as it is for visitors. We started the free event after Covid.

“We are constantly looking at ways of improving it, reviewing, looking at numbers.

“We introduced a booking fee this year which was £5 regardless of how many tickets, because the issues with all free events is that people sign up, get the tickets and then on the evening they may have a bit of a cold and decide not to go. And that reduces the numbers.

“It’s not fair on the people who miss out because of that, so we are looking at that.”

Cllr Williams said the cost of living was a factor in visitor numbers but tourism group Stay Blackpool had reported that council-run events like the Switch-on and the firework displays were shown to bring more people in.

She said that work was to be carried out by the scrutinee process which would be looking at tourism numbers.