Ride the Lights returns for 2026

Blackpool is preparing for one of the most magical nights in its calendar when, for one night only, the six miles of Promenade will be closed to give cyclists a sneak preview of this year’s Illuminations.

Ride The Lights will take place on the night of Tuesday 1 September – three days before the Illuminations are officially switched on by BBC Radio 2’s Paddy McGuinness.

Bikes of all shapes and sizes can take advantage of the seafront route in a free family event that is suitable for all ages. The Promenade will be closed to traffic from 6pm until 10.30pm with the Ride The Lights event starting at 7pm and finishing at 10pm.

Cyclists can participate in Ride The Lights at any time during that period and are recommended to join the event at either the Starr Gate or Red Bank Road gateways to the promenade.

Participants will be able to get a first look at some of the new Illuminations in this year’s display, including:

• Light of Life by PJ Crook MBE brings together a series of paintings that explore timeless human experiences, connecting stories from the past with issues that remain relevant today. Drawing on themes from history, mythology, religion and everyday life, PJ Crook's work reflects on subjects including migration, conflict, climate change, family and human ambition.

• Lollies in Love with Light brings together three fantastic collections from celebrated artist Chila Kumari Burman MBE.  The 26-metre-wide animated tableau is a stunning kaleidoscopic celebration of Blackpool, featuring around 760 metres of LED neon lighting and a technicolour ice cream van at its centre.

• Artemis is an immersive display showcases incredible high-definition imagery captured by NASA's Artemis mission aboard the Orion spacecraft. The iconic spacemen figures have been carefully repainted and transformed to represent the Artemis crew, bringing this exciting new era of space exploration to life.

• Flower Shower transforms an everyday object into a striking illuminated artwork. Clusters of glowing umbrellas ascend elegant steel structures, creating the impression of flowers in bloom or a shower of light drifting skyward. 

Other new features will be joining the display from Friday 4 September, including:

• Wishing Star -  Step into the inspiring world of Wishing Star, a heartwarming story of courage, resilience and self-discovery from acclaimed performer Toyah Willcox.

Ride The Lights marks the start of the build-up to the Illuminations season, which ends on 3 November.