Strictly Come Dancing 2023: Blackpool set to sparkle with a week of dance magic

Strictly Come Dancing always brings a touch of glamour and excitement to our screens but for every Strictly fan there is one standout moment, the show's annual visit to Blackpool is a much-anticipated event for the professional dancers, their celebrity partners, the judges and everyone connected with Strictly…

“It’s Blackpool week!” at long last and here at Showtown we are all set to enjoy every moment of it.

To celebrate you can even enter our exclusive competition to WIN tickets to Showtown and Strictly The Professionals Tour – we’re giving away 5 pairs of tickets to visit Showtown in May next year, plus tickets to see the Strictly The Professionals Tour, live on 21st May 2024. Be quick, entries close on 30 November!

Strictly Blackpool: Will 2023 be the best year yet?

The week 8 Strictly leader board saw Layton Williams and his professional dance partner Nikita Kuzmin at the top with an incredible score of 39 for the Argentine Tango. But who will be the standout performance at Blackpool this year when the couples take to the floor?

Throughout the years, ‘Strictly Blackpool’ has seen some unforgettable moments in the quest for that coveted glitterball - early on in Strictly Come Dancing history, Season 2 saw Jill Halfpenny and her partner Darren Bennett perform their mesmerizing Jive, earning them the show's first-ever perfect score of 40 points.

In 2019 it was Vito and Fleur East who scored a perfect 40 at Blackpool, with Head Judge Shirley Ballas describing the moment as “an iconic routine that will go down in history”. Fleur’s energetic couples’ choice routine to a Destiny’s Child mega mix was every bit as ‘Fab-u-lous’ as Craig Revel Horwood hoped and the Tower Ballroom’s dancefloor deserved.

If you love Strictly, you’ll love Showtown

For those who love the world of dance, Showtown is set to be an unmissable experience and the only ticket in town to complement Strictly Blackpool itself. In March 2024 we open our doors for the very first time and here’s a sneak peek of just what you can expect…

From the early days of ballroom competitions to the rise of Latin dance styles in the town's iconic venues, Showtown brings the history and heritage of dance in Blackpool to life in an experience that places you right in the heart of the action. Here you can learn the best steps from all your favourite dances, design sparkling exquisite costumes, mix a track in our DJ booth and so much more. With beautiful words and visuals from famous dance figures past and present, it’s all about getting involved and you’ll certainly leave Showtown with a feeling of magic and a spring in your step.

The Blackpool Tower Ballroom: An iconic neighbour

To truly appreciate the significance of dance in the town and the rise of ‘Strictly Blackpool’ we must acknowledge the grandeur of the wonderful Blackpool Tower Ballroom. Built in 1894 this elegant, architectural masterpiece has cemented its place as a dance beacon over many decades. With its stunning chandeliers, beautiful balconies and the impressive Wurlitzer organ, the ballroom creates a stage like no other. It’s easy to see why the Strictly stars mark this stage of the competition as a moment of stand-alone dance celebration.

Blackpool Tower Ballroom is just a few steps down the Prom from Showtown and what a privilege it is to have such a majestic neighbour.

‘Keep Dancing’

Whatever mesmerising routines and wonderful partnerships this year’s Strictly Blackpool brings to the floor, one thing is for certain, we can be whisked away into a wonderful world of dancing talent, showbiz and glamour for at least one weekend of the year.

If you decide to slip into your dancing shoes after the show or would love to learn more about the North West’s capital of entertainment, we promise the wait is nearly over…

This town is such a special place - nowhere does dance like Blackpool
and nowhere does Blackpool, like Showtown.  

How can I get tickets for Showtown?

Tickets to visit Showtown in 2024 will be released very soon. Sign up to our newsletter and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for your chance to be first in the queue.