Team Poland triumphs in World Fireworks Championship Blackpool

A pyrotechnics team from Poland have been crowned champions of Blackpool’s annual World Fireworks competition after wowing record crowds.

The display by the team from Nakaja Art set the bar high when they performed what they described as a “pyromusical” in the first of three spectacular shows staged on the Tower Festival Headland during September and October.

The judges, who scored them ahead of subsequent performances by Finland and the USA, described the display as “fabulous” and praised the synchronisation to the music and the use of Poland’s national colours.

The Polish team have had significant experience of staging firework displays across Europe and Central America, and they were responsible for the biggest fireworks spectacle in their home country, for a Jean Michel Jarre concert in Krakow.

The World Fireworks Championship Blackpool is one of the resort’s most spectacular events, with the displays, all synchronised to music, being launched from the beach in front of The Blackpool Tower. It is estimated that around 50,000 people attended each of this year’s free events.

Cllr Lynn Williams, Leader of Blackpool Council and one of the judges, said: “This year has seen a magnificent competition. The weather has been extraordinarily kind to us on all three nights and that has resulted in the biggest crowds we have ever witnessed at our fireworks events.

“It was a delight to see so many residents and visitors turning out with their families to enjoy these spectacular displays in the most unique setting. We look forward to doing it all over again in 2025!”

The firework displays form an integral part of Blackpool’s major autumn and winter events programme. This includes:

Lightpool Festival

The award-winning Lightpool Festival returns with an amazing free-to-see programme of light installations, 3D projection shows, art trails, and stunning live performances from October 18-26. With the Illuminations season in full swing, the nine days will see the addition of light installations from the UK, France, Finland and Spain as part of the highly-acclaimed festival. Supported by Arts Council England, it will include the premiere of at least 15 new artworks never seen before in the UK as well as spellbinding projection shows and live performance including the return of the hugely popular Carnival Magic in the iconic Tower Ballroom.

Monster Hunt

Blackpool’s rooftops are coming alive! The Monster Hunt will be one of the big attractions in the resort’s extensive Halloween By The Sea celebrations. From Monday 28 October to Sunday 3 November, prepare for an epic invasion as 10 giant inflatable monsters take over buildings around the Golden Mile and nearby town centre. Your mission? Hunt them down during the day or when they illuminate at night. Keep your eyes peeled for these hilarious, larger-than-life creatures and enjoy this spectacular free trail for all ages.

Christmas By The Sea

The Tower Festival Headland will be turned into an outdoor winter wonderland with free skating rink, snowfalls, log cabins, festive projection shows and themed rides including the awesome Star Flyer. It opens on November 15 and runs through to January 5, 2025.

The Blackpool Illuminations

The world’s longest running light display is showing every night during our autumn and winter events season, ending on January 5, 2025. This year’s seafront display, stretching more than five miles, includes a series of new features:

• A spectacular new installation by the Illuminations’ creative curator, Laurence Llewellyn-Bowen. Entitled Disco Donkey Cavalcade, it is a celebration of one of Blackpool’s iconic beach attractions, with 12 donkeys dressed in 70s-inspired swimwear parading on a 16ft high platform, beneath a giant ice cream topped with a disco ball!

• A brand new tableau, created by Leigh Francis (aka TV star Keith Lemon) featuring a wildly imaginative and colourful design incorporating a 12ft tall dinosaur, space ship, astronaut, an airborne BMX bike, and Leigh himself flying through the skies towards The Blackpool Tower!

• A new overhead roadway section that pays homage to the hugely popular Aliens feature that graced the Illuminations display several years ago. The new section has been designed by students at Blackpool Sixth Form and includes 10 individual illustrations of Alien life!

• A larger-than-life Buzz Wire arcade game in which visitors will be able to test their skill and nerve on a specially designed installation reflecting Blackpool’s famous skyline. Created by the Illuminations’ Lightworks team, it is located on the Golden Mile.