This year is set to be full of fantastic events across Lancashire. From blooming marvellous flower shows to world-class sport and gravity-defying air shows, Lancashire Life magazine reports there is something for everyone
The Glastonbury of the culinary world, this gourmet gathering of some of the world’s best chefs is a Michelin star fine dining experience on the menu in the Ribble Valley. Twenty world-class chefs, holding a combined 25 Michelin stars, will come together to cook up a culinary delight for foodies. Each guest chef will take over the Northcote kitchen for a night to produce a unique menu for guests bringing friends together over delectable food and wine.
Ice, ice baby! Love is in the air as Lytham is transformed into a sparkling winter wonderland for Valentine’s Day. Stunning sculptures will be created by talented ice carvers at locations throughout the town. There is also the chance to have a go on the ice carving wall in Clifton Square and audiences can see first-hand the skill that goes into transforming a block of ice into works of art with live demonstrations. This is the fourth year the ice festival has taken place. Time to wrap up warm and marvel at the creative talents.
The classic novel by HG Wells is retold in this stage production at Liverpool’s Everyman and Playhouse Theatre. Four performers take to the stage for the tale of alien invasion and the unfolding destruction of life as we knew it. Theatre company, Imitating the Dog, have re-imagined the classic story supported by Lancaster Arts and Cast, Doncaster. The production mixes live performance with recordings with camera tricks and projection all designed to captivate the audience.
The thud of the horses’ hooves, the cheers of the crowd and the silks of the jockeys are all part of what makes the Grand National a global attraction. The eyes of the world fall on Aintree for what is the hottest ticket in the sporting calendar. The Grand National was first run in 1839, and all the riders have a sporting chance as they wait for starter’s orders to tackle the course that is five miles, 514 yards long.
Climb aboard for a trip to remember on the East Lancashire Railway. The Legends of Steam event returns for a third year giving rail fans the chance to ride up and down the Bury line behind an impressive line-up of express steam locomotives. The first trains steamed into Bury Station in the 1840s and the line played a key role in the Industrial Revolution. Enjoy the evocative atmosphere of the steam engine on this special weekend.
This show launches the calendar of Great British Motor Show events and Lytham Hall provides a stunning backdrop to complement the spectacular gathering of classic cars and motorcycles. As well as classic cars, the 78 acres of parkland will feature motorcycles of all eras, vintage 4x4s and performance, modified, motorsport and supercars. Car clubs from across the country bring vehicles that will stop the traffic.
Lytham will be rocking for its annual music festival which attracts more than 120,000 music lovers each year. The beauty spot that is Lytham Green will light up when the stage is set for five nights of top tunes from musicians including pop duo Pet Shop Boys, Teddy Swims, Lauren Spencer Smith and Jordan Rakei. Raise a glass and dance into the night to the sounds of some of the best in the music industry.
This county show is proud to promote Lancashire while raising money for charity. The showground at Salesbury Hall near Ribchester becomes alive to all things agricultural for three days of events. Huge numbers of livestock are entered into competitions including cattle and pigs. Giant tortoises and heavy horses can be admired while the Shetland Pony Grand National is hotly contested. There’s plenty to see in the craft marquee and food hall alongside more than 100 exhibitors.
Now in its tenth year, this Heysham event is widely regarded as the UK’s favourite Viking festival. To celebrate its tenth anniversary, organisers are promising the 2026 event to be the biggest and best yet bringing Viking history to life. Great fun for all the family, there will be battle re-enactments, a Viking Parade and a living history encampment that transport visitors back in time. Even better? The event, held on the fields in the centre of Heysham Village, is free to attend.
A celebration of rural life embracing all it has to offer from cooking, horticulture and crafts. Marquees burst with cheeses and chutneys and fruits and flowers alongside demonstrations of sheep shearing and rural crafts. There’s even tractor pulling – a real draw for visitors. This show has lasting popularity, having been established more than 170 years ago and is still going strong today.
This prestigious sporting event will mark its 50th year at Royal Lytham & St Annes. This will be the sixth time the Lancashire links course has hosted the tournament which features the sport’s elite women. Over four days, the world’s best golfers compete for the title. Lytham last staged the event in 2018 when England’s Georgia Hall took victory on home soil.
Show gardens will blossom at Astley Park for the award-winning horticultural show. Whether you are a seasoned gardener or a complete beginner, there will be expert advice on offer and inspiration galore. Learn from the best in the Gardening Theatre where professional gardeners give live demonstrations. Throughout the weekend there will be entertainment and food and drink stalls. Entry into Astley Hall is also included in tickets to the flower show.
All things floral take centre stage for this perennial favourite among green-fingered gardeners. Victoria Park will again welcome the show for four days when visitors can soak up the atmosphere and take inspiration from the show gardens which are lovingly created by garden designers and landscapers, all vying to impress the judges. Fans of BBC’s Gardeners’ World are in for a treat as presenter Adam Frost will be a special guest. Head along and enjoy a wander around the grounds and smell the roses.
Put your dancing shoes on for three days of live music in Colne as the world-famous festival returns for an incredible 35th time. Big names appear alongside emerging talent in what is recognised as one of the best value music festivals in the country. Bank Holidays are the perfect excuse to kick back, relax and enjoy live music. The streets of Colne will be rocking with the Official Fringe running alongside pubs and clubs across the town.
Eyes up for aerial antics above the town’s iconic seafront. This is always a must-see spectacular with some of the world’s best military and civilian aircraft taking to the skies. The skills of the pilots are jaw-dropping with their aerobatics and fly pasts. The event attracts the Red Arrows and the Red Devils as well as wing walkers performing acrobatics and handstands while strapped to the wings. As well as action above, the airshow village has plenty on offer on the ground.
Typically held across the August bank holiday weekend
Celebrity chefs, cooking demonstrations and live music are the perfect recipe that make this festival a firm foodie favourite. The whole of the town centre plays its part, and a festival garden has heaps of activities to keep the little ones entertained. Billed as Simply the Zest, the festival has featured the legendary Marco Pierre White and James Martin made his 15th appearance at the 2025 event.
boltonfoodanddrinkfestival.com
Get great ideas for new places to eat and drink in the latest edition of Lancashire Life magazine
Nostalgia and rural charm make for a delightful blend where visitors are transported to a bygone time. Tractor pulls and traditional crafts are part of this celebration of vintage, steam and rural traditions. The show field, near Kirkham, displays more than 600 vintage vehicles including cars, hotrods, steam engines, buses and trucks. Traditional blacksmithing and woodworking demonstrations offer a glimpse into the trades of yesteryear.
Morecambe will be well versed in the power of poetry as it hosts its annual festival for the fifth-year running. Praised for breaking down barriers between poets – established and emerging – and audiences, the three-day festival has gone from strength to strength bringing people together for one weekend of words. The event aims to bring poetry to the masses, and has attracted big names such as Michael Rosen, one of the best-known names in the children’s book world, John Hegley and Robin Ince. Don’t miss this firm favourite in the cultural calendar. Events take place at the Winter Gardens as well as sites across the town.
Explore Lancashire’s rich history and culture, taking you behind the scenes of some of the county’s wonderful venues. History is brought to life through talks, guided walks, exhibitions and tours. The programme is always varied with museums, archives, churches and halls showcasing their heritage. Since its start in 1994, this has grown into the country’s largest community heritage festival.
What a menu Feast Bowland serves up every year! The week-long celebration is a tasty treat and a true celebration of the area’s rich food heritage. Guided walks unearth wild foods growing in the Forest of Bowland and visitors can take part in foodie experiences where the region’s distinctive dishes are in the spotlight. Events range from herbal medicine workshops, foraging for elderberries and a tasting journey taking in some of the area’s best local producers.
Typically held at the end of October/start of November, dates tbc
Let there be light at Liverpool’s waterfront. This outdoor event features large-scale light installations immersing visitors in a kaleidoscopic world. The annual festival sees a light installation trail across the city for people to explore alongside world-class artworks at the waterfront. This will be the ninth year Liverpool has hosted the River of Light and you are again invited to step into the outdoor art gallery.
This after-dark festival is a magical event with all the sparkle and twinkle, celebrating art and light with trails and displays that captivate and enchant. Venues, both indoors and al fresco, are transformed into other worldly landscapes as artists create unforgettable works weaving lights, lasers and music. In previous years, Lancaster Castle, the Market Square and Williamson Park have all been lit up for audiences. A visual treat is in store for 2026.
While we believe every day should be Lancashire Day, it is officially marked in November when red roses are worn with pride. The date commemorates the day in 1295 when the county first sent representatives to Parliament. The annual celebration was started by Friends of Real Lancashire. Throughout the county’s town centres, the Lancashire Day proclamation will be read before toasting ‘God bless Lancashire, and God save the King, Duke of Lancaster’. Look out for events where you live and join in the love for our mighty county.
The Bard is back in town. In fact, Shakespeare’s plays are being performed across Lancashire throughout the year. From February 4-7, Shakespeare North Playhouse retells the comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream bringing summer magic to audiences. Macbeth, or the Scottish Play, comes to Liverpool Empire on May 21. At Manchester’s Theatre Royal, actor David Threlfall makes a stage return after 27 years to take on the role of King Lear. This Shakespeare tragedy is recognised as one of his greatest plays. Catch it from October 2 to November 15.
Southport will become a year-long stage for art and music in a programme of cultural events. Visitors to the seaside town can expect the unexpected with giant chandeliers, circus performers and never-ending rainbows all on show. Highlights include Books Alive, a literary festival for families and young readers as well as a Big Top Festival in May and French street theatre company Transe Express who will bring their spectacular show, Cristal Palace, to Lord Street.
Pocket sized gardens to sprawling grounds are waiting to be explored as part of this popular scheme where private gardens open to the public. The scheme raises funds for nursing and health charities and gardeners across Lancashire will welcome visitors to wander their lovingly tendered gardens. The beauty of it all is the chance to see beautiful gardens, big and small, while chatting to the owners about their passion for gardening. Tea and cake are usually served up, making it a perfect way to spend an afternoon.
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