From a Lightport spectacular to an eye catching literary festival, here's a dozen dazzling events brightening the streets of Southport in 2026

FROM a spectacular light show in just a few weeks' time to a literary festival with a difference alongside huge crowd pleasers like the flower show, Southport is set for another bumper year in 2026.

Spanning 22 miles of coastline, Southport and the surrounding area offers a cavalcade of wonderful experiences.

Whether it is the walking and cycling trails, 100 iron life size statues in Crosby, kite surfing in Ainsdale, sand dunes, red squirrels, beautiful pine woods at the National Trust protected site in Formby, there is so much natural beauty to soak up. And if that wasn't enough this year, it has 1 of its biggest and most diverse events programmes to date.

Boasting a calendar packed full of events, many absolutely free, that will bring colour, creativity and big crowds to the Town month after month. And alongside returning favourites, several brand-new events are set to make their debut, adding fresh energy to an already busy programme.

Ella Willis Nasseri from Lucid Creates said:- �We are delighted to be collaborating with Sefton Council to transform Lord Street with a vibrant, family friendly light show and experience. Reimagining this well loved part of the Town Centre through light, sound and colour, we have created tens of large scale, interactive installations that people can enter, move through and enjoy. Audiences can expect our signature:- �Lucid� take on the playful:- �Inside the Rainbow� theme; we can�t wait for people to experience the extraordinary, multi-sensory world we�ve created.�

Cllr Marion Atkinson, Leader of Sefton Council, added:- �Lightport is something no 1 will want to miss. It�s the perfect way to kick off an exciting year for:- Southport. Colourful, joyful, family friendly and totally free, it�s a wonderful way to start February half term and blow away the gloom of winter with a shock of glorious colour.2026 and beyond is an incredibly exciting time for the town, with major regeneration projects and a packed programme of free events that will shine a spotlight on everything Southport has to offer.�

Here Visit Southport picks out just some of the:- "must see 2026 events" to put in your diary and make it a year to remember:-

1. Lightport. This free event takes place on:- 14 February and 16 February 2026, kicks off the year in spectacular style as Lightport transforms the Town after dark. Created by international artists Lucid Creates, this immersive light and sound experience turns familiar streets into a glowing, walk-through canvas. Expect bold projections, large scale installations and an atmospheric festival feel across key locations. Free, family-friendly and designed to be enjoyed at your own pace, Lightport is set to be 1 of the standout moments of the year. This event will be open daily from:- 5pm to 9pm, making it the perfect half term outing for families and a must see evening experience for visitors to the Region.

2. Cristal Palace... 3 April to 4 April 2026, The event on:- Lord Street is free. It will see Lord Street becoming the stage for a striking open air spectacle as world renowned French street theatre company Transe Express brings Cristal Palace to Southport. The event will feature a 15 metre wide flying chandelier suspended above the street will be accompanied by live music, aerial performance, and choreographed movement, transforming the iconic boulevard into a dramatic ballroom.

3. Big Top Festival... 2 May to 3 May 2026 will see part free, part ticketed events taking place at various locations within Southport's Town Centre. This event will have a Modern Circus taking over Southport, as the Big Top Festival returns with performances from some of the world's leading companies, including:- Circa and Gandini Juggling. Across open air stages and pop up venues, visitors can enjoy breathtaking acrobatics, live music and hands-on workshops. With Southport's long links to circus heritage, the festival feels right at home in the Town centre.

4. Southport Beer Week... Running from:- 20 May to 25 May, at a wide range of venues within the Town Centre venues. This event lets locals and tourists alike say:- "Cheers" to 2026. Southport Beer Week launches as a Town wide celebration of real ale and great beer. Organised by Southport BID, pubs and bars across the Town centre will host tastings, special events and promotions over 4 days, giving locals and visitors plenty of reasons to explore Southport's independent venues.

5. Southport Food and Drink Festival... This is being held from:- 29 May to 31 May 2026 on:- Victoria Park. A firm favourite on the events calendar, the Southport Food and Drink Festival returns with a tempting mix of:- street food traders, producers and live entertainment. From gourmet burgers and hot wings to paella, crepes and churros, visitors can sample flavours from around the world in a relaxed, family friendly setting in Victoria Park.

6. The 154th Open Championship takes place from:- 12 July to 19 July 2026, at the Royal Birkdale Golf Club. Southport will be firmly in the global spotlight in July as Royal Birkdale hosts The Open Championship for the 11th time. Championship play runs from:- Thursday, 16 July to Sunday, 19 July 2026, with thousands of visitors expected in the Town making it 1 of the biggest moments of the year for the resort.

7. Southport Flower Show, This year the event on Southport's Victoria Park runs from:- 20 August to 23 August. This is the UK's largest independent flower show, welcoming more than 55,000 visitors each year. The 2026 show will features:- stunning floral displays, show gardens, celebrity guests, shopping, food and drink, plus a full programme of entertainment, cementing its place as a highlight of Southport's summer season.

8. Southport Air Show, running from:- 29 August to 30 August 2026, on Southport's beach and seafront. This is a much loved summer event, with 2 days of thrilling aerial displays. Aviation fans from across the Region flock to the Town each year, with spectacular performances set against the backdrop of Southport's coastline.

9. British Musical Fireworks Championship:- 26 September to 27 September, on Victoria Park. Tonnes of explosives equals tonnes of fun! Music, colour and pyrotechnics combine at 1 of Southport's most loved events. Known for its dramatic finales and crowd pleasing performances, the British Musical Fireworks Championship lights up Victoria Park with 2 nights of carefully choreographed displays.

10. Southport Comedy Festival will be held from:- 2 October to 18 October 2026, on:- Victoria Park. They say laughter is the best medicine, so Southport is serving up another big dose of hilarity. Now in its 15th year, the Southport Comedy Festival returns to Victoria Park for 17 days of live comedy, welcoming performers from across the UK. The festival, which attracted more than 6,000 people last year, will once again take place in a massive luxury heated and seated marquee, and big names already confirmed include:- Henning Wehn, Gary Delaney, Scott Bennett and rapidly rising comedy and TV star Laura Smyth. More exciting names to be announced soon. Keep an eye on the festival website or join the mailing list to find out 1st who will be making Southport Smile in 2026.

11. Books Alive! At Various Town Centre Venues from:- 24 October to 31 October 2026. Running throughout October half term, this re imagined literature festival has been created especially for families and young readers. Storytelling installations, live performances, and author led workshops will turn Southport into a living storybook, bringing stories to life across the Town.

12. The Atkinson, Free entry to exhibitions, with some ticketed events... Southport's cultural hub has a packed programme planned for 2026, with exhibitions, theatre, comedy, music and family shows running throughout the year. Highlights include:- the continuation of The Atkinson's 150th Anniversary Exhibition, featuring works by L. S. Lowry, Laura Knight, and Walter Sickert; the popular Sefton Open celebrating local artists; and a major ARTIST ROOMS exhibition showcasing works by Gilbert and George, drawn from the Tate and National Galleries of Scotland collections. Alongside exhibitions, audiences can also expect touring theatre, live comedy and music across the year. Southport's cultural hub will deliver a packed year of:- exhibitions, theater, comedy, music, and family shows in 2026.

Yopu can find out more at Visit Southport's website...

Convicted criminals detained in Hospitals set to lose benefits

CONVICTED killers and other serious criminals detained in Hospitals under court order would lose thousands of pounds in benefit payments under new plans announced by the Department for Work and Pensions.

Under the current system, an offender in Hospital could be paid over �800 per month in Universal Credit, amounting to thousands in taxpayer cash over a long sentence.

Prisoners are already banned from claiming state benefits and the Government wants to look at how to extend this to offenders detained in Hospitals under court order, given their bed, board and treatment costs are covered.

Families of victims in high profile cases, including:- the loved ones of Kennedi Westcarr Sabaroche and the victims of the Nottingham attacks:- Grace O'Malley Kumar, Barnaby Webber, and Ian Coates, have bravely highlighted the loophole which sees offenders continuing to receive benefit payments.

The Work and Pensions Secretary will gather views from experts on removing Universal Credit from those convicted of serious crimes including:- manslaughter, rape and other serious offences, who are held in a Hospital setting, considering the complexity and sensitivity of this issue.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:- "It cannot be right that offenders convicted of the most serious crimes continue to receive benefits they don't need at the expense of the taxpayer. These proposals will restore basic fairness and common sense to our social security system. I'm determined to do whatever it takes to stand up for victims, protect taxpayers, and ensure support goes to those who genuinely need it."

The Work and Pensions Secretary wants to ensure the benefits system reflects the stark difference between those receiving long-term Hospital treatment and have not committed a crime, who will not lose benefits, and those detained under court orders who have carried out serious violent and sexual offences.

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden, who met with Ms Westcarr Sabaroche's family, said:- "I don't think there's a single household in Britain who believes it's right that convicted criminals receive thousands of pounds a year in benefits.  It's unfair to victims' families and to taxpayers whose hard-earned cash ends up in the pockets of offenders, and contrary to our values, we don't reward acts of violence. That's why I'm acting to right the wrongs within our benefits system, so it supports people who genuinely need it, while delivering fairness to the taxpayer."

Anyone detained under a Hospital order must receive appropriate mental health support, including:- in Hospital settings where necessary.

The proposed change aims to create greater fairness in the benefits system and highlights the Government's commitment to standing up for victims and protecting the taxpayer.

Linda and Leon Westcarr, the Mother and Uncle of Kennedi Westcarr-Sabaroche, said:- "We welcome this long-overdue reform to the benefits system, which corrects a clear injustice that has caused real harm for too long. We are grateful that the current Secretary of State has listened and acted with humanity to ensure the system will no longer allow those responsible for serious crimes to benefit from their actions. While this change does not undo the suffering already experienced by families like ours, it removes the added pain of knowing such injustices could continue. We hope this marks a meaningful step toward greater fairness, accountability, and compassion in public policy."

Dr Sanjoy Kumar and Dr Sinead O'Malley, parents of Grace O'Malley Kumar said:- "We are delighted to hear this announcement from the Secretary of State. For us, the campaigning families this is what decisive and bold departmental leadership looks like. Pat's actions benefit our country and our communities. As a result, our country now leads many countries across Europe on this issue. We also appreciate the help Pat McFadden MP has given our cause and our campaign. Whilst we have lost our brave and beautiful daughter Grace, we now know that in her name good is being done for our country."

The decision to remove benefits based for serious offences would not affect people who have been sectioned, who have not committed any offence.

Julian Hendy from the Hundred Families Charity, which supports families after mental health related killings said:- "This is very welcome news. We have long argued that paying welfare benefits to people who have committed serious violent crimes is wrong and cannot be justified. They're offenders sentenced to Hospital orders who have no costs or need for such payments. We've argued paying benefits to such violent offenders is an insult to their victims who often struggle so hard to access effective care and support. We're very grateful the Government have listened to our campaign and are taking action to put this anomaly right."

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From a Lightport spectacular to an eye catching literary festival, here's a dozen dazzling events brightening the streets of Southport in 2026

Convicted criminals detained in Hospitals set to lose benefits