LGBTQ+ Blackpool: 2027 Highlights

2027 is shaping up to be a big year for LGBTQ+ Blackpool. The Rainbow Quarter Street Party returns for a bigger second year, the town's queer heritage project opens exhibitions at two of its best-loved venues, and Funny Girls has a full year of shows lined up. Here's what we know so far. Some dates, including Pride itself, haven't been announced yet; we'll add them as soon as they are.

January

• Saturday 2 January: The Whitney Houston Experience at Viva, Church Street, 8pm. A big-voiced tribute to one of the great gay icons.
• Until Sunday 3 January: Christmas Sleigh Queens at Funny Girls, and the Christmas by the Sea village on the Promenade until early January.
• Friday 8 to Saturday 16 January: Slay Another Day at Funny Girls, a short January run to chase away the post-Christmas blues.
• From Thursday 21 January: Hello Gorgeous!, the Funny Girls spring show, opens and runs Wednesday to Sunday until Sunday 2 May. Expect high-kicking dance, comedy and costumes. Standing from £10; seats roughly £17 to £35. Strictly 18+.

February: LGBT History Month

• LGBT History Month runs all through February, with talks, events and displays usually on offer at local libraries, museums and community venues.
• Rainbow Weekend: Blackpool Pride's winter fundraiser normally takes over the quarter's bars for a weekend in early February, with drag, cabaret, live music and karaoke, all raising money for the festival. Dates for 2027 had not been announced when we last checked.
• National HIV Testing Week falls in early February. In 2026 it brought evening testing to the Rainbow Quarter and a stand at Blackpool North station, so look out for something similar.
• Saturday 6 February: Smalltown Boy: Relive the Music of Jimmy Somerville at Viva, 8pm. A live band plays the hits of Jimmy Somerville, Bronski Beat and The Communards. From about £18.
• From February: We're Still Here!, Blackpool's queer heritage project, opens two exhibitions at Showtown and the Grundy Art Gallery. Built from community memories, oral histories and archive photographs, they mark 20 years of Blackpool Pride and tell the story of LGBTQIA+ life in the town. They are planned to run between February and June 2027; exact dates are to be confirmed.
• Friday 26 February: Beyoncé vs Lady Gaga: Battle of the Pop Queens at Viva, 7pm.

March and April

• Wednesday 24 March: All Stars: The Music of ABBA at the Winter Gardens, an ABBA tribute led by pop stars from the 2000s with a live band.
• Sunday 28 March: Icons: Mariah, Celine and George at Viva, 8pm.
• Wednesday 31 March: Trans Day of Visibility.
• Saturday 17 April: Drag Brunch at Viva, 1pm to 4pm, with comedy, party games, live performances, a sharing platter and 90 minutes of bottomless drinks. From £39.95. 18+.

May

• Sunday 2 May: Icons: Diana, Freddie and George at Viva, 8pm.
• Friday 7 to Sunday 9 May: Spring Fling at Funny Girls, a bank holiday weekend party show.
• Thursday 13 May: Myra DuBois: Siren at the Grand Theatre, 7.30pm. The comedy drag diva brings her new touring show of concert-style songs and razor-sharp crowd work, backed by the Fabulous Myrettes.
• From Thursday 13 May: Heatwave! The Summer Spectacular, the Funny Girls summer show, runs Wednesday to Sunday until Sunday 5 September.
• Monday 17 May: IDAHOBIT, the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia.
• Sunday 30 May: Icons: Dolly, Celine and Tom at Viva, 8pm.

June: Pride month

• Friday 4 to Sunday 6 June: the Rainbow Quarter Street Party returns to Lord Street and the surrounding streets. The first party in 2026 drew around 3,000 people over two days, and organisers have promised a bigger event for 2027.
• Blackpool Pride 2027: the festival is usually held on the first weekend of June on the Tower Festival Headland, with a Friday dance night, the Saturday parade along the Promenade, a ticketed main party and a free Sunday community day, plus Youth Pride. The 2027 dates had not been announced when we last checked, but the street party dates point to the same weekend. Watch this page.

Summer and autumn

• Saturday 11 September: Drag Brunch at Viva, 1pm to 4pm.
• Early September: the Illuminations are switched on, bringing autumn crowds to the quarter.
• Autumn: expect Funny Girls' Halloween and Christmas seasons to return; dates are usually announced in the summer.
• Saturday 18 December: Drag Brunch at Viva, 1pm to 4pm, a festive edition.

Dates to confirm

We're keeping an eye out for:

• Blackpool Pride 2027 dates and line-up
• Rainbow Weekend 2027
• Exact opening dates for the We're Still Here! exhibitions
• Drag touring shows at the Winter Gardens and Opera House

Times, prices and line-ups can change, so check with the venue before you go.