Robbie Williams has been confirmed as the first headliner for Lytham Festival 2027, playing Lytham Green on Saturday 3 July. It’s the festival’s earliest-ever headliner announcement, and off the back of the five day celebration for its 15th anniversary this month, it’s easy to see why they didn’t want to wait. Eliya Manlove headed to there for the weekend.
Lytham Festival impressed with a highly diverse range of headliners for its 15th anniversary, with the five-day event kicking off with Teddy Swims, followed by the long-awaited arrival of Alanis Morissette, who was forced to cancel last year, the following evening.
With both nights receiving stellar reviews, expectations were high for the subsequent three days.
Across the weekend, I experienced the VIP Garden, which added another layer to the festival experience. The proximity to the stage, exclusive bars, and a dedicated team operating a “freshening up” station made the experience seamless and set the standard for the music ahead.
When Friday night headliner Michael Bublé opened his set with “Feeling Good”, it was immediately clear those expectations were going to be met. Bublé delivered his impressive vocals with ease, while entertaining the crowd with his trademark charm and humour.
During “L.O.V.E”, the audience was encouraged to join in karaoke-style, adding to the sense of nostalgia that ran throughout the set. It was also fantastic to see the orchestra enjoying the evening just as much as the crowd.
Later in the performance, main trumpet player Jumaane Smith was welcomed to centre stage, swapping his instrument for his powerful vocals. As Smith took the spotlight, Bublé stepped back to join his talented backing vocalists, showcasing the depth of talent across the entire stage. The dedication and passion from everyone involved flowed effortlessly into the crowd throughout the evening.
Between songs, the charismatic Bublé entertained the audience with stories from his trip to the Fylde Coast. Blackpool received an honourable mention for both its hospitality and attractions. His suit may or may not have been from Primark, but if Bublé says he belongs in Blackpool, then he is certainly welcome back.
Saturday afternoon began with a masterclass hosted by the Prosecco DOC team. Free to attend with registration, the sessions explored the history and versatility of prosecco. It was the team’s first festival, and the format worked perfectly — short, informative sessions, friendly faces, and a few complimentary glasses of prosecco created the ideal combination to begin the evening.
The tempo of the music picked up on Saturday, with the main event: the Pet Shop Boys. The duo started their two-hour set with “Suburbia”, the perfect entrance to a catalogue spanning their four-decade career.
Chris Lowe stood behind the keyboard with his signature impassiveness, creating the duo’s iconic synth-pop sound. You’d never have known the gig marked the band’s return to Lowe’s nearby hometown of Blackpool had vocalist Neil Tennant not shared, while introducing it, that “Jealousy” was written in Lowe’s childhood home.
The Pet Shop Boys may have been making music for forty years, but the performance showed no signs of ageing. With a multi-generational audience united in the crowd, it served as a timely reminder that great songs — and sticking to a winning on-stage formula — remain timeless.
The evening rounded off where it all started for the duo, with an encore of the iconic hit that shot the Pet Shop Boys to stardom: “West End Girls”. Voices seemed to echo not just across the Green but across Lytham as the set came to an end.
It was a fitting end to a set that will remain Always On My Mind.
The previous two nights acted as the perfect build-up for a Sunday line-up packed with party anthems.
A return to the Prosecco DOC tent for the final day of the festival was inevitable, this time to explore cocktails (with prosecco!). Once again, the team delivered the hospitality and showmanship to set the day off perfectly.
Leaving the tent at 6.30pm, it would have been easy to mistake the buzz in the crowd for the headliner already being on stage. It was only the sea of white shirts, aviators and bald caps that gave it away: Tinchy Stryder, followed by Lil Jon, were simply warming up the crowd for the main event — Pitbull.
The self-proclaimed Mr Worldwide walked smoothly onto the stage with his opening track, “Don’t Stop the Party” — a fitting reflection of the atmosphere already sweeping through the crowd.
And the party certainly did not stop. For the next two hours, Lytham Green was transformed into an open-air Miami nightclub, as Pitbull delivered a relentless run of dance anthems including “Hotel Room Service”, “Fireball” and “Gasolina”. With the occasional Spanish lesson thrown in along the way, it was easy to forget this was not South Beach, but a mild evening on the Fylde Coast.
The stage production only amplified the spectacle, with dramatic lighting, dancers, vivid graphics and a DJ interlude keeping the momentum high as Mr Worldwide briefly disappeared backstage for an intense outfit change — a different jacket.
Adding to the party atmosphere, Pitbull took a moment to congratulate Lytham Festival on its 15th anniversary and recognise the scale of the signature Fylde Coast event.
Though it was still a Sunday night in Lytham, the party did have to come to an end. Pitbull closed out the festival with “Give Me Everything”, giving the crowd one final chance to leave all their moves On The Floor.
The impact Pitbull left on Lytham was clear as the relentless positivity spilled into the streets, with crowds singing their way out of the festival while nearby neighbours provided an impromptu soundtrack from their homes, also consumed by the feel-good atmosphere.
After a weekend of such variety, Lytham Festival’s 15th anniversary celebration will be a difficult one to beat. The team has set a high standard with a line-up that was not only impressively diverse, but consistently enjoyable throughout — and for those wanting a touch of luxury closer to home, the VIP Garden is well worth considering next time round.
Lytham Festival 2027 runs from Wednesday 30 June to Sunday 4 July, with Robbie Williams headlining on Saturday 3 July — his only mainland UK show next summer. Five-day passes are on sale now, with general tickets going on sale at 10am on Friday via lythamfestival.com.
