Showtown in Blackpool wins Permanent Exhibition of the Year

Blackpool has always known how to put on a show, and now it has a museum that celebrates exactly that. Showtown, the town's museum of fun and entertainment, has been winning admirers far beyond the Fylde coast.

In May 2025 Showtown was named Permanent Exhibition of the Year at the Museums + Heritage Awards, one of the most respected prizes in the UK museum sector, and a major moment for a museum still in its early years. The win was shared with the exhibition designers Casson Mann, who worked with the museum on its galleries.

The judges were clearly charmed. They described Showtown as the museum equivalent of a thrilling arcade, a fitting compliment for a place devoted to the circus, magic, comedy, dance, illuminations and seaside entertainment that made Blackpool famous.

Showtown's own account of the win points to its bold approach, which ranges from magic tricks to some rather more unexpected exhibits. The design team's playful ideas, including a so-called Clowncil, have been credited with helping secure the award.

The recognition did not stop there. Showtown was the only UK museum shortlisted for the international Children in Museums Award in 2025, and it was one of just five museums across the UK shortlisted for Best Small Museum in the Kids in Museums Family Friendly Museum Award, decided by visiting family judges.

It has also been highly commended by the Civic Trust, and VisitBlackpool has highlighted its global and national recognition as a must-visit for families. For a relatively young museum, that is an impressive collection of accolades.

What makes Showtown special is how naturally it belongs to its town. Blackpool's story is one of performers, entertainers and holidaymakers, and the museum gives that heritage the attention it deserves while making sure visitors have plenty of fun along the way.

Tickets and visitor information are available on the Showtown website. It makes an ideal rainy-day plan or a lively addition to a seaside trip, and it is a reminder that Blackpool's entertainment heritage is something to be proud of.