Breaking News in Blackburn
Stay informed with the most pressing and breaking stories from Blackburn. From major events to urgent updates, find it here.

Snow White Panto Launched at Historic Hoghton Tower
The magic of Christmas came early this year as the cast of the Blackburn Empire Theatre’s 2025 pantomime, Snow White, gathered at the historic Hoghton Tower for the official launch of the show.

What’s On in Blackburn: Monday 15 to Sunday 21 September 2025
Looking for things to do in Blackburn & Darwen this week? 🎉 Blackburn’s biggest and busiest What’s On Guide is back — with events for every taste and age! From gothic exhibitions and live music to comedy gigs, drama, Pokémon tournaments and wellbeing workshops, it’s all happening right here.

Blackburn Museum & Art Gallery is preparing to launch what’s being described as its most ambitious exhibition to date — a breathtaking showcase of rare books, manuscripts, artworks, and ceramics that explores how nature has inspired creative expression across centuries, cultures, and religions. The Nature of Gothic opens this weekend and runs through to December.

Plans are underway that could bring the biggest shake-up to Blackburn with Darwen’s local government in over 50 years — potentially ending its status as an independent council and merging it into a much larger East Lancashire authority. Residents, businesses and community groups are now being urged to have their say before final proposals are submitted in November.
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Older Blackburn News
Did you miss out? Here are some of the older stories and news about Blackburn and Darwen

What’s On in Blackburn: Monday 8 to Sunday 14 September 2025
Looking for things to do in Blackburn & Darwen this week? 🎉 Blackburn’s biggest and most exciting What’s On Guide is back — featuring comedy clubs, music legends, soul tours, and a huge 3-day community festival! Plus, new events are added every day. It’s also free to add your own events to the guide!

Songs From The Rat Pack – A Swinging Big Band Spectacular
Yorkshire’s premier Big Band brings the golden age of swing to Blackburn with a spectacular Rat Pack celebration this September.

This Week in Blackburn (Mon 01 – Sun 07 Sept 2025)
Looking for things to do in Blackburn & Darwen this week? 🎉 Blackburn’s biggest and busiest What’s On Guide is back — with over 40 new events added in the last 7 days! From legendary live music and comedy nights to community festivals, bingo, gaming and family fun, it’s all right here. Don’t forget — it’s completely free to add your own events too.
Blackburn News Archive
All the archived stories from Blackburn Life – News about Blackburn and Darwen

Still lots of time to catch a Panto for some Family Festive Fun – with our What’s On Guide for the week beginning 23rd December 2019

It’s been an amazing 12 months for this local band – come and see what all the fuss is about at King George’s Hall this December!

Buster Bloodvessel has been fronting Bad Manners for over 40 years and shows no sign of stopping. Start your Christmas celebrations early at King George’s Hall this December!

Performing songs from the album, Steeltown as well as the classic hits and live favourites, Big Country will be live at King George’s Hall this week.

Blackburn Market begins its Twilight Market this week. The weekly event runs every Thursday from 5th December

The Godfather of modern stand-up returns! Ben Elton is back on the road with an all new stand-up show. His new show promises to try and make sense of a world

As we head towards the festive season again, Blackburn Life and What’s On Blackburn bring you the definitive guide to opening times for Christmas 2019 and the New Year.

Darwen Library Theatre will host Olivier Award-winning British producer and actor, Guy Masterson, for his brilliant solo performance of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol on Thursday 28th November.

More than 30 years ago, Ben Elton exploded into the national consciousness hosting Channel 4’s groundbreaking Saturday Live.


This November, Darwen Library Theatre hosts ‘Cash and Carter, Together’, a touring tribute to Johnny Cash and June Carter.

Pop icon, Adam Ant performs his landmark, solo album Friend Or Foe LIVE in its entirety, this November at King George’s Hall.

Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of The Jam’s 4th studio album ‘Setting Sons’, From the Jam bring The Jam’s greatest hits to King George’s Hall this November.

This November, Blackburn Empire Theatre are proud to welcome Coldplace: a tribute formed by Coldplay fans, for Coldplay fans.

Special commemorations are set to take place across the borough to mark Remembrance Day. Residents are invited to join the Royal British Legion and Blackburn with Darwen Council at services

The HEADLINE sponsor for the Blackburn Cathedral Flower Festival, which returns in 2020, has been announced.
Family company and nationally respected home furnishing specialists, Plumbs, will be the lead sponsor for the Festival which takes place from 17th to 21st June 2020.

This November, star of Comedy Central at the Comedy Store, Josh (BBC3) and co-writer and star of Radio 4’s Small Scenes, Henry Paker bring his latest show, a unique mixture

With Guy Fawkes night just around the corner, we have lined up our guide to bonfires that are open to the public to help you have a safe night.

This November, Blackburn Empire Theatre welcomes Pete McCall as Rod Stewart, plus his five piece band with The Rod Stewart Songbook.

Blackburn Life are grateful to Blackburn Town Centre businesses who are supporting our campaign to raise the profile of the Poppy Appeal in the town. The silhouette images of a

This November, The Alarm lead singer and songwriter, Mike Peters, will present The Alarm – Hurricane of Change 30th Anniversary Acoustic Tour at Darwen Library Theatre.

This November head to Blackburn Empire Theatre for the only Bon Jovi tribute show you need to see!

Iron Bell – The Music of Pink Floyd return to Darwen Library Theatre this November after another fantastic performance last year.

Gordon Buchanan will be bringing his show, Animal Families and Me to King George’s Hall on Tuesday 5th November.

Stripped back with an acoustic guitar in his hands, Cast frontman, John Power, will perform live at Darwen Library Theatre this November. Having first made his mark on the UK

Click your heels and join Dorothy and her friends as they take a stroll down the yellow brick road in search of The Emerald City this November.

BEATLEMANIA head to Darwen Library Theatre this November for what promises to be a non-stop Beatles party with over forty songs from ‘Love Me Do’ to ‘Let It Be’.

You can dance, you can jive, and have the time of your life with ABBAMANIA this November at King George’s Hall.

This week, Let’s Make at Blackburn Market, Halloween Fun and Half Term Treats.

The Mall Blackburn is promising an unforgettable experience for children this Christmas and the elves are already busy behind the scenes.

Kiefer Sutherland brings his music to Blackburn’s King George’s Hall on Saturday 22nd February 2020

week, Forbidden Nights bring their “Circus just got Sexy” tour to town.

The Empire Theatre in Blackburn will host a nostalgic night for fans of 80s music, featuring two of the UK’s most iconic bands from the era.

This October, Mick Miller returns to the UK and the Blackburn Empire Theatre with his Back from Vegas tour!

Billy Mitchell & Bob Fox bring their show to Darwen Library Theatre on Friday 3rd April 2020.

The ultimate show for guitar lovers is coming to Blackburn Empire Theatre this October.