The three-day focus follows on from the success of last year's event, where shows were held on three successive nights for the first time. It will take place on the Tower Festival Headland over the weekend of 4-6 September.
The first night (Friday) will see chart-topping stars entertaining a crowd of thousands before the Blackpool illuminations are switched on by a celebrity guest. On Saturday, the arena will be taken over by Sky Television’s Vintage TV channel, hosting an 1980s night with a raft of stars performing chart-topping hits from the decade.
For Sunday night, the focus will turn to comedy, with the first-ever comedy gig to be held on the Tower Festival Headland.
This year marks the first time the festival has partnered with TV broadcasters and the highlights of the Saturday night concert will be broadcast to Vintage TV viewers after the event.
This concert will be free to attend, with a proportion of tickets allocated for local residents. Last year 18,000 people enjoyed a night of entertainment featuring some of the most popular names in British music.
Councillor Graham Cain, cabinet member for tourism and leisure, said: "I’m delighted to be able to announce our plans for Blackpool iFest. Last year was the first time we held shows on three successive nights and it went really well.
"The feedback we received from local businesses and hoteliers was that it encouraged people to stay for the full weekend, which is what we set out to achieve. We are following the same concept this year, but changing the events so they appeal to a wider audience."
David Pick, Vintage TV’s founder and chief executive, said: "We’re absolutely delighted to be one of the media partners for this exciting and extraordinary event, and we’re thoroughly enjoying the experience of working with Blackpool and everyone else involved."
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