Get ready for a tattyfilarious trip into the wonderfully wacky world of a comedy legend at Showtown this summer!

Blackpool’s award-winning museum of fun and entertainment is truly tickled to announce its first-ever visiting exhibition will bring giggles galore for all the family as it celebrates the life and career of Sir Ken Dodd OBE.

Happiness! The Ken Dodd Exhibition will open at Showtown on Wednesday 24 June 2026 and run right through to Sunday 3 January 2027, showcasing a joyful and deeply personal collection of rare artefacts belonging to the Master of Mirth himself, which will be travelling exclusively to the resort direct from the Museum of Liverpool – part of National Museums Liverpool.

This exciting standalone exhibition will be packed with rarely seen theatrical treasures and will also pay tribute to Ken’s deep and enduring relationship with Blackpool. For decades, audiences flocked to the resort’s theatres to see Doddy’s famously marathon performances, with his legendary live shows often continuing long into the early hours. But his town ties also stretched far beyond the stage, with Ken switching on the Illuminations in 1966, helping save Blackpool Grand Theatre in the 1970s and proudly opening the Promenade’s famous Comedy Carpet in 2011!

Visitors can explore a specially curated selection of fascinating archive programmes and photographs, admire Ken’s flamboyant stage outfits, fun props and original puppets - including the infamous Dicky Mint - the Foreman from the Jam Butty Mines of Knotty Ash, watch original video footage of his performances and read exclusive excerpts from private notebooks belonging to the much-loved comedian and entertainer.

Madame Tussauds Blackpool has even kindly loaned its life-size waxwork of Sir Ken, complete with tickling stick, to watch over proceedings throughout the exhibition. And there will also be a gloriously interactive giggle map which captures just some of the many places and people Ken encountered during his live stage shows across the country, with an innovative touchscreen to take a titter tour!

Developed in partnership with National Museums Liverpool and The Ken Dodd Charitable Foundation, the original Happiness! exhibition was enjoyed by thousands of visitors in Ken’s home city throughout 2024 at Museum of Liverpool. Now set to travel to one of his most beloved places to perform live, Showtown is working with Blackpool Council on a number of exciting collaborations this year to celebrate the life and legacy of Sir Ken Dodd.

Happiness! is arriving in Blackpool this June and it’s bringing a tickling stick… Book your tickets now and Let’s Have Fun!

Happiness! The Ken Dodd Exhibition will run from Wednesday 24 June 2026 until Sunday 3 January 2027 at Showtown, Bank Hey Street, Blackpool, FY1 4TQ.