September is one of those months where Southport is genuinely at its best and most people don't know it. Summer crowds are gone. The weather is often still reasonable — not beach weather, but good walking weather, good park weather. And this September, the single best evening event in the entire 2026 calendar happens to be on: the British Musical Fireworks Championship.
📅Key September 2026 dates: Fireworks Championship 26–27 Sept · Comedy Festival starts 2 October · Summer school holidays end before September — town is quieter than August but still very much open.
British Musical Fireworks Championship: 26–27 September
The headline event of the month. Two evenings at Victoria Park — pyrotechnic teams competing by choreographing displays to music, judged on synchronisation, mood, and flow. Tickets are £12 and must be booked in advance; there are no gate sales. The event includes a drone show each evening from 7:45pm before the main displays.
This isn't a soft fireworks display — it's a proper competition and the quality is consistently exceptional. The setting at Victoria Park at night, with the right crowd and a cold flask, is one of the best nights out Southport has.
Full guide to the Fireworks Championship — format, parking, what to expect:
Fireworks Championship 2026 Guide →The Start of Comedy Season
The Comedy Festival kicks off on 2 October, so anyone visiting in the last week of September is arriving just before it starts. If you're planning a longer stay or a weekend around the fireworks, it's worth checking whether any early Comedy Festival shows are already on sale for the following week. Several 2026 acts are already confirmed including Henning Wehn and Gary Delaney.
Comedy Festival 2026 — lineup, dates and how to book:
Southport Comedy Festival 2026 Guide →Where to Stay and Eat
September is a quieter booking period than July and August, which means accommodation is considerably more available than during The Open or Flower Show. Book for fireworks weekend at least a few weeks ahead — the event does attract visitors from further afield. The rest of September you'll find good availability across the hotel and B&B offer.
Hotels in Southport — full directory of accommodation:
Browse Southport hotels →Terry
Chief Editor, SouthportGuide.co.uk — Lives in Churchtown with his wife,
four kids, and Frank the bulldog.
