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, which 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 artifacts belonging to the Master of Mirth himself, which will be travelling exclusively to the resort direct from Museum of Liverpool - part of National Museums Liverpool.
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!
Happiness! The Ken Dodd Exhibition is a special ticketed exhibition, with admission priced at just £3 per adult, while children can visit completely free of charge. This small admission charge helps support the delivery of nationally significant exhibitions like Happiness! and allows Showtown to continue bringing exciting cultural experiences, major collections and world-class entertainment heritage exhibitions to Blackpool for residents and visitors alike.
Showtown is operated by the Blackpool Heritage and Museum Trust, a registered charity dedicated to preserving and celebrating Blackpool’s unique entertainment heritage. Registered Charity Number: 1155729.
Lady Dodd will officially open the Showtown exhibition this June and said of Doddy’s return to Blackpool:
“Ken absolutely adored Blackpool. He always said there was nowhere quite like it for entertainment and audiences, and some of his happiest memories were made from performing there over the years. He called Blackpool ‘the greatest show town in the world’ and so he would be thrilled to know that this exhibition featuring so many treasured pieces from his life and career is to be held at the museum whose name he inspired! I hope visitors leave smiling, laughing and remembering the joy he loved to share with everyone.”