Lancaster and Morecambe School Aid music festival taking a break in 2026

Jay Blackburn

Organisers of a music festival raising funds for local schools said the event will not take place this year.

School Aid was founded in 2018 and traditionally runs over a weekend in February, with live music from local artists raising money for several primary schools in Morecambe and Lancaster.

Last year's event raised £13,000, taking the total amount raised over seven years to £42,000.

Jay Blackburn and Rob Ellershaw, who co-founded School Aid, have decided to put the event on hold this year.

Mr Blackburn, who took over the Golden Ball at Snatchems in 2025 with his wife Lucy, said the new role meant he'd been unable to devote the time needed to make the event a success this year.

He said he hoped School Aid will return in 2027.

Mr Blackburn, a musician, and Mr Ellershaw, landlord of The Exchange pub in Morecambe, founded School Aid after Jay watched a shocking TV news report about the poverty of children in a local primary school.

The event has been supported by Beyond Radio each year since its inception, and has traditionally been held at The Bobbin in Lancaster and The Exchange.

School Aid is not the only established event in Morecambe not taking place in 2026.

It was announced last July that the popular Baylight light art festival will not happen this year but is expected to return in 2027.

Read more: Morecambe Baylight festival taking a break but will return in 2027 - Beyond Radio

Organisers of the Nice n' Sleazy event, Morecambe's longest running music festival, also announced it would not take place this year.

Read more: Longest running music festival in Morecambe cancelled in 2026 - Beyond Radio

And the Morecambe Rides Again scooter rally is also taking a break this summer, but will return in 2027.

Morecambe events confirmed for this year include The Bay International Film Festival (running now until February 1), Prom Fest music festival from April 10-12, A Splendid Day Out steampunk festival from June 5-7, Morecambe Music Festival from July 9-12, Morecambe Film and TV festival (July) and Morecambe Punk Festival from November 13-15.

A programme of events is also expected to be announced to celebrate the centenary of Eric Morecambe's birth, in May. 

Read more: Popular steampunk festival to return to Morecambe with pirate theme - Beyond Radio

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