BOARDMASTERS WELCOMED 158,000 PEOPLE ACROSS SUN-SOAKED WEEKEND IN NEWQUAY, ANNOUNCES DETAILS FOR 2027

Headliners Fatboy Slim, Lily Allen and Kasabian deliver unforgettable performances as festival season culminates on the Cornish coast!

Boardmasters returns 4th-8th August 2027

Sign-ups for 2027 presale HERE

Presale tickets: Live now

General on sale: Friday 14th August at 10:00 AM

 

Following five days of sun-drenched music, world-class surf and coastal culture, Boardmasters 2026 has officially concluded, welcoming cumulative 158,000 attendees across 5 days  to the dramatic cliffs of Watergate Bay and the iconic shores of Fistral Beach.

 

Returning to its home on the Cornish coast, this year’s festival delivered an incredible weekend of live entertainment. Fans from across the UK and beyond descended upon Newquay to experience a lineup that saw headline performances from three of the UK’s most legendary acts.

 

Friday’s proceedings on the Main Stage kicked off with an electric opening set from local four-piece Fletchr Fletchr, setting the pace ahead of a standout early-afternoon appearance from London singer-songwriter Rose Gray. Later on, headliner Fatboy Slim turned the Watergate Bay Main Stage into a massive open-air dancefloor with an unforgettable DJ set. 

 

Lily Allen headlined on Saturday, who captivated the crowd with a triumphant return, performing her theatrical ‘West End Girl’ album and delivering a fine performance that stood as a definitive moment of the 2026 festival season. 

 

Sunday’s Main Stage was fittingly opened by Falmouth-based folk artist Essy Sparrow, who earned her spot as the inaugural winner of the festival’s Boardmasters Breaking competition in partnership with BBC Introducing. Later on delivering one of the most electrifying headline performances of the weekend, indie icons Kasabian closed out the main stage on Sunday with a set that reaffirmed their status as one of Britain’s most legendary live bands.

 

The Main Stage also played host throughout the weekend to standout performances from The Kooks, who brought their signature indie sound, and Loyle Carner, whose poetic lyricism provided one of the weekend's most poignant moments. Jungle trailblazer Nia Archives cemented her status as a festival favorite, bringing her new live show and her new ‘Emotional Junglist’ album to a rapturous reception, while high-energy sets from artists including Rudimental, REN, Tinie Tempah, Example and Dizzee Rascal kept the energy electric from start to finish.

 

Across the festival's distinct stages, genre-defying music vibrated late into the night. The Mordros stage hosted explosive sets from Pendulum (Live), Goldie (Live) and rock titans The Darkness, alongside standout performances from rising pop talent Chloe Qisha. Sunset seekers gathered at Surf Club 81, the cliffside venue boasting sweeping Atlantic vistas, for high-energy sets from the likes of General Levy, Lens, Woody Cook and more.

 

Dance enthusiasts flocked to Unleashed to catch massive sets from the likes of Ewan McVicar, Hamdi, Hannah Wants, Girls Don’t Sync and more. Meanwhile, the iconic Keg & Pasty stage championed grassroots Cornish talent, maritime sea shanties, and stand-up comedy, serving as the cultural heart of the arena.

 

Advancing its mission to safeguard the Cornish coast, Boardmasters launched a major new ocean protection initiative in partnership with Oceana UK. Centred around the reimagined The View stage, which overlooked the Atlantic with acoustic sets from acts like Sasha Keable, Hot 8 Brass Band, Beans On Toast, and Lucy Spraggan, the stage displayed powerful original protest artwork created by Falmouth University art students calling for an end to destructive bottom-trawling in UK Marine Protected Areas.

Rob Spring, Festival Director says “This year's Boardmasters was everything we could have dreamed of when we started planning each edition, five days of incredible music, world-class surfing and that unmistakable Cornish spirit and sunshine that makes this festival what it is.”, he continued “Watching  people come together on our coastline, from the Main Stage all the way down to the sensory calm space, is exactly why we do this. We're already excited to get started on 2027 and we can't wait to welcome everyone back next year for what's shaping up to be our biggest year yet.”

 

Beyond the stages, Boardmasters 2026 continued its unique tradition of merging music with surf culture, sustainability, and wellness. The Boardmasters Open at Fistral Beach drew thousands to witness elite international surfing as the event stepped up to a World Surf League (WSL) QS 4,000 rating. France’s Sam Piter clinched the Men’s Shortboard title in a thriller against local favorite Lukas Skinner, while Spain’s Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri claimed the Women’s Shortboard crown. In the Boardmasters Longboard Pro presented by YETI, France’s Louis Marchiset captured his first-ever Longboard Qualifying Series title in the Men's division, while Reunion Island’s Alice Lemoigne made history by securing her seventh Boardmasters title in the Women's division.

 

Meanwhile, the wellness programme, featuring yoga, sound baths, and ice baths, provided a sanctuary for attendees to reset against the Atlantic backdrop. The festival site also celebrated Cornwall’s rich culinary scene with dozens of local independent traders, Cornish food stalls, and artisan creators lined the arena, showcasing regional produce alongside sustainable, zero-waste dining options.

 

Additionally, in a commitment to inclusivity, the festival also provided a sensory calm space, offering a dedicated, soothing sanctuary for neurodiverse guests. This quiet zone was equipped with low lighting, earplugs, and weighted blankets, ensuring a supportive environment where anyone feeling overwhelmed by the bustling festival atmosphere could take a moment to relax and recharge.

 

Following a phenomenal 2026 edition, Boardmasters will return to the Cornish coast from 4th-8th August 2027. Sign up now for pre-sale. Access Super Early Bird tickets, available at the lowest price are live now. General sale begins at 10am on Friday 14th August. Secure the lowest priced Super Early Bird tickets and spread the cost from October with payment plan instalments.