Boardmasters 2026 has concluded after five days of music, surfing and coastal culture on the Cornish coast. The festival welcomed a cumulative 158,000 attendees to Watergate Bay and Fistral Beach in Newquay.
Headline performances came from Fatboy Slim, Lily Allen and Kasabian. On Friday, local four-piece Fletchr Fletchr opened the Main Stage, followed by London singer-songwriter Rose Gray. Fatboy Slim then turned the Watergate Bay Main Stage into a large open-air dancefloor with his DJ set.
Lily Allen headlined on Saturday, performing her theatrical "West End Girl" album. Sunday's Main Stage opened with Falmouth folk artist Essy Sparrow, the inaugural winner of the Boardmasters Breaking competition in partnership with BBC Introducing. Kasabian closed the main stage on Sunday night.
Other performers across the weekend included The Kooks, Loyle Carner, Nia Archives, Rudimental, REN, Tinie Tempah, Example and Dizzee Rascal. The Mordros stage hosted Pendulum (Live), Goldie (Live) and The Darkness, along with Chloe Qisha. At Surf Club 81, General Levy, Lens, Woody Cook and others played. Unleashed featured Ewan McVicar, Hamdi, Hannah Wants and Girls Don't Sync. The Keg & Pasty stage showcased Cornish talent, sea shanties and comedy.
In partnership with Oceana UK, Boardmasters launched a new ocean protection initiative. The View stage overlooked the Atlantic and featured acoustic sets from Sasha Keable, Hot 8 Brass Band, Beans On Toast and Lucy Spraggan. Art students from Falmouth University created protest artwork displayed at the stage, calling for an end to destructive bottom-trawling in UK Marine Protected Areas.
Rob Spring, festival director, said: "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."
The Boardmasters Open at Fistral Beach drew thousands as it stepped up to a World Surf League QS 4,000 rating. Sam Piter of France won the Men's Shortboard title, beating local favourite Lukas Skinner. Spain's Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri won the Women's Shortboard crown. In the Boardmasters Longboard Pro presented by YETI, France's Louis Marchiset claimed his first Longboard Qualifying Series title in the Men's division, while Alice Lemoigne of Reunion Island secured her seventh Boardmasters title in the Women's division.
The wellness programme included yoga, sound baths and ice baths. The festival site also had dozens of local independent traders, Cornish food stalls and artisan creators, alongside sustainable, zero-waste dining options. A dedicated sensory calm space offered low lighting, earplugs and weighted blankets for neurodiverse guests.
Boardmasters will return to the Cornish coast from 4th to 8th August 2027. Sign up now for pre-sale. Super Early Bird tickets, available at the lowest price, are live now. General sale begins at 10am on Friday 14th August. Buy Super Early Bird tickets to secure the lowest price and spread the cost from October with payment plan instalments.
Sun-Soaked Boardmasters Festival Draws 158,000 in Newquay