Cornwall has one of the richest events calendars in the UK, with festivals, food fairs, regattas, and ancient celebrations running from spring through to the winter solstice. Whether you are planning a holiday around a specific event or just want to know what is happening during your stay, this month-by-month guide covers every major event in Cornwall for 2026.
April 2026
Porthleven Food Festival
24-26 April 2026 (this year’s festival has taken place) | Porthleven Harbour | Free
One of Cornwall’s most popular food festivals, set against the dramatic backdrop of Porthleven’s harbour wall. Expect local chefs, street food, live music, and Cornwall’s finest producers. The 2027 dates have not been confirmed yet - check the event page nearer the time.
Porthleven Food Festival details →
Rattler Fest
24-25 April 2026 (took place) | Healeys Cyder Farm, near Truro | Ticketed
A celebration of Cornish cyder at the home of Rattler. Live music, food stalls, and plenty of tastings across the Healeys farm. The 2027 edition is confirmed for 7-8 May.
May 2026
Obby Oss Festival - Padstow May Day
1 May 2026 (took place) | Padstow | Free
One of Cornwall’s most ancient and atmospheric traditions. The town erupts in song, dance, and colour as the Obby Oss parades through Padstow’s narrow streets. The celebrations start before dawn and carry on until dusk. Padstow is packed - get there early or stay the night before. The 2027 date is provisionally set for 1 May.
Helston Flora Day
8 May 2026 (took place) | Helston town centre | Free
Another of Cornwall’s great traditions, held on 8 May unless that falls on a Sunday or Monday, when it moves to the Saturday before. The famous Furry Dance sees hundreds of couples dance through the streets in their finest attire, weaving in and out of shops and gardens. The Hal-an-Tow pageant starts at St John’s Bridge at 8:30am, after the 7am Early Morning Dance. The 2027 edition is confirmed for 8 May.
St Ives Food & Drink Festival
15-17 May 2026 (took place) | Porthminster Beach, St Ives | Free
A weekend of local food and drink on one of Cornwall’s most beautiful beaches. Chef demonstrations, tastings, and live music with the wide arc of St Ives bay as a backdrop. The 2027 dates have not been confirmed yet.
St Ives Food & Drink Festival details →
Great Estate Festival
29-31 May 2026 (took place) | Scorrier House Estate, near Redruth | Ticketed
A boutique music and arts festival in the grounds of a beautiful Cornish country estate. Family-friendly during the day with a festival atmosphere by night. The 2027 edition is confirmed for 4-6 June.
Great Estate Festival details →
June 2026
Royal Cornwall Show
4-6 June 2026 (took place) | Royal Cornwall Events Centre, Wadebridge | Ticketed
Cornwall’s biggest agricultural show and a highlight of the county calendar. Livestock, food halls, showjumping, local crafts, and fairground rides - a proper day out for the whole family. The 2027 edition is confirmed for 10-12 June.
Tunes in the Dunes
5-7 June 2026 (took place) | Perranporth Beach | Ticketed
A beach music festival on the sands at Perranporth with a lineup spanning rock, pop, folk, and indie. Great atmosphere with the Atlantic as a stage backdrop. The 2027 edition is confirmed for 11-13 June.
Falmouth Sea Shanty Festival
12-14 June 2026 (took place) | Events Square & venues across Falmouth | Free
One of the UK’s largest sea shanty festivals. Crews from around the world perform across Falmouth’s pubs, squares, and waterfront. A brilliant free weekend with a fantastic atmosphere. The 2027 edition is confirmed for 18-20 June.
Falmouth Sea Shanty Festival details →
Eden Sessions
16 June - 15 July 2026 (took place) | Eden Project, Bodelva | Ticketed
The Eden Project’s annual outdoor concert series, featuring major artists performing against the iconic backdrop of the biomes. Acts and dates for the 2027 series have not been announced yet - they’re typically confirmed in spring, and shows sell out fast once they are.
Golowan Festival & Mazey Day
19-28 June 2026 (took place) | Penzance town centre | Free
Penzance’s midsummer celebration, culminating in Mazey Day - a full day of parades, live music, street performers, and stalls throughout the town centre. One of west Cornwall’s biggest community events. The 2027 dates have not been confirmed yet.
Morvala Festival of Arts
25-28 June 2026 (took place) | Mount Edgcumbe Country Park, Torpoint | Ticketed
A multi-arts festival in the 800-acre grounds of Mount Edgcumbe country park, combining music, theatre, spoken word, and visual arts in an intimate setting. No 2027 dates have been announced.
July 2026
Tropical Pressure Festival
10-12 July 2026 (took place) | Near Redruth | Ticketed
Cornwall’s world music festival, bringing together global sounds, DJs, and live acts in a colourful, intimate setting. A genuinely underrated event on the festival circuit. The 2027 dates have not been confirmed yet.
Rock Oyster Festival
23-26 July 2026 (took place) | Dinham House, Camel Estuary, near Wadebridge | Ticketed
A food, music, and arts festival on the banks of the Camel Estuary. Celebrity chefs, local producers, live music, and water activities - all set against the tidal creeks and wooded banks of the Camel. The 2027 edition is confirmed for 29 July - 1 August.
Rock Oyster Festival details →
August 2026
Boardmasters
5-9 August 2026 (took place) | Watergate Bay & Fistral Beach, Newquay | Ticketed
Cornwall’s biggest music and surf festival. Five days of live acts on the clifftops above Watergate Bay, combined with international surf competitions at Fistral Beach. Check the event page for the next edition.
Falmouth Week
7-16 August 2026 (took place) | Falmouth Harbour & town | Free (most events)
Ten days of sailing, live music and family events centred on Falmouth’s harbour and waterfront. The 2026 Falmouth Week fireworks were cancelled, and Falmouth Town Team arranged a one-off Fireworks Night from Pendennis Castle on 5 November instead.
Fowey Royal Regatta
16-22 August 2026 (took place) | Fowey Harbour | Free
A week of sailing, gig racing, live entertainment, and fireworks in the harbour town of Fowey. Check the event page for the next edition.
Cornwall Folk Festival
27-31 August 2026 (took place) | Wadebridge | Ticketed
Cornwall’s premier folk music festival, held over the August bank holiday weekend in Wadebridge. Concerts, sessions, workshops, and a packed programme across multiple venues.
Cornwall Folk Festival details →
September 2026
Little Orchard Cider & Music Festival
11-13 September 2026 (took place) | Healeys Cyder Farm, near Truro | Ticketed
A weekend of cider, live music, and local food at the home of Cornish Rattler. A relaxed, friendly festival with a great lineup.
St Ives September Festival
12-26 September 2026 (took place) | St Ives | Free (most events)
Two weeks of music, art, literature, and spoken word across St Ives. A cultural highlight of the autumn calendar, with events in galleries, churches, and outdoor spaces.
St Ives September Festival details →
Penzance Food Festival
3-6 September 2026 (took place) | Penlee Park, Penzance | Free
A celebration of west Cornwall’s food and drink producers, with tastings, cookery demonstrations, and live music in the beautiful setting of Penlee Park.
Penzance Food Festival details →
Truro Food Festival (formerly Great Cornish Food Festival)
23-27 September 2026 (took place) | Lemon Quay, Truro | Free
Cornwall’s largest food festival, held in the heart of the county’s capital city. Producers, street food, chef demonstrations, and live music at Lemon Quay.
October 2026
Falmouth Oyster Festival
8-11 October 2026 (took place) | Events Square, Falmouth | Free
The official opening of the oyster dredging season on the Fal, celebrated with four days of fresh oysters, seafood, cookery demonstrations, live music, and working boat races. The 2027 festival is confirmed for 7-10 October.
Falmouth Oyster Festival details →
November 2026
Falmouth Fireworks Night
Thursday 5 November 2026, 7pm (took place) | Pendennis Castle launch, Falmouth
A one-off display, arranged after the August Falmouth Week fireworks were cancelled, launched from Pendennis Castle. Falmouth Town listed five viewing points, from the Hornworks at Pendennis Point to Prince of Wales Pier.
Cornwall Film Festival
2-29 November | The Poly, Falmouth, and venues across Cornwall | Ticketed
The 26th festival’s preview week runs at the Poly from 16 to 22 November, with an industry day on Thursday 19 November and screenings on tour around the county.
Cornwall Film Festival details →
Cornish Winter Fair
21-22 November | Royal Cornwall Events Centre, Wadebridge | Free
The Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association’s indoor winter show, with the Wadebridge Prime Stock Show on the Saturday, more than 150 trade stands and free parking.
Christmas lights and markets
From mid-November | Across Cornwall
Heligan Night Garden opens on selected evenings from 13 November, and Christmas at the Eden Project runs on selected dates from 20 November. The Truro Christmas Market opens on Lemon Quay on 21 November, and Falmouth’s Christmas lights switch-on is at 7pm on Thursday 26 November on The Moor.
December 2026
Christmas fairs and lights
Throughout December | Across Cornwall
The Padstow Christmas Fayre runs from 3 to 6 December, with its lantern parade at 6pm and fireworks at 8pm on Friday 4 December. Santa arrives by lifeboat in St Ives on 9 December, Mousehole Harbour Lights shine from 10 December to 3 January, and the Cornwall Christmas Market fills the Royal Cornwall Showground from 11 to 13 December. The Fowey Christmas Market has been cancelled for 2026.
Montol Festival
21 December | Penzance
Penzance’s winter solstice celebration, reviving Cornish midwinter traditions. Masked guise dancers, music and the burning of the sun on a bonfire mark the longest night. The organisers will announce precise timings closer to the date.
Planning your trip
Many of Cornwall’s best events are free to attend, but accommodation books up fast around the most popular festivals. Browse our places to stay for hand-picked cottages, hotels, and B&Bs, or check our town guides to find the best base for your visit.
For the full events calendar with filtering and search, visit our events calendar page.
This guide is updated regularly. Last reviewed November 2026.
