Boardmasters is Cornwall’s biggest festival. Five days split across two sites - live music at Watergate Bay and competitive surfing at Fistral Beach - with skateboarding, BMX, and a lifestyle village filling the gaps. Attendance regularly tops 50,000.
What to Expect
The music stages sit on the clifftops above Watergate Bay, with the Atlantic as a backdrop. Past headliners include Florence + The Machine, The Killers, Disclosure, and Sam Fender. The 2026 lineup typically drops in stages from February onwards.
During the day, professional surf competitions run at Fistral with WSL-sanctioned events. The skate ramp draws international riders. Between competitions, the beach is open for swimming and surfing.
The festival village has food stalls, bars, craft markets, and wellness areas. Expect Cornish seafood, wood-fired pizza, and cocktail bars alongside the usual festival fare.
Camping
On-site camping is at the Watergate Bay festival site. Options range from standard tent pitches to pre-pitched bell tents and luxury glamping. The campsite has showers, toilets, phone charging, and food vendors. A shuttle runs between the camping site and Fistral Beach for the surf events.
Getting There
Watergate Bay is three miles north of Newquay on the B3276. Festival parking is signposted from the A30 and A392. Newquay train station is the nearest rail link - shuttle buses connect to the festival site.
Where to Stay
If camping isn’t your thing, Newquay has the widest range of accommodation in the area. Book early - Boardmasters week is the busiest of the year for north coast properties. Padstow and Mawgan Porth are within 15 minutes by car.
