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 | 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. Arrive early — parking fills up fast.
Porthleven Food Festival details →
Rattler Fest
24–25 April | 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.
May 2026
Obby Oss Festival — Padstow May Day
1 May | 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.
Helston Flora Day
8 May | Helston town centre | Free
Another of Cornwall’s great traditions, held annually on 8th May. 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 at dawn is not to be missed.
St Ives Food & Drink Festival
15–17 May | 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.
St Ives Food & Drink Festival details →
Great Estate Festival
29–31 May | 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.
Great Estate Festival details →
June 2026
Royal Cornwall Show
4–6 June | 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.
Tunes in the Dunes
5–7 June | 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.
Falmouth Sea Shanty Festival
12–14 June | 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.
Falmouth Sea Shanty Festival details →
Eden Sessions
16 June – 15 July | 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 are announced in spring — book early as shows sell out fast.
Golowan Festival & Mazey Day
19–28 June | 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.
Morvala Festival of Arts
25–28 June | 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.
July 2026
Tropical Pressure Festival
10–12 July | 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.
Rock Oyster Festival
23–26 July | 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.
Rock Oyster Festival details →
August 2026
Boardmasters
5–9 August | 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. This is the headline event of the Cornish summer.
Falmouth Week
7–16 August | Falmouth Harbour & town | Free (most events)
Ten days of sailing, live music, fireworks, and family events centred on Falmouth’s harbour and waterfront. The main regatta is complemented by shore-side entertainment every evening.
Fowey Royal Regatta
16–22 August | Fowey Harbour | Free
A week of sailing, gig racing, live entertainment, and fireworks in the beautiful harbour town of Fowey. One of Cornwall’s most charming summer events.
Cornwall Folk Festival
27–31 August | 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 | Healeys Cyder Farm, near Newquay | 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 | 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
18–20 September | 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 →
Great Cornish Food Festival
25–27 September | Truro city centre | Free
Cornwall’s largest food festival, held in the heart of the county’s capital city. Over 100 producers, top chefs, live music, and family activities. A must for foodies visiting in autumn.
Great Cornish Food Festival details →
October 2026
Falmouth Oyster Festival
8–11 October | 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. One of Cornwall’s finest food events.
Falmouth Oyster Festival details →
December 2026
Montol Festival
21 December | Penzance | Free
Penzance’s winter solstice celebration, reviving ancient Cornish midwinter traditions. A torchlit procession, masked guise dancing, bonfires, and community celebrations mark the longest night. A magical end to the Cornish events calendar.
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 March 2026.
