Boardmasters 2026 has officially wrapped up its five-day run, drawing a cumulative 158,000 music and surf fans to the cliffs of Watergate Bay and the shores of Fistral Beach in Newquay.
Combining high-energy electronic, indie, and pop acts with international surf competitions, the 2026 edition delivered one of the heaviest lineups on the UK summer circuit.
Friday on the Main Stage kicked off with local four-piece Fletchr Fletchr, followed by an early afternoon set from London singer-songwriter Rose Gray. Headliner Fatboy Slim took over as night fell, turning the cliffside venue into a massive open-air rave with a hit-packed DJ set.
Saturday belonged to Lily Allen, who made a rare and triumphant festival appearance. Performing tracks from her theatrical West End Girl album, her set stood out as a clear highlight of the weekend.
Sunday opened with Falmouth folk artist Essy Sparrow, winner of the inaugural Boardmasters Breaking competition with BBC Introducing. Closing out the weekend, indie veterans Kasabian delivered a relentless, high-octane headline set that proved why they remain a staple of British festival culture.
The Main Stage also saw strong crowds throughout the weekend for The Kooks, Loyle Carner, Nia Archives—who debuted her Emotional Junglist live show—Rudimental, REN, Tinie Tempah, Example, and Dizzee Rascal.
Across the wider site, late-night sets kept the energy going across multiple specialized stages. The Mordros stage hosted heavy performances from Pendulum (Live), Goldie (Live), and The Darkness, alongside rising pop artist Chloe Qisha. Meanwhile, cliffside venue Surf Club 81 brought Atlantic views alongside sets from General Levy, Lens, and Woody Cook, while Unleashed drew huge dance crowds for Ewan McVicar, Hamdi, Hannah Wants, and Girls Don’t Sync.
Beyond the music, the festival partnered with Oceana UK at The View stage, pairing acoustic sets from Sasha Keable and Beans On Toast with protest art by Falmouth University students targeting destructive bottom-trawling in UK Marine Protected Areas. Accessibility also took a step forward with a dedicated Sensory Calm Space offering neurodiverse guests a low-stimulation sanctuary away from the main arenas.
Down at Fistral Beach, the Boardmasters Open leveled up to a World Surf League (WSL) QS 4,000 rating. France’s Sam Piter won the Men’s Shortboard title against local favorite Lukas Skinner, while Spain’s Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri took the Women’s Shortboard trophy. In the Longboard Pro, France’s Louis Marchiset won his first Longboard Qualifying Series title, and Reunion Island’s Alice Lemoigne made history by claiming her seventh Boardmasters title.
Boardmasters will return to Newquay from August 4th–8th, 2027, with early bird ticket options already open.
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