Following the conclusion of a sun-soaked 2025 event, organisers of Boardmasters have already confirmed the festival’s return for 2026. The festival is set to take place from Wednesday, 5 to Sunday, 9 August 2026, at its iconic Cornish home. In a new move, a ‘Loyalty Onsale’ has been announced, giving previous attendees exclusive early access to tickets. The sale will begin at 10am on Wednesday, 13 August, and is open to anyone who purchased a ticket for the 2024 or 2025 festivals. Eligible buyers will receive a unique ticket link directly via email.
The announcement comes after a weekend that saw tens of thousands of fans enjoy world-class music at the Watergate Bay site. This year’s festival featured a dazzling headline performance from RAYE, a UK festival-first headline set from Central Cee, and a fierce, high-octane finale from the legendary The Prodigy. Other standout moments included Nelly Furtado bringing out Katy B for a surprise duet of ‘I’m Like A Bird’, and the much-anticipated return of Rizzle Kicks to the stage after an eight-year hiatus.
Boardmasters CEO, Andrew Topham, commented on the success of the event and pointed towards key operational improvements. In a statement, he said, “I’m very proud of the festival that the team have produced… We appreciate the positive feedback we’ve received on many of the improvements, including this year’s traffic management plan.” The focus on logistics and a renewed emphasis on the festival’s surf culture at Fistral Beach were highlighted as key successes for the 2025 edition.
Read the official press release in full below:
Boardmasters 2025 has wrapped after five unforgettable days of world-class live music and epic surf action, set against the picture-perfect backdrop of the Cornish coast. From surf heats at Fistral Beach to golden-hour anthems at Watergate Bay, tens of thousands of festival goers soaked up the very best of Boardmasters, basking in the glorious sunshine and electric atmosphere that made this year’s festival one to remember.
On Friday, the live music was underway at Watergate Bay. Kaiser Chiefs brought anthemic indie-rock to their afternoon headline slot, joining the crowd in a sea of sing-alongs. Across at Mordros, fan favourites Polly Money and James Marriott christened the newly named stage, while late-night sets from Charlie Boon and Sim0ne kept the party going long after dark. Local rising stars KEO delighted fans on the main stage, as well as chart-toppers Leigh-Anne and Flo in bringing pop goodness and soulful melodic sounds to the day’s line-up. The day closed with back-to-back magic from festival favourites The Wombats and the truly sensational headliner RAYE who dazzled with a set jam packed with her biggest hits including Escapism, PRADA and Worth It amongst many others, bringing Friday’s Boardmasters to an Oscar Winning close.
The show burst to life on Saturday beneath clear blue skies. Rizzle Kicks brought their trademark energy throughout the afternoon, returning to the music scene after an eight-year hiatus and transforming the crowd into a synchronised sea of hands for their classics including Down With The Trumpets. Nelly Furtado proved to be a highlight of the day and thrilled fans with her iconic hits Promiscuous, Man Eater and Turn Off The Light.
As a special surprise, she welcomed Katy B on stage, joining her for a glittering duet of I’m Like A Bird. Over on the Mordros Stage, Australian band Ocean Alley served up dreamy grooves before Mike Skinner jumped behind the decks for a party-starting DJ set. As the sun dipped below the clifftops of Watergate Bay, the main stage belonged to Central Cee, whose first-ever major festival headline set was stacked with crowd favourites including Doja, Sprinter and Let Go, cementing his place as one of the UK’s most electrifying live acts.
The sun continued to shine down on the festival for the final day of Boardmasters 2025. Natasha Bedingfield brought her very own Pocket Full of Sunshine with a shimmering set laden with pop goodness including Unwritten and These Words. Others taking to the main stage include Myles Smith and London Grammar, to name but a few. Around the site, Wet Leg took to Mordros, Franz Ferdinand had the crowd bouncing to indie-rock favourites, and HoneyLuv kept the party alive at Unleashed. Finally, one of the most awaited sets of the weekend as The Prodigy unleashed the fiercest of finales with an audio visual feast packed with high-octane hits and larger-than-life energy that closed out Boardmasters 2025 in mesmerising, euphoric style.
Boardmasters proved it’s about more than just the main stage, with tons of unique spaces to be discovered, all adding to the festival magic. The View, The Keg & Pasty, Mordros, Unleashed, Surf Club 81 and the Banzai Bar are just some of the spots which kept crowds fueled, refreshed and dancing late into the night. Zennor Haven offered moments of calm, hosting wellness sessions and yoga overlooking the Cornish coastline, giving festivalgoers the chance to recharge before diving back into the action.
This weekend’s Boardmasters Open surf competition delivered an action packed showcase across all categories, including QS 2000 Men’s and Women’s, LQS 1000 Men’s and Women’s, and Junior Boys and Girls. All winners were crowned in front of an ecstatic crowd, with standout performances led by Lukas Skinner, who landed a remarkable double podium in both the QS and Boys Juniors categories.
This marks his second consecutive year securing the feat, following his historic win last year as the first British men’s champion in over two decades – which was made even more impressive after battling back from injury. Beyond the waves, the Santa Cruz sponsored skate ramp kept the adrenaline high with competitions throughout the week, while fans enjoyed live result viewings from the Surf Deck and relaxed at the Boardmasters Beach Bar. The Rising Tide programme filled the Boardmasters Talks Stage with film screenings, Q&As, panels and more. Plus, during the event, festival goers enjoyed coastal run clubs and much more.
Boardmasters CEO, Andrew Topham said, “The last five days have been a true celebration of creativity, community, collaboration and culture. I’m very proud of the festival that the team have produced which is testament to their hard work and year-round planning.
“From the waves at Fistral Beach, to the stages and incredible performances at Watergate Bay, the improvements made and renewed focus on our cultural heritage have been obvious and hugely welcomed. Fistral Beach felt like it did in years gone by. We appreciate the positive feedback we’ve received on many of the improvements, including this year’s traffic management plan.”
As Boardmasters’ happy campers head home today, the festival is already gearing up for next year. Boardmasters 2026 will take place from Wednesday 5 – Sunday 9 August. As a thank you to the incredible Boardmasters community, ‘Loyalty Onsale’ is new for 2026 and launching next Wednesday 13 August at 10am BST. This Loyalty ticket access is exclusively for 2024 and 2025 ticket holders, who will receive a unique ticket link directly to their inboxes. Fans will be able to lock in their 2026 ticket early and spread the cost with an 11-month payment plan. That means a 5-Day Camping Adult Ticket works out at just £23.09/month, and a Teen Ticket at £16.81/month (plus booking fees).
Tickets available in the Loyalty Onsale include:
- Coach + Camping Tickets (our best value and greenest travel option)
- 5-Day Camping Tickets (Wednesday arrival)
- 4-Day Camping Tickets (Thursday arrival)
- NEW: 3-Day Camping Tickets (Friday arrival)
- VIP Camping Tickets
- 3-Day No Camping Tickets
- Teen Tickets
- Child Tickets
Ticket Info:
- Child Ticket: Ages 5–12. Must be accompanied by an adult aged 21+ (max. two under-16s per adult).
- Teen Ticket: Ages 13–15. Must be accompanied by an adult aged 21+ (max. two under-16s per adult).
For more information and to access the Loyalty Onsale when it goes live, visit: boardmasters.com/2026onsale
RELATED: Boardmasters Foundation announces the recipients of 2024 funding
Image credits:
Will Bailey Photography
Adam Lievesley
Matt Eachus / The Manc Photographer
Josh Harkon
Jason Feast
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