Boardmasters 2026: What We're Most Excited For
It was unreasonably hot last week. Roads melted, fan prices soared and, in a friend’s office, six people fainted before they were finally sent home. It was a miserable time to be in a city, on public transport or trying to sleep in a top-floor bedroom. One place I’m guessing it wasn’t so miserable was on the beautiful, blustery stretch of Cornish coast from Watergate Bay to Fistral Beach, where, in just a few days, Boardmasters festival returns.
Now in its 40th year, Cornwall’s Cali-cool four-day weekend is set to be bigger than ever, with a stacked programme of surfing, skateboarding and live music - with 12 stages scattered over its scenic north shore. Lily Allen, Kasabian, Loyle Carner, Joy Crookes and Nia Archives will be taking to the main stage across the weekend of 8 and 9 August, and a new ‘Afternoon Special Guests’ format has been added, which will make it worth securing your spot in the field early on - featuring noughties icons Dizzee Rascal, Example and Tinie Tempah.
Fatboy Slim is returning to headline on Friday night, with plenty of upcoming dance and electronic newcomers on the line-up. Catch Girls Don’t Sync and Clementine Douglas at Unleashed, Rose Gray taking on the Main Stage and the genre-blending Lambrini Girls and Getdown Services playing back to back at Mordros. Other Groove favourites to have on your radar include Jacob Alon – a breakout star of last year’s Mercury Prize shortlist – Chloe Qisha with her leather-clad pop bangers, as well as emerging bands KEO and Radio Free Alice.
Boardmasters was originally a surf festival (shock), only adding music to the line-up in 2005. This year it has been upgraded to a QS 4000 - one of the top three Qualifying Series in Europe. GB Surfing Chair Vicky Gosling has confirmed you’ll be able to spot some LA 2028 hopefuls competing, including two-time defending champion Lukas Skinner, Georgie May-Hicks and Alys Barton - the first-ever British surfer to qualify for the WSL Challenger Series. The skate ramps will also return to Fistral Beach, as well as plenty of beach bars, a curated line-up of panel talks and exclusive merch.
Alongside a regular assortment of side quests from a fête area and club tent, to local stand-up and an active hub (promising an appearance from Cornwall FC), there are also opportunities to level up your weekend with upgrades from Hospitality to Wellness and beauty in their Salt & Spray tent, offering the breadth of festival luxury - from hot showers to hairdryers. Don’t forget to watch a sunset set at The View, bop around the smaller stages for a well-curated crop of emerging artists and cop a pasty on the early morning meander back to your tent.