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You are here: What's On > Boardmasters Festival 2026 > Beyond Boardmasters
Beyond Boardmasters
Boardmasters returns to Newquay from 5–9 August, bringing together world-class music, surfing and coastal culture across two iconic festival locations.
Beyond the festival, Newquay is full of places to explore, with independent shops, cafés, restaurants, beaches, attractions, and events.
Whether you’re attending Boardmasters, visiting Newquay on holiday, spending the day in town or you’re a local resident, find everything you need to make the most of Newquay during the festival week.
Travel & Transport
Find the latest information on travel arrangements across Newquay during Boardmasters week, including road closures, parking, public transport, and shuttle services to help you plan your journey.
Road Closures & One-Way Systems
To help manage traffic, a temporary one-way system will be in operation on routes serving the festival from 5–10 August. Watergate Road will also be subject to closures at varying times throughout this period to facilitate festival access and egress.
In addition, Headland Road will be closed to vehicle access from 3–10 August, with access maintained for residents and guests staying at The Headland Hotel.
Residents and those travelling to local businesses or accommodation within affected areas will continue to have access via traffic marshal guidance.
For full details of traffic management arrangements, including road closure schedules and access maps, visit the Boardmasters website.
Click here for maps and more information
Boardmasters Surf Festival
As the birthplace of Boardmasters and the home of British surfing, Fistral Beach comes alive during festival week with a packed programme of surfing, skating, live entertainment and beach culture, all set against one of Cornwall’s most iconic coastlines.
Date : 5th August - 9th August
Time : 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
Location : Fistral Beach, Headland Road, Newquay, Cornwall, TR7 1HY
Experience the home of Boardmasters at Fistral Beach, with surf competitions, skate jams, panel talks, live entertainment and a trader market.
At the heart of the action is the Boardmasters Open, now upgraded to a prestigious QS 4,000 Qualifying Series event, placing it among the top three qualifying competitions in Europe. Expect world-class surfing as international and British athletes compete for ranking points and their journey towards the LA 2028 Olympics.
Visitors can watch the surf competition from the custom-built viewing deck, enjoy high-energy action at the Skate Ramp, browse the Surf Village trader market, hear inspiring discussions in the Talks Tent, relax at the Boardmasters Beach Bar, or soak up the atmosphere at the Surf Deck throughout the day and into the evening.
Fistral Beach is open to everyone throughout Boardmasters week, with other beach businesses, including shops, restaurants and surf schools, operating as normal.
Opening Times
- Surf Deck & Food Vendors: 09:00-23:00
- Traders (Surf Village): 09:00-19:00
- Talks Tent: 12:00-16:00
- Boardmasters Open Surf Competition: Daily (weather dependent)
- Boardmasters Beach Bar: 09:00-23:00
The event is family-friendly and free to attend.
View the Boardmasters website for further information.
WAX Garden Party
Connecting the two Boardmasters sites, the Garden Party at the Killacourt brings together live entertainment, activities, food and community celebrations in the heart of Newquay.
For more information visit the WAX website here: Killacourt Garden Party » WAX Events
Boardmasters Music Festival
Home to the Boardmasters music festival, Watergate Bay hosts headline artists, emerging talent, wellbeing experiences and the festival campsite throughout the week.
Set against the stunning backdrop of Watergate Bay, Boardmasters Music Festival brings together over 200 artists for unforgettable live performances.
Date : 5th August - 9th August
Time : 10:00 am
Location : Trebelsue Farm, Watergate Bay, Newquay, TR8 4AN
This year, festivalgoers can enjoy headline performances from Fatboy Slim, Lily Allen and Kasabian, alongside a diverse programme of established names, emerging talent and late-night entertainment across multiple stages and venues.
At the heart of the festival is the Main Stage, hosting some of the biggest names in music, while Mordros showcases heritage acts and rising stars beneath its iconic big top. Dance music takes centre stage at Unleashed, with a programme spanning house, garage and drum & bass, while The View celebrates the laid-back surf culture that has been part of Boardmasters since the beginning.
Across the site, festivalgoers can discover unique venues including Keg & Pasty, a traditional Cornish pub experience with live music and comedy; Surf Club 81, serving underground electronic sounds; and Banzai Bar, a home for everything from party DJs to karaoke sessions.
Beyond the music, Watergate Bay offers a range of experiences including Cliff Top Street Food, family activities at the Kids Club, wellbeing experiences at Zennor Haven for those with camping tickets, and community spaces throughout Cribbar Village.
Please note: Access to the Watergate Bay festival site is ticketed.
Find out more and book tickets here
Newquay Lifeboat Day
The RNLI's annual Newquay Lifeboat Day takes place at Newquay Harbour on Saturday 8 August, with a programme of free activities, demonstrations and entertainment throughout the day.
Please note: South Quay Hill will be closed from 00:01 to 18:00.
Boardmasters may be the reason you’re here, but Newquay has so much more to offer. From independent retailers and popular high street brands to cafés, restaurants, beaches, parks and gardens, Newquay has something for everyone.
More information: Newquay Lifeboat Day - What’s On
Explore Beyond Boardmasters
Whether you're looking for a place to eat, somewhere to shop, or ideas for making the most of your time in town, Love Newquay showcases the businesses that make Newquay unique.
Vist the official destination website: Visit Newquay | Official Newquay Tourist Information website
Offers & Promotions
Make the most of your time in town with exclusive offers and promotions from Newquay businesses during Boardmasters week.
Explore the promtions here: Beyond Boardmasters » Discover our town
Explore the Wider Newquay Area
Looking to do more while you're here? Visit Newquay is your guide to exploring the wider area, with practical visitor information, inspiration for days out, local attractions, and outdoor activities.
Vist the official destination website: Visit Newquay | Official Newquay Tourist Information website
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can residents contact if there is an issue?
A dedicated 24-hour community helpline (01637 817444) and email address (community@boardmasters.com) will be available throughout the live event period, from 5-10 August, for residents and businesses to report any concerns or issues related to festival operations.
Residents and businesses will also be able to sign up to a broadcast-only WhatsApp channel to receive important updates on matters such as traffic management and significant changes to festival arrangements. This is not a group chat, and members cannot send messages or view other subscribers.
Outside of the live event period, community@boardmasters.com remains available year-round.
More information can be found here.
How will litter be managed?
Additional litter bins will be in place across Newquay during Boardmasters week and will be emptied daily to help manage increased visitor numbers.
Please help us keep Newquay looking its best by using the bins provided and disposing of litter responsibly. If you notice an overflowing or damaged bin, please report it to Cornwall Council here.
There will also be daily beach cleans at Fistral, Great Western, Porth and Watergate Bay from 5-9 August, organised and run by Boardmasters.
Will there be a police presence?
Additional policing and enhanced patrols from the Newquay Rangers will be in place throughout Boardmasters week to support residents, businesses and visitors.
To report a non-emergency issue, call 101. In a life-threatening emergency, call 999 immediately.
If you wish to report anti-social behaviour, please contact Devon and Cornwall Police. You can find out more here.
Will Newquay Hospital be open?
During the week of Boardmasters, Newquay Minor Injuries unit at Newquay Hospital will operate seven days a week from 8am to 6pm, ensuring additional support is available during this busy period.
Throughout the rest of the summer period, the unit will be open from 8am to 6pm, Thursday to Tuesday.
Find out more here.
Will the businesses at Fistral, Porth and Watergate be open? Yes, all businesses will remain open as usual.
Some traffic restrictions are in place, but access to homes and businesses will be maintained at all times.
You can see travel information here.
Download a copy of Cornwall Council's useful contacts and information here: DOWNLOAD
