Best Events in Cornwall in 2026
Padstow Obby Oss – a traditional Cornish event right on our doorstep
Cornwall’s calendar is bursting with festivals and events that bring the coast to life. So why not plan your trip to Padstow to coincide with a heady dose of music, culture, food and creativity?
Dance to international headliners with the ocean in view, or the backdrop of Eden’s biomes. Taste Cornwall’s bounty and learn to cook like a master chef. Rub shoulders with the literati and sing shanties beside the ocean.
There’s an array of seaside celebrations for everyone, so grab your holiday calendar and book a holiday cottage for some of the best events in Cornwall in 2026.
April
CGS Spring Flower Show
28-29 March 2026, Royal Cornwall Showground, Wadebridge
Our subtropical climate and early spring its something to be celebrated. So if you’re coming to Cornwall for the colours of spring, don’t miss our horticultural event of the year – Cornwall Garden Society’s incredible annual flower shower. Described as the ‘Chelsea of the West’ for good reason, expect plenty of garden inspiration and stunning displays. Just five minutes from Padstow, you can stay in St Issey for easy access to the showground.
Roseland Festival
Choir performance. Image courtesy of the Roseland Festival
24 April – 3 May 2026
Yes, the North Coast is stunning in spring, but while you’re here, make sure you also visit the more sheltered South Coast as it blooms into colour. There’s no better excuse for a day out to the paradise that’s the Roseland Peninsula, than to catch some of the Roseland Festival. This diverse and eclectic event brings the landscape to life with a programme of walks and talks, folk and jazz music, history and art, films and photography, choirs and quartets – offering something for everyone.
May
Obby Oss, Padstow
1 May 2026, Padstow
If you haven’t been to Padstow for Mayday’s Obby Oss, this is the year to visit for one of the county’s most famous festivals. In an event steeped in Celtic tradition, ribboned effigies lead a procession through our harbourside streets, accompanied by flowers, flags, drums and singing. A raucous, colourful day out, it’s one of the biggest days our annual calendar. We’ve got a huge range of accommodation in Padstow, so you can enjoy this incredible spectacle on our doorstep.
Porthleven Food Festival
Photo courtesy of Portleven Food Festival
24-26 April 2026, Porthleven Harbour
In a country renowned for its produce plucked from land and sea, it’s no wonder that food festivals are popping up Cornwall-wide. However, this mighty three-day feast of food, music and entertainment is still the one to make space in the calendar for. One of Cornwall’s top festivals, prepare for a smorgasbord of harbour-side happenings – from chef demos, street food and family entertainment, to mindfulness workshops, dancing and live music. Trust us, it’s worth every minute of the hour’s drive from Padstow.
Flora Day, Helston
Helston Flora Day
8 May 2026, Helston
Dance into spring in a traditional celebration of the season’s vitality and fertility. An ancient ritual that strikes up with the first beat of the big bass drum at seven in the morning, Flora Day sees hundreds of people take to the streets of Helston to dance in their finest frocks, top hats and tails. With the town decked out in bluebells, gorse and holly leaves, the day includes a vibrant Hal-an-Tow pageant, a boisterous mummers’ play and formal dances, alongside a buzzing fairground and line-up of Cornish craft and food stalls.
The du Maurier Fowey Literary Festival
Photo courtesy of Fowey Festival of Arts and Literature
1-9 May 2026, Fowey
The annual Fowey Literary Festival was launched in honour of the region’s most famous author, Daphne du Maurier, and her legacy is still very much at the core of this celebration of words, art and music. As well as readings from some of the region’s finest authors, enjoy creative workshops, art and literature trails, secret gardens and live music from classical to jazz. If you fancy getting your creative juices flowing, there’s also a short story competition for adults (closing date 20 March 2026).
The Great Estate
29-31 May 2026, Scorrier House, Redruth
What could be cooler than a giant, rambunctious garden fête with live music, sports day races, a fairground, circus workshops, yoga and silent discos in the woodland? A firm favourite for families that like to let loose every once in a while, The Great Estate is the sort of weekender where you can stretch into the day and dance into the night, via Pimms in the afternoon and Primal Scream at sunset. Based in the meadows of Scorrier House, you can even nip off to the beach if you need a break from the festival scene.
June
Royal Cornwall Show
Photo courtesy of Royal Cornwall Show
4-6 June 2026, Royal Cornwall Showground, Wadebridge
Outshining even one of Europe’s largest surf and music festivals, the Royal Cornwall Show is heralded as the county’s biggest annual event — with all the action just five minutes from Padstow. Marking the onset of summer proper, this huge family-friendly fiesta is far more than a celebration of farming. As well as award-winning cattle, equestrian events and dancing tractors, you can tuck into foodie bounty, listen to live music and get your hands on the finest Cornish crafts in a vibrant festival ambience. What’s more, it’s an easy hop from many of our holiday cottages in and around Padstow.
Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival
Photo courtesy of Falmouth International Sea Shanty festival
12-14 June 2026, Falmouth
Fancy yourself in a scene from Fishermen’s Friends? Come and celebrate Cornwall’s rich maritime heritage with boot-stomping songs of the sea. In Europe’s largest, free nautical music festival, over 70 local and international sea shanty groups come together and perform in venues across this vibrant harbour town. Coinciding with the Falmouth Classics Regatta, it’s an all-out maritime fiesta.
Mevagissey Feast Week
Image Courtesy of Mevagissey Feast Week.
28 June – 4 July 2025, Mevagissey
There’s no better time to visit Cornwall’s ‘forgotten corner’ than when Mevagissey launches into full festival mode with Feast Week at the start of summer. Drop a crabbing line off the harbour wall, watch fishing boat races, dance through the streets, sing shanties and round up the evenings with fireworks displays.
July
Padstow to Rock Swim
Swimmers in the Padstow to Rock Swim. Photo courtesy of Marie Curie
12 July 2026
The ballot’s closed for entires to the annual Padstow to Rock swim, but it’s a great weekend to visit and watch hundreds of swimmers cross the mile-wide Camel Estuary. The influx of swimmers and spectators for the event creates a party atmosphere in the town and at the end of the swim in Rock. It’s a big fundraising event for the Marie Curie cancer charity, so you might even be tempted to come back for another Padstow holiday and participate yourself.
Armchair Adventure Festival
Speaker at the Armchair Adventure Festival
23-26 July 2026, Mount Edgcumbe
Got a hankering for outdoor adventure and craving a festival that feeds your passion and connects you with like-minded explorers? Travel the world from your armchair with inspiring talks, films, music, and networking at this lively celebration of adventure. Naturally, being surrounded by adventurous spirits and incredible scenery, you can also get hands-on with activities like paddleboarding, wild swimming, coasteering, and sailing.
Rock Oyster Festival
23-26 July 2026, Dinham House, near Rock
Biased because it’s on our doorstep? Perhaps. But the Rock Oyster Festival really is one of Cornwall’s finest food and music events. A must-visit for foodies, families, and music lovers, it boasts a prime spot overlooking the Camel Estuary. Expect a smorgasbord of live music, artisan eats, well-being workshops, and interactive kids’ sessions – from storytelling to bushcraft. Stay nearby in one of our Padstow cottages, so you can come home, freshen up, glitter up, and dive back into the fun!
August
Boardmasters
Surfer at Boardmasters Festival in Cornwall. Photo by Jason Feast for Boardmasters
5-9 August 2026, Newquay
One of Europe’s biggest surf and music festivals, the world-famous Boardmasters brings a party atmosphere to Newquay and beyond. By day international surf pros battle it out to be king of the waves, while in the evening big-name bands hit the stages overlooking the golden sands of Watergate Bay. This year promises to be the biggest party yet, and it’s only a short drive down the coast to Boardmasters from Padstow; or for close proximity, pick a holiday home in Mawgan Porth.
Falmouth Week
Image courtesy of Falmouth Week.
7-16 August 2026, Falmouth
So much more than a spectacular sailing regatta, what started out as a local sailing competition in 1837 has turned into one of Falmouth’s biggest annual events. Now there’s plenty for landlubbers and maritime fans, as the whole town hits party mode for a week of sailing competitions, street parades, family entertainment and live music.
September
St Ives September Festival
Photo courtesy of St Ives September Festival
12-26 September 2026, St Ives
Well-known St Ives is home to a fortnight of festival action centred around music and the arts. Cleverly scheduled to take place in September, when the summer holiday crowds have left the county, the festival features poetry, exhibitions and even guided walks; a perfect way to kick off autumn.
Little Orchard Cider and Music Festival
11-13 September 2026, Healey’s Cyder Farm, Truro
Wondered where the locals go to party when the summer holidays are over? The Little Orchard Cider and Music festival is where you’ll find Kernow folk letting down their hair and making the most of the Indian Summer. In the scenic setting of Healey’s Cyder Farm, this true Cornish celebration pays homage to the county’s cider, music and scenery. And in addition to live sets from band big and small, you’ll find unique extras such as the Rattler Olympics, a silent disco, a skate ramp and a wild spa.
October
Falmouth Oyster Festival
Photo courtesy of Falmouth Oyster Festival
October 2026, Falmouth (dates tbc)
Join in four days of feasting and festivities devoted to the mighty mollusc. Celebrating the fruits of the remaining traditional oyster fisheries still dredging under sail and oar, oysters and champagne are on the menu and there’s plenty of live music and entertainment.
Book a cottage in Cornwall for some of the best events of 2025
Harbour Holidays has an array of holiday cottages in and around Padstow that make the perfect base to come and visit some of Cornwall’s vibrant events. Check out our collection of cottages and holiday homes and find your perfect festival bolthole in North Cornwall. If you want more inspiration for fantastic events in Cornwall, see our guide to this summer’s best music festivals in Cornwall.
