The sea-kissed county of Cornwall is renowned for its wide array of events and festivals. Taking place throughout the year, these dream-worthy celebrations encompass everything from heritage days to foodie feasts to music festivals and more. Held in beautiful locations across historic estates, rural idylls and miles-long beaches, they promise the most magical moments and offer something for all generations. And, many are dog-friendly too.
If you are seeking unique experiences during your visit and can’t wait to pair the perfect occasion with your heavenly retreat in 2026, we have crafted a comprehensive guide to some of the best annual events and festivals in Cornwall for you to look forward to.
January and February
January and February in Cornwall are hugely atmospheric months when the cosy nights of winter begin their gradual release and the promise of new adventures resides on the horizon. Beginning the year in style, a series of New Year’s dips take place on 1st January each year, usually from Newquay Harbour and Harlyn Bay in North Cornwall and Gyllyngvase Beach, Readymoney Cove and Looe Beach in South Cornwall. Uniting local communities over the exhilarating rush of cold-water swimming, this annual pastime in Cornwall affords an unforgettable way to start the new year.
Carrying on ancient customs, Cornwall’s annual Wassail events occur on the Twelfth Night (10th January 2026) in Bodmin, Boscastle and parts of East Cornwall. An Anglo-Saxon tradition, wassailing features the blessing of apple orchards to encourage a fruitful harvest for the year ahead. For an enchanting experience, The Eden Project’s glittering ice rink remains open from December to February each year and promises magical moments for all generations. Meanwhile, during St Ives Feast Day on 9th February 2026, and on 17th and 28th February 2026 in St Columb, is the Hurling of the Ball festival. A centuries-old event, this yearly occurrence sees a sterling silver ball chased through the streets by swift-footed locals in a gripping flurry of activity.
March
One of the most famous events and festivals in Cornwall takes place in March each year: St Piran’s Day. Held on 5th March every year, St Piran’s Day is known as the National Day of Cornwall and celebrates the county’s Patron Saint of tin miners. A beloved observance, this annual festivity is embraced by towns and villages across the county, with parades, parties and pasties all on the agenda. Pencil this date into your diary for a memorable celebration of all things Cornish this year. Eagerly awaited, St Piran’s Day parades are set to take place in Penryn, Truro, Launceston and St Just this year on 5th March, winding along streets in colourful displays.
Later in the month, Falmouth Spring Flower Show runs across the weekend of 21st and 22nd March 2026. In its 116th year, this adored flower show heralds the start of spring and presents pretty florals of all colours, shapes and sizes around the town’s Princess Pavilion and Gyllyngdune Gardens. Later, Cornwall Spring Flower Show (dubbed the ‘Chelsea of the South West’) takes over the Royal Cornwall Showground on 28th and 29th March with dramatic floral displays. On the final weekend, West Cornwall’s Kite Fest takes flight on Saturday 28th March in the spellbinding seaside hub of St Ives. In its third decade, the event sees rainbow-hued kites dance on playful sea breezes high above the town.
April
Launching the county’s food festival season, April is an exciting time of year in Cornwall. Beginning gourmet festivities with a delicious invitation is Bude’s Spring Food Festival on 6th April. Serving up an Artisan Food Market alongside a selection of street food pop-ups, this day-long festival beckons for a flavoursome introduction to Cornish produce. On 24th and 25th April 2026, RattlerFest at Healey’s Cyder Farm promises two days of live music, après ski bars, celebrity DJs and ice-cold pints of fruit-filled cider. Meanwhile, from 24th to 26th April this year, Porthleven Food Festival tempts with all manner of culinary and musical delights. One of the most famous in Cornwall, this renowned food festival hosts an unmissable line-up of chef demonstrations, workshops, feast nights and more.
To discover hidden gems and artistic hubs, save the date for a weekend in Falmouth from 10th to 11th April for Wanderfal. A two-day takeover of the town, this music and arts festival parades the best of colour and sound in curated creativity. For more music and creativity, the 6th to 12th April sees the 53rd St Endellion Easter Festival, showcasing everything from brass band performances and orchestral symphonies to Shakesperean plays. Later in the month, share in joyful celebrations with Falmouth Pride, commencing at Falmouth Event Square on 25th April 2026.
May
May is one of the most significant months in Cornwall’s cultural calendar, upholding hundreds of years of local traditions. The first, Padstow’s Obby Oss Day commences at midnight on 30th April and continues across 1st May, featuring two processions through the town and starring the eponymous hobby horse. St Agnes’ Bolster Day occurs on Sunday 3rd May 2026 to reenact the famous tale of Bolster the giant, followed by St Ives’ May Day on 4th May with local choirs and ceremonies throughout the day. On 8th May, expect Helston’s Flora Day to transform the historic market town with colourful pageants and parades, all thrummed by the beat of a big bass drum and marching band. Meanwhile satiating appetites after celebrations are St Ives Food Festival from 15th to 17th May 2026 and Falmouth Food Festival from 22nd to 25th May – each tempting with stunning settings and all manner of culinary delights.
For lovers of literature, Fowey Festival promises a wondrous world of words from 1st to 9th May 2026. Inspired by authoress Daphne du Maurier who spent many years in the town, the festival hosts a world-class cast of writers, speakers, and musicians. For the dreamiest days of oceanside revelry, head to Lusty Glaze’s Mardi Gras carnival by the sea on 9th May. Or, seek anthemic tunes at LostFest on 17th May in Lostwithiel, a free, one-day music festival perfect for families. Adding even more choice is the ever sought-after Scorrier’s Great Estate festival, returning from 29th to 31st May. Elsewhere, Open Studios Cornwall runs from 23rd May to 31st May and sees artists open their studio doors and showcase their works in a region-wide festival of art.
June
With the arrival of summer, the events and festivals in Cornwall pick up pace in a gorgeous curation of talent. Returning from 5th to 7th June 2026, The Watering Hole’s Tunes in the Dunes festival in Perranporth is one of the UK’s leading seaside festivals, proffering live gigs from the industry’s leading artists and bands, as well as beach lounges, silent discos and starlit after-parties. For the greatest tastes, the Hidden Huts’ esteemed feast nights return in June too, launching a new collection of one-off events for the summer season from the venue’s seaside perch above Portscatho Beach. For further repasts, you can anticipate the week-long Mevagissey Feast Week which runs from 28th June to 4th July and entices with sublime flavour sensations in one of the most picturesque corners of the UK. Or, to take your pick of unmissable live concerts, experience world-class music and sing along to your favourite artists during the esteemed Eden Sessions beginning in June.
One of the most well-known annual events in Cornwall, the Royal Cornwall Show invites you to uncover the county’s best in show from 4th to 6th June 2026. First established in 1793, this historic event comprises a packed programme of live entertainment, competitions, agricultural displays and wonderful shopping opportunities for finding artisan treasures. In the middle of the month, Falmouth Classics coincides with Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival from 12th to 14th June 2026 and beckons with prestigious regatta racing alongside soul-stirring songs. While, in a tradition that dates back centuries, Penzance’s Golowan Festival spans ten days between 19th and 28th June. Encompassing Mazey Day on Saturday 27th June 2026, it proposes an unmissable agenda of culture and arts, performances and parades.
July
Should you be seeking an immersion in sound this July, then Cornwall’s summer line-up should pique your interest. A heavenly month for music and melodies, it steals the stage with a wide array of events in 2026. For weekend dedicated to global rhythms, Tropical Pressure in coastal Porthtowan from 12th to 14th July offers feel-good tunes and a jaw-dropping backdrop. The following weekend, attention turns to Port Eliot’s The Wild Gardens festival from 16th to 19th July with eclectic acts from all over the international music scene. For one-off nights and lasting memories, uncover the bill of July gigs at The Eden Project in St Blazey, The Wyldes in Bude, and Sky Bar in St Agnes, Watergate Bay and Hayle. At the end of the month, Rock Oyster Festival runs from 23rd to 26th July 2026 and highlights some of the world’s leading musical and culinary talent from Dinham House in St Minver near Wadebridge.
To find inspiration through art, Penzance Literary Festival from 7th to 11th July 2026 takes over the streets and venues of Penzance. Or, seek comedy performances and cultural happenings at The Falmouth Cringe from 4th to 7th July. For draughts and drafts, the adored Sea Salts & Sail festival drops anchor between 3rd and 5th July in Mousehole and sets the scene for spectacular boat shows, sailing races, live music, and lots of food and drink. On 13th July 2026, the annual Stithians Show boasts Cornwall’s largest one-day agricultural show. For lovers of exploration, The Armchair Adventure Festival in Mount Edgcumbe calls for all things outdoors between 23rd and 26th July 2026, surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty.
August
August in Cornwall is a gorgeous month painted with golden sunshine over the inky ocean and verdant countryside. For those looking for days infused with magic, it offers plenty to see and do. To settle into the rhythm this August, relish the captivating variety of music festivals, starting with Boardmasters in Newquay from 5th to 9th August – one of the most famous surf and music festivals in the world where waves and wonder expel the ordinary. From 27th to 30th August, two music festivals vie for attention, including Tunes in the Park at Port Eliot Estate in St Germans and Cornwall Folk Festival in Wadebridge.
Widely anticipated, Falmouth Week takes place from Friday 7th to Sunday 16th August this year and awaits with all manner of activities and attractions. Attracting locals and visitors alike, this maritime festival’s roots date back to the early 19th century and provides an opportunity for families, couples, and solo adventurers to enjoy the setting and atmosphere of this seaside town. On 28th to 30th August, Portscatho’s annual regatta sets sail on the gorgeous Roseland Peninsula, while across the same weekend, Lusty Glaze’s stunning beach transforms into a sandy pitch once again for its family-friendly Tag Rugby Tournament.
September
Winding down the summer, the halcyon month of September brings with it an assortment of events and festivals in Cornwall. Commencing festivities, Bude Jazz Festival plays between 1st and 4th September 2026 and welcomes jazz artists and admirers from near and far. Spoiling with choice, the weekend of 11th to 13th September 2026 sets to enchant with the Little Orchard Cider & Music Festival at Healey’s Cyder Farm, as well as the Land’s End 100 2026 Cycle Race on 12th September. Beginning on 12th September and running until 26th September is St Ives September Festival. A fortnight-long affair within the town, this yearly festival reveals an unparalleled insight into the creative heart of St Ives and showcases exhibitions, workshops and displays at a plethora of venues.
Located in South East Cornwall, Looe is beloved for its picture-perfect aesthetics that capture the heart and mind. Making it even more appealing this September is Looe Weekender. Held from 18th to 20th September 2026, this music festival is rooted in rhythm and features more than 80 sets from local and far-flung artists across ten different venues and pop-up stages. Providing even more inspiration, the North Cornwall Book Festival is set for 25th to 27th September 2026 in the winsome, oceanside village of Port Isaac. In its 12th edition, this festival beckons to book lovers with fascinating author talks, workshops and, of course, book-buying opportunities.
October
Should you wish to entwine your staycation of daydreams with some of the best events and festivals in Cornwall this year, October is hard to resist. Especially popular, it hails the start of autumn with the vibrant colours and soul-moving sounds of Falmouth Reggae Festival between 2nd and 3rd October 2026. For even more seaside celebrations, Mevagissey Sea Shanty Festival runs from Friday 16th to Sunday 18th October 2026 and sets the stage for more than four hundred performers across the village.
Amongst some of the most famous pastimes in not just the South West but the UK, Halloween festivities pepper the month of October in Cornwall and draw with bewitching adventure. Slip into the spirit and enjoy the revelry as merrymakers of all ages take part in Halloween events. One of the most popular, Halloweden is an annual event in Cornwall organised by The Eden Project. Luring with mythical tales and mystical escapades, this family-friendly attraction encompasses a medley of gripping delights within the illuminated gardens and giant biomes.
November and December
A wonderful time of year as the final, copper-coloured leaves of autumn fall from the trees and the seasons give way to winter, November and December in Cornwall are truly mesmerising. During the beginning of November, Bonfire Night events take place across the county on the 5th November with bonfires and fireworks displays. Meanwhile, the start of Cornwall’s Christmas markets in November imbues a sense of excitement and cheer in all generations. Especially well-known are Truro, Padstow, Fowey and Falmouth’s Christmas Markets. The Cornish Winter Fair at The Royal Cornwall Showground is also a great place to partake in some early Christmas shopping, spanning the weekend of 21st and 22nd November 2026.
To make the most of the seasonal magic, head over to Mousehole Christmas Lights at the beginning of December to discover a world of illumination reflected in the mirror-topped harbour. Or, disappear to Heligan’s Night Garden, which takes place annually from November to January, and experience a whole new side to the spectacular gardens. For traditional celebrations, experience Penzance’s Montol Festival on 21st December 2026 (Winter Solstice), or venture to Mousehole on 23rd December for Tom Bawcock's Eve and the town’s beautiful lantern parade. Of course, there’s no better way to round off the New Year’s in style than with a Cornish celebration, such as St Ives’ famous fireworks or Lostwithiel’s New Year’s Eve Giants Parade, and a divine Boutique Retreat.
Feeling inspired? Take a look at our luxury cottages in Cornwall.
