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<\/p>\nMore than 50,000 people are expected to attend one of Cornwall’s biggest surf and music festivals of the year this month.<\/p>\n
Boardmasters will take place from 5 to 9 August at Watergate Bay and Fistral Beach in Newquay, complete with music, surfing, skating and wellness activities.<\/p>\n
While events at Fistral are free for the public to attend, those taking place at Watergate Bay are for Boardmasters ticket holders only.<\/p>\n
Here is a guide to the timings, acts, transport and other useful information to help you plan ahead for the big event.<\/p>\n
Which artists are performing and when?<\/p>\n
A host of music acts are set to perform across the festival’s four stages.<\/p>\n
On Friday 7 August, Fatboy Slim, The Kooks, James Arthur, Rose Gray, Take A Chance On Us and Dizzee Rascal will take to the main stage.<\/p>\n
On Saturday 8 August, headliner Lily Allen will join the likes of Nia Archives, REN, Alessi Rose, Kerr Mercer, Cornwall Rock Choir and Example.<\/p>\n
Kasabian, Loyle Carner, Joy Crookes, Brooke Combe, Asha Banks and Tinie Tempah will complete the mix on the main stage on the Sunday 9 August.<\/p>\n
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Acts including Lily Allen and Fatboy Slim are set to perform [Boardmasters Festival \/ WillBaileyPhoto]<\/p>\n
Arena opening times<\/p>\n
The arena will be open from 11:00-02:00 BST Friday to Sunday.<\/p>\n
Gates on Wednesday will be open from 17:00-02:00, while the arena will be open from 15:00-02:00 on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Getting there<\/p>\n
Big Green Coach is this year’s Boardmasters travel partner, offering tickets for coaches directly to the site from \u00a320.<\/p>\n
Trains meanwhile, will be running to Newquay via Great Western Railway, with a Festival Shuttle available from the station.<\/p>\n
Taxis will be also be dropping off at the site, the drop off point being the ‘Blue Gate’, next to the Shuttle Bus Station.<\/p>\n
A Festival Shuttle wristband, which allows unlimited trips around the events sites from \u00a315, will also be available.<\/p>\n
The shuttle runs continuously on a loop between three stops at Watergate Bay, Newquay Train Station and Manor Road Bus Stop – a 20 min walk to Fistral Beach.<\/p>\n
The buses will be available Wednesday-Thursday 07:00-22:00; Friday-Sunday 07:00-03:00 and Monday 07:00-14:00.<\/p>\n
Parking<\/p>\n
Drivers needing to park at the festival can follow signs for AA\/Boardmasters to the festival before following signs for ‘Green Gate’.<\/p>\n
Pick-up and drop-off is also signed from Green Gate, with parking available from \u00a350.<\/p>\n
Limited accessible parking is available for blue badge holders and pre-booked accessibility ticket holders.<\/p>\n
Road closures<\/p>\n
Alexandra Road and Watergate Road will be closed during the festival for crowd safety reasons.<\/p>\n
The closure will be in place from Porth, at the junction of Alexandra Road and Lewarne Road through to the Junction of Watergate Bay and Trevarrian Hill.<\/p>\n
It will be in place between 06:00-03:00 on Wednesday; 10:00-03:00 on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday; and 03:00-14:00 on Monday.<\/p>\n
There will also be restrictions on vehicles turning left out of Priory Road and Rialton Road onto the A3059 heading towards the festival.<\/p>\n
A diversion will be in place via Nansledan Roundabout to Quintrell Downs roundabout and Halloon roundabout.<\/p>\n
You can view more traffic plan details via the Boardmasters website here<\/a>.<\/p>\n A traffic management plan will be in place throughout the festival [Boardmasters Festival]<\/p>\n Surf and skate<\/p>\n The Boardmasters Open will be held at Fistral Beach from 5 to 9 August this year -with a new Qualifying Series 4,000 status, up from QS 2,000 last year.<\/p>\n It means the winner can get up to 4,000 points<\/a> towards progressing up the rankings, instead of 2,000.<\/p>\n Skaters can also compete on the Boardmasters Skate Ramp, while the Boardmasters Talk Tent will host a range of talks on surfing, the ocean and sustainability.<\/p>\n The Surf Village in Fistral will be selling surf gear, food stalls, and beach essentials.<\/p>\n The annual Boardmasters Open will be held at Fistral Beach [Boardmasters Festival \/ Jason Feast]<\/p>\n Camping<\/p>\n Campsite gates are open from 10:00-22:00.<\/p>\n All campsites must be vacated by 12:00 on Monday 10 August.<\/p>\n Food and drink<\/p>\n Food and drink can be bought from a range of vendors at both sites during the festival.<\/p>\n Free water points are also available throughout and festival goers are encouraged to bring a reusable water bottle to top up when they need.<\/p>\n Weekend campers\u202faged 18 or over can bring in limited amounts of alcohol to the campsite, but this is limited to 24 cans of beer\/lager and\/or cider and\/or alcopops (max 7% ABV) per person or two bottles of wine in a non glass container (max 12% ABV).<\/p>\n A number of food vendors will be offering food and drink for sale throughout the festival [Boardmasters Festival \/ Adam Lievesley]<\/p>\n What else is on?<\/p>\n Children will be able to access the festival’s Kids Club from 11:00-19:00, offering family craft activities and workshops.<\/p>\n Those with camping tickets wanting to unwind, meanwhile, can book into ‘Zennor Haven’, a spa in the festival’s Cribbar Village offering sauna and cold plunge pools, hot tub and a range of treatments.<\/p>\n Workshops and classes including yoga, breathwork and crafts are available from \u00a35 with access to the spa from \u00a320.<\/p>\n Those staying in the Boutique Camping area will have access to The Boutique Spa – home to a sauna, hot tubs, cold plunge pools and massages. Prices start at \u00a320 per person.<\/p>\n A selection of wellness classes and activities will be available for campers [Boardmasters Festival \/ Josh Harkon]<\/p>\n Rules and safety advice<\/p>\n Ticket holders\u202fmust wear their Wristbands at all times\u202fwhile in the festival venue.<\/p>\n Children aged 15 and under must also be accompanied by an adult aged 21 years and over.<\/p>\n Each adult can accompany a maximum of two children.<\/p>\n As the festival is at the beach, everyone is urged to follow the beach flag system and advice of lifeguards if entering the water.<\/p>\n St John Ambulance said anyone attending should pack sunscreen (SPF 30 or above), a hat and a reusable water bottle and take regular breaks in the shade to avoid overheating.<\/p>\n Festival-goers are also encouraged to look out for the signs of heat exhaustion, which can include headache, dizziness, confusion, nausea, sweating and clammy skin.<\/p>\n If someone develops these symptoms, they should rest in a cool place, drink water or an isotonic sports drink, and be monitored closely, the charity said.<\/p>\n If symptoms do not improve within 30 minutes or if the person develops signs of heatstroke – such as a high body temperature, confusion, collapse, reduced responsiveness or loss of consciousness – seek urgent medical help immediately.<\/p>\n The charity has also reminded people to drink alcohol responsibly, stay hydrated, and be aware of other common festival health risks, including sprains and strains, alcohol poisoning and drug overdoses.<\/p>\n Welfare staff will be available 24 hours a day during the event, with mental health practitioners, safeguarding professionals and medical clinicians available.<\/p>\n A team providing specialist support for those affected by sexual violence, harassment or domestic abuse will also be available.<\/p>\n Follow BBC Cornwall on X<\/a>, Facebook<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n More on this storyRelated internet links![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/bbc_us_articles_995\/d8ac4880af861e88fd898c865fadd6e1.jpeg\"\/)
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