April 27, 2026

North Cornwall Events Diary 2026

The diary below lists key events taking place in and near North Cornwall throughout 2026. It includes cultural festivals, carnivals, music weekends and agricultural shows. Where possible the table notes confirmed dates, a short description and a link to the official or primary source for more information.

April

  • 4–12 Apr – St Endellion Easter Festival (St Endellion): Nine days of classical concerts and choral performances in a historic church.
  • 24–26 Apr – Porthleven Food Festival (Porthleven): Free daytime festival with chef demos, local food stalls and live music.
  • 24–25 Apr – Rattler Fest (near Truro): Adult‑only weekend celebrating Rattler cider with bands and DJs.

May

  • 1 May – Padstow Obby Oss (Padstow): Two rival hobby‑horse processions take over the harbour town with music, drums and dancing.
  • 8 May – Helston Flora Day (Helston): End‑of‑winter celebration featuring four processional dances and the “Hal an Tow” pageant.
  • 1–9 May – Fowey Festival of Arts & Literature (Fowey): Author talks, workshops and literary events (dates confirmed locally).

June

  • 4–6 Jun – Royal Cornwall Show (Wadebridge): County’s biggest agricultural show with livestock, food halls and arena entertainment.
  • 12–14 Jun – Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival (Falmouth): Over 80 shanty groups perform around pubs and quays.
  • June (various dates) – Eden Sessions (Eden Project): Series of summer concerts featuring major international artists.

July

  • 3–4 Jul – Bodmin Riding & Heritage Festival (Bodmin): Historic festival with pageantry and a hunt for the “Beast of Bodmin”.
  • 4 Jul – St Breward Carnival (St Breward): Village parade on Bodmin Moor.
  • 11 Jul – St Tudy & St Dennis Carnivals: Local parades with floats and fancy dress.
  • 18 Jul – Wadebridge Carnival (Wadebridge): Town carnival with floats and marching bands.
  • 23–26 Jul – Rock Oyster Festival (St Minver): Food and music festival overlooking the Camel Estuary.

August

  • 5–9 Aug – Boardmasters (Newquay): Surf and music festival split between Watergate Bay’s stages and Fistral Beach’s surf competitions.
  • 6–9 Aug – Creation Fest (Wadebridge): Christian music and teaching event celebrating its 25th year.
  • 7–16 Aug – Falmouth Week (Falmouth): Sailing regatta plus shore‑side entertainment.
  • 12 Aug – Camelford Agricultural Show (Camelford): One‑day show with livestock, food and family entertainment.
  • 15 Aug – Bude, St Merryn & Bodmin Carnivals: Three towns host colourful community parades on the same Saturday.
  • 27–31 Aug – Cornwall Folk Festival (Wadebridge): Five‑day folk music festival during the August bank holiday.

September

  • 1–4 Sep – Bude Jazz Festival (Bude): Four days of swing, blues and New Orleans jazz in pubs and halls.
  • 11–13 Sep – Little Orchard Cider & Music Festival (near Truro): Family‑friendly festival with live bands and cider tastings.
  • 12–26 Sep – St Ives September Festival (St Ives): Two‑week arts celebration with concerts, exhibitions and workshops.

October

  • 3–4 Oct – Port Isaac Shanty Weekend (Port Isaac): Free weekend of sea songs in the village hall and local venues.
  • 10 Oct – Launceston Carnival (Launceston): Historic carnival parade through town.

November & December

  • 6–9 Nov – Boscastle Shanty Festival (Boscastle): Annual shanty festival raising funds for charity.
  • Late Nov – Wadebridge Christmas Lights Switch‑On: Festive lights ceremony with carols (date announced locally).
  • Early Dec – Padstow Christmas Festival & Nadelik Lowen: Chef demos, food markets, lantern processions and harbour fireworks.
  • Nov–Dec – Truro & Eden Christmas Markets: Large artisan markets with seasonal entertainment.

Year‑round Attractions

North Cornwall also offers year‑round attractions such as Tintagel Castle, the Camel Trail, Bodmin & Wenford Railway steam trains, Camel Valley Vineyard, cycling on Bodmin Moor and coastal walking paths. These are always open and can fill gaps between festivals.

Notes

  • Dates subject to change: Always confirm event dates and ticket availability directly with organisers, as schedules can shift due to weather or organisational changes.
  • Local carnivals: North Cornwall’s summer calendar is full of small village carnivals (St Teath, St Merryn, St Tudy, Bodmin, etc.). The Southwest Carnivals diary is a useful reference for exact dates.
  • Travel planning: Many events, especially summer festivals, attract large crowds. It’s advisable to book accommodation early, particularly around Rock Oyster Festival, Boardmasters and Bude Jazz Festival.