Surf, Skate and Sounds
Boardmasters Festival in Newquay, Cornwall: Your Complete Guide
The Headland is located above Fistral Beach, the very stage for the surf competitions, the skate ramp and the Boardmasters Surf Village.
While the rest of Newquay gets busy, our guests step out of the hotel and straight into the festival atmosphere, with front-row views of world-class surfing right from our lawns.
Whether you're already booked with us and want to know what to expect, or you're still weighing up where to stay for Boardmasters 2026, this is everything you need to know.
What is the Boardmasters Festival?
Boardmasters is one of the UK's most iconic summer festivals. Where else can you watch professional surfers on a world-class beach in the morning, catch a headline act on a clifftop stage in the evening and wake up the next day to do it all again?
The festival dates back to 1981, when it began as a surf competition on Fistral Beach. Over four decades it has grown into a five-day celebration of music, surf, skate, art and coastal culture that draws up to 58,000 people to Cornwall every August.
It consistently attracts some of the biggest names in music alongside the world's best professional surfers, and it has earned a reputation as one of the most beautiful festival settings in the country.
Boardmasters 2026: Dates, Line-Up & What's On
Boardmasters 2026 takes place from Wednesday 5th to Sunday 9th August 2026.
The Line-Up
Fatboy Slim tops the bill on the opening night, followed by indie heavyweights Kasabian and the Saturday night headline set from Lily Allen performing her West End Girl album. The Kooks and Loyle Carner are also confirmed as headliners across the weekend.
The wider bill includes Pendulum, The Darkness, Dizzee Rascal, Tinie Tempah, Example, Brooke Combe, Lambrini Girls, Rudimental, Nia Archives, The Royston Club, Jacob Alon and many more across twelve stages. Visit boardmasters.com for the full and up-to-date line-up.
The Two Sites: Fistral Beach & Watergate Bay
Boardmasters operates across two distinct sites:
Fistral Beach is where you’ll find the surf, skate and beach festival energy, and it's free to attend. The open pro surf competition brings the country's top shortboarders, longboarders and junior competitors to Fistral's famous break.
Alongside the surfing, you'll find the Boardmasters Surf Village with shops, food stalls and brands; the skate ramp; BMX demos; art installations; talks and workshops.
Watergate Bay is the music festival site, set above the cliffs a few miles up the coast from Newquay. This is where the twelve stages, headliners and camping are based, along with a wellness area, food markets and silent discos. A day ticket or weekend ticket is required for entry to Watergate Bay.
Why The Headland is the Best Place to Stay for Boardmasters, Cornwall
No other hotel in Cornwall can offer what The Headland offers during Boardmasters week. Here's what makes staying with us different:
You're on the festival site
The surf competition, the skate ramp, the Surf Village and the Talks Tent are all on Fistral Beach or on our own lawns. You can watch pro surfers from your room window, walk to the beach in minutes and be back for lunch without ever getting in a car.
A proper retreat from the festival buzz
Sometimes you want to step away from the festival energy. Our spa offers a genuine sanctuary, a five-bubble-rated retreat where you can decompress with a treatment, a swim or simply a quiet hour in the thermal suite.
Rooms and cottages with sea views
Wake up to the sea from a Fistral View Room or Suite, or settle into one of our self-catering cottages for the full Cornish festival week experience. Several of our Sea View Cottages look directly over the surf competition site; it doesn't get more front-row than that.
Five-star dining, right here
After the festival crowds and food stalls, coming back to Restaurant RenMor, Ugly Butterfly by Adam Handling or a sundowner on The Deck is a different kind of pleasure.
Planning Your Boardmasters Stay
Book early
Boardmasters week is the single busiest period of our year. Rooms and cottages at The Headland sell out well in advance of the festival. If you're considering a stay, don't wait. Call our reservations team on 01637 872211 or check availability online as soon as possible.
Pre-book your spa and AquaClub sessions
Every on-site amenity, our restaurants, the spa, and the AquaClub operate at full capacity during Boardmasters week. If you want a table at Ugly Butterfly on the Saturday evening, a treatment on the Sunday morning or pool time on the Thursday, please request these before you arrive. Call reception or book through our website.
Getting to The Headland during Boardmasters
By car: Allow extra time. Traffic into Newquay is noticeably heavier during festival week, particularly on Wednesday (arrival day) and Sunday (departure day). If you have restaurant or spa reservations, factor in the journey time. Our car park is complimentary for hotel and cottage guests, and we have EV charging points on site.
By train: Newquay has its own train station with connections via Par on the Great Western Main Line. From the station, taxis are available, or it's about a 20-minute walk to the hotel.
By shuttle (for Watergate Bay): Regular shuttle buses run from Newquay town centre to the Watergate Bay music site throughout the weekend. Driving to Watergate Bay is possible with a day ticket, but the shuttle is significantly quicker during peak times.
Headland Road access: Headland Road will be closed to general traffic during festival week. As a Headland guest, you retain access, but please carry your booking confirmation and be prepared to show it.
What's Free at Boardmasters?
One of the most frequently asked questions about Boardmasters Cornwall is what you need a ticket for.
The surf competition, skate ramp, Boardmasters Talks, art installations, Surf Village and all of the Fistral Beach activity, including everything on The Headland's lawns, are free to attend. You don't need a festival ticket to watch world-class surfing at Fistral or to enjoy our grounds.
The Watergate Bay music site with its twelve stages and headliners requires a day ticket or weekend ticket. Tickets are available at boardmasters.com.
Boardmasters FAQ
When is Boardmasters 2026?
Boardmasters 2026 takes place from Wednesday 5th August to Sunday 9th August 2026.
Where is Boardmasters held?
The festival runs across two sites: the music festival at Watergate Bay (Trebelsue Farm, TR8 4AN) and the surf and beach festival at Fistral Beach, Newquay, directly below The Headland Hotel.
Do I need a ticket for Boardmasters?
You need a ticket for the Watergate Bay music site. The surf competition and Fistral Beach activities, including the skate ramp, Surf Village and Boardmasters Talks, are free of charge.
Who is headlining Boardmasters 2026?
Fatboy Slim, Kasabian and Lily Allen are the confirmed headline acts, alongside Loyle Carner, The Kooks, Pendulum, Dizzee Rascal, Tinie Tempah and many more.
Is Boardmasters family-friendly?
Yes. The Fistral Beach site is free and very family-friendly. For the Watergate Bay music site, anyone aged 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult aged 21 or over (each adult can accompany a maximum of two children aged 15 and under).
How do I get a shuttle bus to Watergate Bay?
Regular shuttle buses run from Newquay town centre to the Watergate Bay festival site throughout the weekend. Times and stops are confirmed closer to the festival on the Boardmasters website.
How do I book a room at The Headland for Boardmasters?
Check availability online or call our reservations team on 01637 872211. We'd strongly recommend booking as early as possible. Boardmasters week fills up faster than any other time of year.
Ready to Book Your Boardmasters Stay?
Boardmasters week at The Headland is unlike anything else, with surfing on your doorstep, world-class dining to come back to, a spa to restore you and a front-row seat to Cornwall's greatest summer festival.
Availability is extremely limited and goes quickly. Call us on 01637 872211 or book online to check what's still available for August 2026.
