If there’s one place where saltwater, sunshine and a suspiciously high percentage of lesbians magically collide, it’s Boardmasters. For our American friends: think a massive UK surf-and-music festival set on actual cliffs and beaches – like if Coachella, Vans Surf Open and a queer summer camp had a messy, sun-kissed baby.
I’m sure you will all agree that surfing and sapphics go together like carabiners and Doc Martens – are we right or are we right?! And while the pro surfers for 2026 haven’t been announced yet (watch this space), you can start lining up who you’ll be dancing to between dips at Watergate Bay and Fistral Beach.
The first wave of artists for Boardmasters 2026 has officially dropped. Cornwall is about to go off.
- The Boardmasters Line Up 2026
- What else is on during the Boardmasters?
- Tickets, Dates & Everything You Actually Need
The Boardmasters Line Up 2026
Kasabian return as rock royalty, bringing their eighth No.1 album Happenings and that signature “riot in a field” energy (except here the field is a cliff).
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Fatboy Slim, barefoot as ever, is ready to blast the Cornish coastline with classics like Praise You and Right Here, Right Now – plus new bangers from his latest collaborations.
Add in The Kooks for sunshine-soaked indie nostalgia and the poetic brilliance of Loyle Carner, and you’ve already got a line-up worth hauling yourself out of the surf for.
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And, of course, Tash Sultana – a queer, one-person powerhouse blending psych-rock, reggae and soulful electronica. They’re doing their only English festival performance of the year at Boardmasters, which basically makes this a sapphic pilgrimage.
Over 50 more names have been confirmed, including:
- Ren – first-ever festival appearance
- Dizzee Rascal, Tinie Tempah & Example – afternoon chaos, guaranteed
- Pendulum [Live], Rudimental, Brooke Combe, Goldie [Live], Dimension, Lambrini Girls, 4am Kru, DJ AG, Florence Road, The Darkness and about 800 more
It’s stacked, basically.
What else is on during the Boardmasters?
Boardmasters has always been “born from the surf, raised by music,” and the 2026 edition is doubling down on the whole coastal vibe.
Even though the surf competition lineup hasn’t been announced yet – and yes, we’re watching closely, because queer surfers deliver a very specific lifestyle aesthetic we fully endorse (and occasionally lust after – hi Blue Crush. If you know, you know. And if you don’t… then maybe you’re too young to be reading this site baby girl) – you can expect:
- WSL Men’s & Women’s Pro
- Junior surf comps
- Surf lessons
- Skate battles
- Coastal adventure packages
The kind of wholesome lesbian holiday where you pretend you’re “just here to try surfing again” while subtly scanning for other queers in wetsuits. If you’re not happy with checking out surfers and skaters, then who even are you?
Related article: Europe’s Biggest Queer Student Festival is Back – And It’s Gonna Be Epic
Beyond the stages and surf breaks, Boardmasters becomes a kind of mini queer-friendly universe:
- Yoga on the cliffs
- Sound baths
- Saunas, hot tubs and ice plunges
- Massage & Muscle Beach
- Jewellery workshops
- Silent disco, comedy, bingo, arts & crafts
- Local food + Cornish culture woven throughout
Afternoons can be zen. Nights? A little bit feral. It’s a balance.
Tickets, Dates & Everything You Actually Need
5–9 August 2026
Watergate Bay & Fistral Beach, Newquay, Cornwall
Key Ticket Dates:
- Weds 26 Nov (Midnight): Presale sign-up closes
- Thurs 27 Nov (10am): Presale tickets go live (24 hours only)
- Fri 28 Nov (10am): General sale
Ticket Options:
- 5, 4 or 3-day camping
- VIP camping
- No-camping passes
- Big Green Coach packages
- Flexible payment plans from £26/month
If you want the cheapest tier, you need that presale.
Final Thoughts
Boardmasters 2026 is shaping up to be the kind of festival where you can surf at sunrise, nap on a cliff (be careful though, ok), and then scream lyrics to Fatboy Slim in a damp hoodie at midnight – all surrounded by a crowd suspiciously filled with queer women who “just love the ocean.”
See you (and your wetsuit) on the cliffs.
Nonchalant x
This article was written by one of our creative team writers here at Nonchalant Magazine.
