Carve Magazine Issue 230

Everyone has heard of Boardmasters. But only those who’ve felt the wind, the waves and the bass know what it really is. Once again this August you are invited to taste the salt and ride the rhythm of the ocean for five days of raw, unleashed Cornwall across two coastal sites in Newquay. 2026 Presale Tickets go on sale Thursday 27th November at 10am but fans must sign up to the Presale for exclusive 24 hour access at boardmasters.com. It closes at midnight on Wednesday 26th November, with tens of thousands already signed up so don't miss out.

Born from the surf. Raised by music. Boardmasters isn’t fenced into a field, it’s carved into the cliffs. A place where sea spray cuts through basslines and freedom comes naturally. Think rugged rave on a ragged coastline. Endless live music, pro surf, skate battles, cold-water dips, yoga on the cliffs and Cornish food that tastes like summer. The Atlantic backdrop doesn’t do soft, and neither does Boardmasters.

This year’s music line-up is not for the faint hearted. Topping the bill are two UK heavyweights; firstly rock rebels Kasabian who formed in Sergio Pizzorno’s bedroom in Leicester in 1997 and have since clocked up seven consecutive UK No.1 albums, more than 10 million album sales, 1.5 billion Spotify streams, multiple major awards and landmark festival headline sets. The band's eighth and most recent album ‘Happenings’ was another No.1, and new single “Hippie Sunshine” from their upcoming ninth album ‘’ACT III’ album shows they continue to evolve while staying true to their original sound.

Also headlining, fellow UK legend Fatboy Slim is a GRAMMY and BRIT Award–winning DJ and producer whose four-decade career has made him one of the world’s most recognisable electronic artists. He has played every major stage and draws global fans to his high-energy shows where his trademark re-edits, Hawaiian shirt, bare feet and iconic tracks including “Right Here, Right Now,” “The Rockafeller Skank” and “Praise You” as well as his latest hits “Role Model” and “Bus Stop Please” with Daniel Steinberg continue to resonate through the generations.

Joining them are Brighton’s indie darlings The Kooks, who continue to define a generation with sun-soaked singalongs, as well as Loyle Carner, with his poetic lyricism and soulful sincerity as one of UK rap’s most compelling voices.

Tash Sultana, the one-person powerhouse who blends psych-rock, reggae, and soulful electronica, performs exclusively at Boardmasters for their only English festival performance of the year, while Welsh rapper / singer-songwriter Ren graces the main stage with his first ever festival appearance, delivering fearless storytelling, which blends raw emotion with genre-defying artistry.

Afternoon special guest headliners Dizzee Rascal, Tinie Tempah and Example will deliver high-energy sets of grime and bass, whilst the rest of phase one spans indie, live bands and electronic dancefloors including Pendulum [Live], Rudimental, James Arthur, Brooke Combe, The Darkness, Goldie [Live], Matt Corby, Alessi Rose, DJ AG, Dimension, Window Kid, 4am Kru, Saint Ludo, Lambrini Girls, Florence Road and more.

But it’s everything else beyond the music that makes Boardmasters what it is across two sites. Watergate Bay and Fistral Beach become a living, breathing patchwork of exploration. From the Boardmasters Open - WSL Men’s & Women’s Pro, Junior Open, surf lessons and coastal adventure packages to an expansive world of wellness and sport, featuring yoga, sound baths, spa and sauna sessions, hot tubs and ice baths, massage, Muscle Beach fitness, run clubs, football comps, cardio core classes and even disco yoga. Arts and culture pulse through the festival with jewellery and craft workshops. There is art and mask-making, talks and live hangs with scene starters and community makers, plus skate sessions, comedy, bingo, silent disco and more. All of this is layered alongside Cornish culture, local art installations, and a vibrant food offering that champions Cornish produce and world flavours.

Beyond the festival is a genuine freedom to explore the wild peninsula outside of the site. Attendees are left to plot their own adventure and come and go as they please. No two experiences are the same. Every aspect is bespoke. Families, students, locals and visitors are all part of the same community. They wander the local beaches, catch the surf or dip into a midday set. Afternoons can be about wellness or release, and nighttimes are when the cliffs come alive. The one constant is Cornwall and the indescribable energy it transmits.

Tickets going on sale include 5, 4 and 3 day camping, coach and ticket bundles, 3-day no camping and VIP Camping plus extras such as hospitality lounge tickets, child and teen tickets. Flexible payment plans start from under £30 per month with PayPal pay in three options. Find out full pricing and ticket info at boardmasters.com

Boardmasters isn’t about being picture perfect. It’s about realness. The wind might ruin your hair, the sea might knock you off your board, and your voice might not make it past Sunday, but that’s exactly the point.

Fans must sign up to the ticket Pre-sale at boardmasters.com to receive 24-hour exclusive access to presale tickets, allowing them to secure tickets at the lowest price point ahead of tiered pricing increases. It closes at midnight on Wednesday 26th November. Pre-sale tickets go live on Thursday 27th November at 10am and General Onsale is Friday 28th November at 10am. See you at the edge of the world.

LINE UP

Fatboy Slim, Kasabian, The Kooks, Loyle Carner, REN, Tash Sultana, Rudimental, Pendulum (Live), James Arthur, Alessi Rose, The Darkness, The Royston Club, Goldie (Live), Brooke Combe, Lambrini Girls, Dizzee Rascal, Example, Tinie Tempah, Getdown Services, Luvcat, Asha Banks, Florence Road, Freddie Halkon, The Pill, Charlie Noordewier, Villanelle, Take A Chance On Us, Dimension, Ewan McVicar, Clementine Douglas, DJAG, 4AM Kru, Bushbaby, Hannah Wants, In Parallel, K Motionz & IC3, La La, Omar+, Sota, Window Kid, Arthi, Charlie Boon, Dubtendo Allstars, General Levy, Saint Ludo, Cirque Du Soul DJs, Jakkob, Joe Hunt, King Booo!, Woody Cook, Pitbull Tribute (Mr Worldwide UK), Big John (DJ Set), Rufus Rice, Ibiza Final Boss