Wednesday 5 February 2025: Boardmasters today announces that, for the first time, Cornwall residents will have the chance to secure festival tickets through a new ballot system. Additionally, in a move that underscores its deep-rooted dedication to Cornwall, local businesses can now apply for affordable trader pitches across both festival sites at Watergate Bay and Fistral Beach, fostering growth and celebrating the vibrant local economy and community spirit.

This announcement follows last week’s news that Central Cee will join the 2025 line-up as the third and final headliner, alongside RAYE and The Prodigy. The stacked line-up also features The Wombats, Nelly Furtado, London Grammar, Maribou State, Kaiser Chiefs, Wet Leg, Rizzle Kicks, Natasha Bedingfield, Franz Ferdinand, Sub Focus, Flo, Leigh-Anne, and more.

Boardmasters’ Cornwall Ticket Ballot
For the first time, those with a Cornwall postcode will be able to apply for Day tickets for two people per application, valid for either Friday 8th, Saturday 9th, or Sunday 10th August 2025. Applications will open on Friday 7th February and close on Sunday 16th February via the Boardmasters website.

The ballot does not replace the existing Local Residents’ Ticket scheme but is an additional initiative to ensure more Cornwall residents have the opportunity to attend Boardmasters.

Low-cost Trader Pitches For Local Businesses
Alongside the ballot, Boardmasters is offering low-cost trader pitches to local businesses, providing them with an opportunity to showcase their products to tens of thousands of festival goers across both festival sites. This initiative aims to celebrate and uplift Newquay’s independent businesses by giving them an affordable platform to engage with a wider audience. Applications are welcome via the link here.

Boardmasters has long been dedicated to supporting Cornwall’s community, and these latest initiatives further strengthen that commitment. By offering more local residents the opportunity to attend through the ballot and providing independent businesses with an accessible route to trade at the festival, Boardmasters continues to invest in the people, culture, and economy of the region. These efforts build on existing partnerships, sustainability initiatives, and charitable contributions, ensuring that the festival remains deeply connected to its home in Cornwall.

For more information on community initiatives, including trader applications, click here.

Once upon a time, surfing in the Tejo River was a novelty that made jaws drop. Nowadays, Barreiro beachgoers are familiar with the local surfers, and the captains driving the ferries that generate this unusual wave may even honk happily as they sail by them.

That’s not to say this man-made accidental wave is no longer surprising, as many still don’t know of its existence, and those who do might not know the history of how this unique surf scene came to be.

In this vlog, João Kopke explores that history as he shares some tips on how to surf here. He also experiments with different boards, including his foil, which may have been a first in Barreiro – proving, once again, that this wave still has a lot of untapped potential.