Best music festivals in Cornwall 2025

Dates: Friday 18 & Saturday 19 April 2025
Type: Live music, raucous fun and fully charged adults-only festival
Suitable for: Cider drinkers and revellers who love epic bands from the past 40 years, local and international
Location: Healey’s Cornish Cyder Farm, Penhallow, between Truro and Perranporth

For a proper adults-only music festival in Cornwall, you have to wait until the weather warms up. That’s obvious, as the Duchy is the perfect place for glorious alfresco live music experiences when the sun is shining. The first fully charged Cornwall music festival to kick things off doesn’t turn it up to 11 until late April. Featuring acts like Toploader, Lightning Seeds, Judge Jules, Kernoasis, Wannabe, and Valkyrie Skyz Raller Fest looks to be worth the wait. This adults-only festival promises two days of live music, celebrity DJs, the Mr & Mrs Rattler Competition, Apres Ski Lodge Sessions, the Orchard Silent Disco, Pineapple Beach, and the ever-popular Rattler Olympics. and many more, alongside lashings of Rattler cider.

Dates: Friday 18-Sunday 20 April 2025
Type: A sea shanty festival that takes over the village and features some of the best folk acts for miles around
Suitable for: Shanty enthusiasts!
Location: Port Isaac Playing Field in Port Isaac, as well as many other venues across the village

It’s easy to think of music festivals as either huge, blaring affairs or relaxed, laid-back events. But in between those two extremes lie folk festivals, which are all about the music and up-close-and-personal experiences with the acts. Cornwall has some fantastic shanty festivals, and Port Isaac’s is one of the best. Expect traditional and modern sea shanties sung in pubs, on stages, and even in the streets. The festival takes over the whole village, making it an unforgettable weekend of maritime music.

Dates: Friday 16-Sunday 18 May 2025
Type: Upbeat live music festival on a sandy beach
Suitable for: Party people who love sand between their toes with their fab live music experience
Location: Perranporth Beach, Perranporth

Rattler Fest may have kicked off the high-octane rock and indie Cornwall music festivals 2025 programme in fine style, but the summer really starts with Tunes in the Dunes 2025. Why? Because this is the first major beach festival of the year, where you get sand between your toes while watching some of the best bands in the world. And this year, the lineup playing to the crowds on Perranporth Beach includes Busted, Feeder, and the Kaiser Chiefs, alongside a host of other big names. Welcome the summer of ’25 while listening to great tunes in great dunes.

Dates: Friday 16-Sunday 18 May 2025
Type: Family-friendly tribute act music festival
Suitable for: Mums, dads and kids who like their fave performers to be almost as good as the real thing
Location: Monkey Tree Holiday park, Scotland Road, Newquay

Tina Turner and The Killers may play Cornwall this year. And ABBA. And Elton John. And Britney Spears and Beyonce. Even Michael Jackson could somehow grace the Duchy. All on the same stage at the same festival. How awesome is that? Oh wait, they are not actually the real thing. They are all tribute acts. But wait again, who cares? Tributes to those acts may be at this much-loved festival although wait til the full lineup is announced to find out. We all love a tribute act or 10 and the Party in the Park Tribute Festival 2025 is the king of them all.

Dates: Friday 30 May-Sunday 1 June 2025
Type: Music, entertainment, art and ‘rambunctious’ festival
Suitable for: Music fans, fun lovers and as many ‘rambunctious’ people as possible
Location: Scorrier House, Scorrier, near Redruth

Supergrass, anyone? Indeed, the much-adored rock act are believing in a thing called Cornwall at The Great Estate 2024 festival near Redruth. They are joined by Happy Monday’s and the Leftfield, as well as the traditional ‘rambunctious’ events that make this family-friendly fest a unique one every year. All sorts of fun and zany events are organised for big and little kids around the fab music performances. Click on the ‘Read More’ button below and discover more about this festival. Cornwall gigs 2024 never looked so good!

Dates: Throughout June and July 2025 (Texas play on Thursday 12 June, Gary Barlow plays on Wednesday 18 June, The Script play on Wednesday 25 June, Deftones play on Thursday 26 June and Madness play on Saturday 12 July 2025)
Type: Big performers and big concerts in an epic setting with a happy biosphere.
Suitable for: Music lovers of all tastes and ages. Usually there’s at least one act for everyone!
Location: Eden Project, near St Austell

‘The nearest you’ll get to watching a gig on the moon.’ That’s what they say about the Eden Sessions 2025, a series of concerts in June and July 2025 at the Eden Project near St Austell. The lineup includes Texas with KT Tunstall on Thursday 12 June, Gary Barlow with Beverley Knight on Wednesday 18 June, The Script with Tom Walker on Wednesday 25 June, Deftones on Thursday 26 June, Biffy Clyro with Nova Twins on Wednesday 9 and Thursday 10 July, and Madness with Rhoda Dakar on Saturday 12 July 2025. Epic.

Dates: Friday 13-Sunday 15 June 2025
Type: Foamy folk music festival with plenty of songs o’ the sea!
Suitable for: Anyone who loves sea shanties and a pretty raucous festival atmosphere
Location: Various venues across Falmouth

It’s official. The Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival 2025 is the big one, at least when it comes to superb sea shanty fests in Cornwall this year. And there are indeed a fair few shanty fests in the Duchy in 2025. But this one is just bigger and grander as it hits the streets of the south coastal town. Click on the ‘Read More’ button and find out what the organisers are labelling ‘the largest free nautical music and song festival in Europe’. Cornwall really does do shanty singing on the streets during the summer better than anywhere else!

Dates: Throughout June and September 2025 (The Vamps play on Friday 14 June, Scouting For Girls play on Saturday 15 June, Busted play on Friday 12 July, the Ibiza Orchestra Experience plays on Saturday 13 July, and Fisherman’s Friends play on Saturday 21 September 2025)
Type: A fairly new series of concerts, now in its second year, set on a gorgeous Cornish beach
Suitable for: Fans of sun, sea, sand, sangria, sandcastles, sandals and erm… decent tunes.
Location: Perranporth Beach, Perranporth (apart from a festival in July)

In only its third year after a barnstormer of a debut in 2023, Bands in the Sands 2025 is set to be bigger and better. It all takes place on the sands at Perranporth Beach, bringing an incredible mix of pop, rock, and folk to the stunning Cornish coast. This year’s lineup includes The Vamps, Scouting For Girls, Busted, the Ibiza Orchestra Experience, and the ever-iconic Fisherman’s Friends, making for another electric summer of live music by the sea.

Dates: Friday 11-Sunday 13 July 2025
Type: Colourful, intimate and welcoming world music festival next to the sea
Suitable for: Fans of world music and families who just adore a relaxed vibe and fun festival activities
Location: Mount Pleasant Eco Park, Chapel Hill, Porthtowan, between Portreath and Perranporth

World music acts from across the, well, world performing under a hot Cornish sun. You really can’t ask for more than that, can you? Tropical Pressure 2025 should be a cracker. Expect tremendous bands alongside a World Food Market, which offers all sorts of 100 percent plant-based tuck. Also enjoy the many nighttime DJ sessions and just the overall sustainable, environmentally friendly vibe at this fest. Click that lovely yellow button below and learn about the hottest festival of Cornwall’s summer.

Dates: Thursday 24-Sunday 27 July 2025
Type: Music and food festival that’s a treat for the senses
Suitable for: Those who enjoy a bivalve or 20 along with their UB40.
Location: Dinham House, St Minver, between Rock and Wadebridge

If food be the music of love, then eat on. Or something like that. The Rock Oyster Festival 2025 is all about those gorgeous bivalves and all the other food that’s served up alongside a top helping of the world’s best musical acts. And this year is set to feature headliners like Ministry of Sound Classical, Rag’n’Bone Man, and UB40 featuring Ali Campbell. Culinary talents such as Emily Scott, John Torode, Noor Murad, and Mark Hix will also be showcasing their skills. This festival promises a delightful blend of music and food for all attendees. Food, music and a load of activities for all the family. This is what Rock music is all about!

Dates: Wednesday 6-Sunday 10 August 2025
Type: Massive music, fun and surfing festival
Suitable for: Party people of all ages who love big music next to big waves
Location: Fistral Beach and Watergate Bay, Newquay

Boardmasters 2025 doesn’t really need an introduction. But we’re going to give it one anyway, just in case you’ve never heard of it. This is, for sure, one of the biggest music festivals in the South West. It takes place on a couple of Newquay‘s finest beaches and across the famous party town between 6 and 10 August 2025. Headlining are RAYE and The Prodigy. Also headlining are the annual surfing, skateboarding and BMX competitions that take place each day. Click on the ‘Read More’ button below for all the juicy details…

Dates: Thursday 21-Monday 25 August 2024
Type: Cornwall’s beloved folk music fest
Suitable for: Anyone who loves folk music in all its shapes and sizes
Location: Various venues across Wadebridge

Half a century. That’s quite a feat for a folk fest. The Cornwall Folk Festival 2025 has been going for more than 50 years. It takes place in August and there’s going to be a celebratory atmosphere to go along with all the acts that come from far and wide. Lady Maisery should draw the crowds in as they are one of the headliners over the weekend. But also expect to enjoy the likes of The Trials of Cato, James Dixon, Tarren, Daphne’s Flight and Suthering, among others. There’s a ceilidh too, as well as lots of other folky events and activities.

Dates: Tuesday 26-Friday 29 August 2025
Type: Much-loved jazz fest with all the classic trimmings
Suitable for: Cool cats, jive bunnies and everyone in between
Locations: Various venues across Bude

Jazz hits Bude in a big way between 26 and 29 August 2025. This annual festival is an utter treat for the senses as bands and acts from far and wide play up to 80 concerts in just a few days at venues scattered across the north coast town. And it’s not just the acts that hail from far and wide. It’s the visitors. There’s a really loyal set of followers who attend the festival every year and it’s hoped that youngsters in Cornwall will help support the fest over the coming years as it really is a jewel in the Duchy’s crown when it comes to jazz music every year.

Dates: Friday 12-Sunday 14 September 2025
Type: Family-friendly fun festival with some incredible local and international acts
Suitable for: Cider drinkers, music lovers, campers and kids
Location: Healey’s Cornish Cyder Farm, Penhallow, between Truro and Perranporth

There’s only one way of life… and that’s your own… if you know those lyrics, you know the Levellers, who are headlining this year’s Little Orchard festival. As this is a family-friendly cider festival, though, perhaps those lyrics should be ‘there’s only one drink of life… and that’s cider… while you eat some incredibly tasty local food from one of the countless food trucks that pull up here every year’. Maybe. Find out about this festival’s lineup, which includes The Wurzels (of course), and all the other details by clicking the ‘Read More’ button.

Dates: Saturday 13-Saturday 27 September 2025
Type: Music and arts festival
Suitable for: Lovers of eclectic and moving music and arts
Location: All around St Ives

St Ives is Cornwall’s beating heart when it comes to art. So when the doors of galleries, studios, pubs, churches, theatres, the Guildhall and, well, loads of other venues (including the streets themselves) open every year for the St Ives September Festival, it’s a special time indeed. This 15-day arts and music fest brings the town alive. Expect some of the best bands and artists who play locally to be on the bill as well as some pretty big acts. Last year, for instance, saw the Three Degrees playing. You can’t ask for more than that.

Dates: Friday 19-Sunday 21 September 2025
Type: Busy three-day live music festival in the pretty Cornish seaside town
Suitable for: Music fans looking for a wide variety of bands, singers and live acts across the town
Location: In all sorts of venues across Looe, with a main stage in West Looe

After a solid debut in 2023, the Looe Weekender festival returns in September. Expect pubs, eateries and other venues on both the east and west slopes of the idyllic town to feature some of the best acts for miles around. And expect a live stage alongside a buzzing atmosphere across the town over the three days of quality live music. Plus, it’s all free, which is great as it makes every gig accessible to anyone and everyone, no matter what your background may be. Prepare to rock!

You can camp at many of the music festivals in Cornwall. But sometimes you just want to be away from the fest for a quieter experience. Or a more luxurious one. So check out Hipcamp‘s special recommendations for camping and glamping in Cornwall, by clicking: here. There are hundreds of options in there so get booking now for a rockin’ stay in the magnificent Duchy in 2024.