Your 2026 guide to festivals across the South West

Looking for the best music and arts festivals in South West England in 2026?

From Cornwall's Boardmasters and Tunes festivals to Devon's Beautiful Days and Sidmouth Jazz and Blues Festival, the South West is gearing up for a busy festival season.

But with so much choice on offer, how do you decide which festival is best suited to you?

Here is your guide to finding your best South West festival.

We start with the big one on the beach.

Known as a rite of passage to many young people in the South West, Boardmasters will be back at Watergate Bay and Fistral Beach this August.

Offering a mix of future superstars and nostalgic nods, the festival will be serving up a line-up which caters to many.

From the high-octane sets of Fatboy Slim and Kasabian to the more thought-provoking, powerful sounds of REN and Loyle Carner, 'Boardies' has gone for variety across its programme.

New music enthusiasts will be happy to see the likes of Getdown Services, BBC Introducing Artist of the Year Jacob Alon and BBC Introducing in the South West's Liang Lawrence on the bill.

The Tunes series offers the chance to get to a live music festival in an area near you.

With events from the far west of the UK right down to Perranporth, it is likely that you will find a Tunes festival nearby.

Known for their stunning settings, such as Carlyon Bay and Powderham Castle, Tunes offer festival-goers a hit of nostalgia with their headliners and supporting cast.

If you take a look at Tunes in the Dunes for example, noughties electronic outfit Basement Jaxx are headlining the Friday, The Wombats on Saturday and Ministry of Sound Classical close the weekend.

To add to the nostalgia, you will also find a scattering of some of the most well-known tribute acts across their multiple line-ups, so if you want to hear the hits, this one is for you.

Making its debut in 2025, expectations were high for Cornwall's newest festival, and despite the rain, Kernowfornia delivered.

Set up by a group of passionate Cornish musicians who wanted to create an event that was far from commercial, the festival has a line-up that offers big names while still upholding its commitment to supporting local artists.

This year you will be able to see the likes of James Morrison and Kula Shaker at the top of the bill but across the weekend, you will find BBC Introducing in the South West artists like Haytor, Rue and Kate Hall.

With a big focus on sustainability and supporting new musicians, Kernowfornia may be one to consider if you are looking for a festival that has a DIY ethos running throughout it.

Devon's little festival with a big heart. Known for its community feel and eclectic line-up, Altitude Festival is one of the smaller festivals on this guide.

Once you are on Blackdown Hills, you will find an intimate event showcasing music from around the world, high-energy DJs and a selection of local food and craft stalls.

The first wave of acts announced includes the likes of Dutty Moonshine Big Band, Henge and BBC Introducing in the South West's 3 Days of Wonder.

With more artists still to come, this inclusive event may be ideal for first time festival goers and local arts enthusiasts alike.

Wanderfal is a two-day, community-focused music and arts festival hosted by The Cornish Bank.

Adopting a similar approach to The Great Escape, Wanderfal takes over multiple venues across Falmouth.

The festival will be returning for its fourth year in April, offering a wide range of both local and international artists.

Punters are encouraged to wander from venue to venue, so if camping is not your thing and you love discovering new artists, then you might want to look at Wanderfal as one of your 2026 festivals.

The most rambunctious garden fete in all the land.

Priding itself on an eclectic mix of music, art and culture, The Great Estate is a family-friendly festival hosted at the picturesque Scorrier House.

At this festival you will find names like Sophie Ellis-Bextor and the Kaiser Chiefs, but the entertainment is not just limited to the music.

At The Great Estate, you can take part in the Great British Beard Off, go on a Safari walkabout or participate in a Victorian Sports Day.

When they say rambunctious, they mean it, and variety is sprinkled right across the site.

Set up by The Levellers in 2003, Beautiful Days prides itself on its family-friendly feel and independence.

Since its inception, the festival, based at Escot Park, has remained without corporate sponsorship and branding, with the aim of bringing "the weirdness" back to festivals.

With a line-up consisting of headline acts Madness, Super Furry Animals and The Levellers, Beautiful Days offers diversity in styles across the site, where you can also see the likes of the punk grime duo Nova Twins and Celtic dream electropop artist Gwenno.

Having won the "Best Family Festival" award at the UK Festival Awards back in 2011, this is clearly one that encourages you to bring the whole family.

Entering its fifth year as a music festival, the Sidmouth International Jazz and Blues Festival is quickly becoming a favourite among alternative music lovers.

With a vibrant programme featuring world-class jazz, swing, roots, gospel and soul music, it has managed to attract big names like Jools Holland, Emeli Sandé and Macy Gray down to the Devon coast this year.

As well as the ticketed shows by the big hitters, the festival is also going to be supporting local artists by offering free outdoor performances on the Love Local stage.

Sidmouth International Jazz and Blues Festival bills itself as a celebration of music, community and creativity by the sea, so if you are looking for a festival with a diverse range of musical genre in its line up, then this is one to consider.

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