Newquay Is Open for Business During Boardmasters Week – And Visitors Are Being Urged Not to Stay Away

As excitement builds ahead of this year’s Boardmasters Festival, businesses and town leaders across Newquay are coming together with one clear message: Newquay is open for business during Boardmasters week — and visitors should not avoid the town.

Boardmasters 2026, taking place from 5th–9th August at Watergate Bay and Fistral Beach, continues to be one of the UK’s most iconic surf and music festivals, bringing tens of thousands of people into Cornwall and showcasing Newquay on an international stage.

But while the event itself continues to grow and evolve successfully, local businesses are now keen to challenge one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding the festival — that Newquay town centre becomes overcrowded, inaccessible or impossible to enjoy during Boardmasters week.

The reality, businesses say, is very different.

Mark Warren, Manager of Newquay BID, said:

“There is still this perception that Boardmasters week is a complete no-go zone for Newquay, that traffic is at a standstill and the town is jam-packed everywhere you go. The reality is that this simply isn’t the case anymore.

Boardmasters have done a tremendous job over the last few years improving transport systems, traffic management and how festivalgoers arrive into the area. More people are travelling by coach than ever before, fewer cars are being used, and the road traffic management plans now work really, really well.”

Mark added:

“Last year, if anything, the town centre was actually too quiet in places during Boardmasters week, which was disappointing for many businesses because August should naturally be one of our busiest trading periods.

We genuinely believe some people are avoiding Newquay unnecessarily because of outdated perceptions about the festival week. We now need to completely change that narrative.”

Significant improvements to transport infrastructure and event planning have transformed how the town operates during the festival period. Newquay now benefits from enhanced rail capacity, including the ability to run hourly train services into the town, expanded park-and-ride options, improved traffic flow systems and extensive car parking provision — much of which remains underused during Boardmasters week.

Businesses are now appealing directly to visitors, tourists and loyal customers not to write off Newquay during the festival period.

“Please put that August week back in your diary as a week to come to Newquay,” said Mark.

“The beaches are stunning and often quieter than people expect. Our award-winning restaurants, bars, cafés, independent shops and hospitality businesses are all open and ready for visitors.

We have seven incredible beaches, a mural trail that everybody is talking about, amazing independent businesses, safe streets initiatives, fantastic nightlife, live events and an incredible community atmosphere. There is so much happening across the town.”

The evening economy in particular is becoming increasingly important during Boardmasters week, with many festivalgoers returning to the festival site in the evenings, creating opportunities for visitors and residents to enjoy Newquay’s restaurants, bars and entertainment venues in a more relaxed environment.

Newquay BID is also working closely with partners including the organisers of Boardmasters, Wax Events and Newquay Town Council to ensure there are additional activities and activations taking place within the town itself throughout the festival week.

This year will also see new activity around Killacourt, helping reinforce the message that Newquay town centre remains vibrant, welcoming and active throughout the festival period.

“We’re working hard with businesses so they can really shout about what they’re doing during Boardmasters week,” Mark explained.

“We want people to understand that this isn’t just about what’s happening at Watergate Bay or Fistral. It’s about supporting the wider town and ensuring Newquay businesses benefit from one of the biggest visitor periods of the year.”

Fistral Beach, widely recognised as the spiritual home of Boardmasters, continues to evolve as a world-class surf, skate and music destination, with the festival organisers working closely alongside local stakeholders to strengthen the connection between the festival and the town itself.

“At the end of the day, Boardmasters is hugely important for Newquay,” Mark added.

“We’re really behind the event and the direction it’s moving in, but it’s equally important that we continue supporting the businesses in our town centre. That remains our key focus.

The message this year is simple — Newquay is open, welcoming and ready for visitors during Boardmasters week. Our transport systems can now comfortably handle the festival alongside everyday tourism, and our businesses need that support during one of the most important weeks of the summer.

Please come and enjoy everything Newquay has to offer.”

From its seven spectacular beaches and vibrant independent business scene to award-winning hospitality, public art, events, nightlife and coastal culture, Newquay is once again preparing to welcome visitors for what promises to be another unforgettable summer in Cornwall.