Boardmasters is exceptionally popular and functions as Cornwalls, most beloved, premier music event. The event attracts over 50,000 attendees during its five-day run. Camping tickets often sell out rapidly due to the festivals haphazard range of musical acts and beachside excitement. It is an additional bonus too that attendees can jump in the sea to heal that festival hangover.

The festival previously shared its first lineup wave in December 2025; this drew excitement among festival goers. Joining in on the initial lineup of summer festivities are Fatboy Slim, Kasabian, The Kooks, Loyola Carter, Pendulum, Rudiemental, James Arthur, Example and countless other electrifying acts.

The seaside festival added their final headliner to the bill, announcing Lily Allen as the concluding act. The singer-songwriter will perform her pristine 2025 album in full.

Allen’s success has skyrocketed as of 2025 in the midst of her releasing a new record, ‘West End girl’. The album details her difficult divorce from her ex-husband and the catastrophic chain of events leading up to this. It is nothing short of incredible and Allen is set to perform the tear-jerking work in its entirety at Boardmasters.

‘West End Girl’ is Allen’s fifth studio album, released on October 24, 2025, the record has been incredibly well received due to its emotionally charged lyricism and narrative technique. Several publications have considered the work as one of the best albums of 2025 and it has received the extravagant Brit Awards nomination of British Album of the Year. Commercially the album peaked at number two on the UK Albums Chart, this chart success has resulted in Allen receiving her first top ten in the UK since 2014. There is an evident light at the end of the tunnel of Allen’s draining divorce.

Unlike Allen’s previous work, West End Girl stands alone in its usage of additional writers and a team of producers and players alike. Historically, Allen’s previous work has just featured a lone producer. Undoubtedly heavy on the heart, it was a spectacular decision for the album to become a team effort. The most unexpected yet impactful album of the year, if you haven’t already, take some time out of your day to listen to, ‘West End Girl’. Have some tissues at bay.

Allen is embarking on a stacked touring schedule this year, already amounting a leg of shows in smaller, intimate venues. Fans have been eagerly awaiting Allen’s musical return, yet we could have never prepared for this much content from our favourite british breakup icon.

Various tickets for the festival are available on their website now. This includes payment plans and a range of camping options so you can find your best pick. Don’t miss out on screaming your heart out at the festival set of the year.

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Boardmasters itself first launched in 1981 as a surf competition before shifting into a full-scale music festival, making it one of the most unique events on the UK festival circuit. Held across two locations, Fistral Beach, where world-class surfing competitions take place, and Watergate Bay, the main site for music performances. The festival offers a combination of action sports and live music that attracts thousands of festival-goers each year. Over the years, it has hosted some of the biggest names in music, including Florence + The Machine, Gorillaz, and Kings of Leon, while still staying true to its surf and skate cultural roots.

Kicking off Friday, first headliner RAYE has had a monumental rise over the past few years, cementing herself as one of the most exciting artists in the UK. After breaking free from major label constraints, she took full creative control of her music, leading to the release of her critically acclaimed debut album ‘My 21st Century Blues’. The album saw her explore deeply personal themes while showcasing her ability to blend R&B, dance, and soul influences effortlessly. Tracks like ‘Escapism’ and ‘Oscar Winning Tears’ became huge hits, solidifying her place in the industry and the charts. 

The Prodigy will be bringing their high-energy, genre-defining electronic sound to Boardmasters, promising an electrifying performance that closes the festival on Sunday. With a career spanning over 30 years, they remain one of the most influential acts in electronic and rave culture. Their iconic tracks, including ‘Omen’, ‘Breathe’, and ‘Smack My B***h Up’, have shaped the landscape of electronic music, inspiring generations of artists. Even after decades in the industry, The Prodigy still deliver some of the most intense live performances, complete with pulsating bass, immersive visuals, and an energy that never fades.

Saturday’s headliner Central Cee has quickly become one of the biggest names in UK rap, gaining worldwide recognition for his unique blend of drill, melodic hooks, and sharp lyricism. With chart-topping hits like ‘GBP’, ‘Doja’, and ‘Commitment Issues’, he has carved out a distinct sound that continues to push the boundaries of the genre. His recent collaboration with RAYE on ‘Moi’ saw him experiment with UK garage influences, proving his versatility beyond drill and rap. Central Cee’s rapid rise has made him one of the most in-demand artists for festivals, and his performance at Boardmasters will undoubtedly be a crowd-puller. 

Beyond the headliners, the festival boasts a incredible supporting lineup featuring a mix of indie, pop, electronic, and rock acts. London Grammar, Nelly Furtado, Wet Leg, Kaiser Chiefs, and Krept & Konan are just a few of the names set to perform, ensuring a fantastic weekend of music. 

With such a strong set of artists, Boardmasters 2025 is shaping up to be one of the biggest editions of the festival yet. From RAYE’s emotional and genre-blending performance to The Prodigy’s intense electronic anthems and Central Cee’s hard-hitting rap, the festival promises something for every music fan. Against the backdrop of Newquay’s beaches and surf culture, Boardmasters continues to solidify itself as one of the UK’s most exciting festivals, offering a perfect mix of live music, summer energy, and unforgettable performances. 

Tickets have already gone on sale and information can be found here. 

Boardmasters Festival is a popular annual music and surfing festival, typically combining live music performances with surfing and skateboarding competitions. The event is held in two main locations: the music part of the festival occurs on the cliffs overlooking Watergate Bay, while the surfing competitions are hosted at Fistral Beach in Newquay, a town known for its surfing culture.

The festival features a wide range of music genres, including rock, indie, electronic, and hip-hop, attracting both major international artists and emerging talent. Alongside the music, the festival celebrates beach culture, with activities such as surf lessons, yoga sessions, and skateboarding.

This year, however, the festival experienced large crowds that threatened the safety of attendees. Following a crowd surge during Sam Fender’s performance, the festival confirmed that 7 individuals were hospitalised for minor injuries who have all since been discharged.

An update: pic.twitter.com/nUxVBwM0YS

— Boardmasters (@boardmasters) August 10, 2024

One 16-year-old who was near the front told Sky news: “When loads of people came in, I was pushed and fell on my back, with my leg twisted. It was hyperextended. It was incredibly painful, and I couldn’t get up. There were people on top of me, and I was on top of other people.”

In response to the crowd surge, Sam Fender’s performance had to be paused so that the individual’s could receive necessary medical attention.

 While the festival has not commented on contributing factors or causes of the crowd surge, overpopulated spaces are a common cause. Indeed, Boardmasters increased the size of the festival by 5000 people this year after the county council approved a licence application, meaning the event was attended by 58,000 in total.

Crowdsurges are not a new phenomena, and in April of 2024, UK Crowd Management Association, Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), LIVE, and the UK Door Security Association collaborated to produce a “groundbreaking” new crowd safety guide for venues. The guide was created in response to a number of high profile incidents resulting in injury or death, such as the death of two individuals at London’s O2 Acadamy Brixton in 2022 and Travis Scott’s Astroworld Festival in 2021 where 10 people died and thousands were left injured in a crowd crush.

The safety guide outlines that its purpose is to:  “suggest a framework for the safety, security and optimal experience of attendees in indoor spaces that are smaller than arenas.”

Through the use of this guide, it is hoped that venues, festivals, music events and other performance spaces can reduce the likelihood of crowd surges from occurring.

Falling on the same night of the 2024 BRIT awards, Wunderhorse took to the stage last Saturday to rapturous applause. The legendary 700-year-old pub announced the secret set just hours before the group were scheduled to perform, causing fans to scramble to purchase last-minute tickets. Fronted by singer-songwriter Jacob Slater, his distinctive rough and ready vocals and razor-sharp lyricism are hard to shake off. Slater’s gritty on-stage persona is reminiscent of blistering American garage bands, causing him to launch into a series of rage-fuelled outbursts, only to lose him again in a 90s psychedelic fog.

The Hertfordshire-born musician had made the decision to exit his old band Dead Pretties in 2017, a path that would eventually lead him to form his next project Wunderhorse, releasing their debut, critically-acclaimed album ‘Cub‘ in October 2022, a beautiful yet bloodied catalogue of teenage misadventure. The past two years have seen Slater build up a fair amount of mileage, having scored not only glowing album reviews and international recognition, but rather ironically his first ever acting role as Sex Pistols drummer Paul Cook in Danny Boyle’s tv miniseries Pistol.

A multifaceted writer and instrumentalist, Slater has also curated his own separate solo project, releasing his first ever record ‘Pinky, I Love You‘ in August 2023, another deeply personal and tender account of youth driven by a rousing, prog-rock sound. On February 5, the band announced they will be performing at Isle of Wight, TRNSMT, Boardmasters and Reading and Leeds festival this summer.

As of last weekend, they also shared they will be headlining Dot To Dot Festival in May alongside Irish electronic duo Jockstrap, and Brighton’s The Great Escape festival accompanied by other major acts such as Faye Webster and SOFTPLAY. Great Escape Fest is known for showcasing the biggest and brightest up and coming artists from around the country, with over 150 acts set to take part in different venues across the city.

Wunderhorse took to Instagram last month to lift the lid on new music, revealing they are currently in the process of recording their sophomore album, simply commenting: “Back on the road in March, new music in tow”. The four-piece will be supporting English singer-songwriter Declan McKenna on his 2024 UK tour this month, kicking things off at Cardiff University’s Student Union on March 23. You can purchase tickets here.

Boardmasters has dubbed Sam Fender one of the most-requested artists ever for the festival, and his appearance has been a topic of rampant speculation among fans. Joining other headlining acts Stormzy, Chase & Status, and Becky Hill, Fender is poised to fill the Saturday night headline slot.

This marks Fender’s third appearance at Boardmasters, a festival he first graced in 2014 at just 19 years old, playing on The View stage. Reflecting on his humble beginnings, Fender shared on social media, “I played in a little trailer, tiny stage at the bottom. It was almost off the cliff edge. I played Boardmasters more than any other festival, and now I’m going to headline it.”

The announcement comes hot on the heels of Fender’s collaboration with Noah Kahan on the single ‘Homesick’ and the release of his soulful track ‘Iris’ from the Jackdaw soundtrack. With his 2021 album ‘Seventeen Going Under’ still making waves, fans eagerly anticipate news about his third album.

Fender’s rise to headliner status is a testament to his skyrocketing success, marked by sell-out stadium shows, acclaim at major festivals across the UK and Europe, and two BRIT awards along with an Ivor Novello award. His 2021 release built upon the breakthrough success of his debut album, ‘Hypersonic Missiles,’ solidifying his status as one of Britain’s most celebrated musicians.

Newly joining Fender on the diverse Boardmasters 2024 lineup are other notable acts such as Courteeners, celebrating 15 years since their debut album ‘St. Jude,’ Declan McKenna with new album ‘What Happened to the Beach?’ on the horizon, electronic music duo Overmono, ‘Foundations’ vocalist Kate Nash, Cornwall’s own Wunderhorse, Irish indie rockers NewDad, and Scottish singer-songwriter Calum Bowie.

In addition to its stellar musical lineup, Boardmasters offers a plethora of activities and events, including surfing competitions, skateboarding exhibitions, and immersive art installations. With pre-sale tickets already available, fans are urged to secure their spots early. Last year’s sold out edition featured headliners Lorde, Liam Gallagher, and Florence + The Machine, drawing a crowd of 150,000 festival attendees.

With Sam Fender at the helm as the final headliner, Boardmasters 2024 promises to be “five sun-drenched days of surf, sounds & soul”, with a mix of established and emerging talents gracing the stages. From surf competitions to diverse music acts, the festival offers something for everyone. Secure your tickets here to ensure you don’t miss out on the excitement.