Cornish Sardine Festival 2026.

Year two. And what a weekend we had the first time round. A grassroots event brought together with love for a place and for the Sardine. Over a thousand of you came and ate, drank, and filled this harbour with conversation, music, smoke and appreciation for one small fish and the people who catch it.

We have something special here in Newlyn. A group of passionate local residents, members of the fishing community, and a core of ring-net skippers committed to making something happen to celebrate what they do.

There will be grills. A lot more grills. Music, photography & art. Ring netters on the pontoons, luggers on the quayside. Kids entertainment, education and heritage. The history and present of a fishing town gathered around its beating heart.

We have assembled a Sardine Army to prepare for your arrival. A team of grill chefs and an accompanying force of front of house friends, joining our own, to grill and serve in quantities we have never before dreamt of.

As I write this, I am in Mount’s Bay, aboard Inter Nos with Will Treneer and his crew, searching for sardines, the lights of Newlyn fading behind us. This harbour, this Bay, a haven for our community and for these fishermen who hunt their catch in its waters, should be celebrated. Join us for another year to do just that, August bank holiday weekend, 29th & 30th, 12-8.

Oh, and after the success of last year and how much the crews and organisers enjoyed it, the return of Where The Wild Things Are to close out the weekend! See you here.

Poster artwork taken from beautiful gyotaku prints by Stevie at Seamoor gallery, and designed by Rich Adams.