Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival Returns in June

80+ Sea Shanty Groups Set to Fill Falmouth with Song

The world-famous Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival will return to the Cornish port this summer, bringing more than 80 groups from around the UK and overseas for three days of maritime music.

Taking place from Friday 12th June to Sunday 14th June, the award-winning event will mark its 22nd year, filling the town with harbourside harmonies, salty shanties and deck-stomping choruses.

The festival, which is the largest free nautical music festival in Europe, will once again see Falmouth’s harbour, pubs, bars, streets and waterfront venues transformed into a celebration of traditional songs of the sea.

Groups are expected to travel from across the UK as well as internationally, with performers arriving from France, Ireland, Canada, the Netherlands and beyond.

A Festival with Global Reach

Since it began in 2004, the festival has grown into a major cultural event that attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year and has inspired similar shanty festivals in ports and maritime communities around the world.

The event celebrates both the historic roots of maritime work songs and the international community of performers who continue to keep the tradition alive.

Over time the sea shanty scene has continued to evolve. Alongside traditional groups, the festival now features younger performers as well as female, LGBTQ+ and international singers who bring their own interpretations to the music while respecting its heritage.

Familiar Favourites Returning

The full schedule for the 2026 Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival will be announced in the coming weeks.

Among the returning performers will be Acapella Moonshine, Falmouth’s premier all-female sea shanty group, who have been performing at the festival for 12 years.

Another returning act is Femmes de la Mer, a 15-strong Cornish group formed ten years ago. The group first appeared at the festival in 2015 and has since performed regularly at events across the UK.

Also returning are Falmouth Shout, described as the “original salty sea dogs”. The group were behind the creation of the very first Falmouth shanty festival in 2004. The idea was first discussed in the back room of the Seven Stars pub, and many of the original singers continue to perform at the festival each year.

New Voices in the Tradition

The LGBTQIA+ sea shanty choir Seaweed in a Fruitlocker will return for a third year, led by Plymouth-based artist Rhys Morgan.

Inspired by growing up in a rural coastal community, Rhys formed the group, which now includes more than 15 queer choristers. Their repertoire features reworked sea shanties shaped by the shared life experiences of the performers.

More Than 60,000 Visitors Expected

Festival Chair Richard Gates reflected on how far the event has come since its early days.

Richard Gates said:

“For over two decades, Falmouth has played host to the International Sea Shanty Festival and long may this continue. It started back in 2004 as a grassroots event with a modest five groups popping up around the town’s Custom House Quay to make their voices heard. Today it is the largest free nautical event in Europe and in 2026, more than 60,000 visitors are expected to see sea shanty groups from all over the world come together to perform all over the town. It really is quite incredible.”

Where to Find More Information

With performances from more than 80 groups across multiple venues, visitors can expect a lively programme celebrating music, atmosphere and maritime heritage across the town.

More details, including the full schedule once it is announced, can be found on the festival’s website at falmouthseashanty.co.uk.