Cornwall Open Studios 2026 opens with 322 artists taking part

Ever wondered what happens behind the closed doors of a Cornish artist’s studio? For nine days at the end of May, you won’t have to wonder.

From Saturday 23rd to Sunday 31st May, 322 artists and makers from across Cornwall will throw open their studios and workshops to the public as part of Cornwall Open Studios 2026.

📷Ceri Hawke - Felting - Newquay

Coast to coast creativity

The event stretches the full length and breadth of the county, from Mousehole to Mawnan Smith and Tintagel to Torpoint, taking in hidden hamlets, villages and coastal communities along the way.

Painters, potters, printmakers and photographers will be joined by carvers, calligraphers, felters, furniture-makers, sculptors, silversmiths, woodturners and weavers. Visitors can expect to encounter everything from scrapyard automata and serpentine sculpture to soda-fired porcelain and silk seascapes, alongside contemporary impressionism, portraiture and plein air work.

Materials on display range from clay and cold wax to pastels and plastic, handspun yarn, locally-sourced hardwood, silver and sea glass.

📷Hayden Price - Painting - Bodinnick, Fowey

Year two brings new disciplines

This is the second year of Cornwall Open Studios, and the line-up has grown.

“In this, our second year of Cornwall Open Studios, we are delighted to have increased the number of participants and broadened the range of disciplines by adding furniture restoration, performance and floral art to the mix,” said Founder Jeremy Sanders.

Jeremy also pointed to the rise of permanent creative hubs across the county. “We are also seeing the emergence of more, permanent creative hubs with The Levels at Newquay, Whites Old Workshops at St Ives and Trevelloe Farm at Lamorna now joining established arts clusters at Krowji, Trewidden Gardens and around the Helford River.”

He thanked the businesses backing the event, singling out The Moving Company and Seymac Distribution for delivering the printed guides from Penzance to Polperro. “I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to all the participants, businesses and venues that have supported this artist-led initiative… We hope that visitors will be inspired by the artists and makers they encounter, and enjoy exploring creative Cornwall.”

📷Henri Villiers - Printmaking - Porthtowan

Plan your own art trail

Free demonstrations and workshops will run throughout the nine days. Visitors can build personalised art trails through the Cornwall Open Studios website, searching by location, discipline or number of opening days. A printed guide is also widely available across the county.

Cornwall Open Studios runs from Saturday 23rd to Sunday 31st May 2026.

📷Mike Townesend - Drawing, Painting, Printmaking - Carnon Downs, Truro

📷Sally Cuckson - Ceramics - Trencrom, Hayle