Boardmasters Confirms Cornwall Residents’ Day Ticket Ballot for 2026

Boardmasters has confirmed the return of its Cornwall Residents’ Day Ticket Ballot for the 2026 festival, giving people who live permanently in Cornwall another chance to attend through a dedicated local ticket allocation.

The ballot will run from 12th to 18th January 2026 and is open to residents across the county.

How the Cornwall Residents’ Ballot Works

The Cornwall Residents’ Day Ticket Ballot sits alongside the existing Local Residents’ Ticket Scheme, which remains unchanged and continues to apply to those living in the immediate catchment area closest to the festival site.

Applicants must permanently live in Cornwall and be aged 16 or over. Successful applicants will be able to purchase two day tickets for either Friday, Saturday or Sunday of Boardmasters 2026. Applications are limited to one per person, email address and household.

This year, the number of tickets available through the ballot has been doubled. Half of the tickets will be reserved for Newquay residents, with the remaining 50 percent allocated to residents across the rest of Cornwall.

Applying does not guarantee tickets. Successful applicants will be notified by email after the ballot closes, with ticket download links issued from two weeks before the festival. All tickets are non-transferable, cannot be resold and are subject to standard Boardmasters terms and conditions.

Charitable Donation Linked to Tickets

Anyone successful in the ballot will be asked to make a £27.50 charitable donation per ticket, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the Boardmasters Foundation.

Established in 2017, the Foundation has raised and donated nearly £700,000 to local charities, schools, community projects and organisations across Cornwall.

Community Meeting and Support for Local Businesses

As part of its wider engagement with Cornwall, Boardmasters will host a community meeting on 14th January 2026 at 6PM, taking place at the Boardmasters Beach Bar. The meeting is open to local residents and businesses who want to discuss plans for the upcoming festival.

Discounted trade pitches for Newquay-based businesses will also return for 2026. Further details will be announced later this year, with local businesses able to register their interest in advance.

How to Apply

Full details and the ballot application are available via the Boardmasters Cornwall Residents’ Day Ticket Ballot

Local businesses interested in discounted trade pitches can register via this registration form

Further information will continue to be shared as we receive it and through Boardmasters’ official channels.