Honestly, there’s nothing quite like the specific kind of magic that happens when the sun starts to dip over Fistral Beach and the first chords of a classic start to ring out.
We were already pretty sold on Boardmasters 2026, with the likes of Fatboy Slim, Kasabian, and Loyle Carner on the bill, but the latest update from the crew in Cornwall has officially kicked our summer hype into overdrive.
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In case you somehow missed it: Lily Allen is confirmed as the final headliner for the Watergate Bay main stage.
It feels like a massive get for the festival; she has a rare ability to write the kind of sharp, observational pop that everyone knows every single word to, and that’s not even including her pop culture-conquering West End Girl album (which she’ll be performing in full in Newquay). Seeing her bring those anthems to the coast next August is going to be one of those “you had to be there” moments.
But as much as we love a big-name headliner, it’s the depth of this lineup that has us really buzzing. The lineup is shaping up to be a bit of a masterclass in variety. If you’re after a bit of nostalgia, having The Kooks and The Darkness on the same bill is essentially a guarantee for some of the biggest singalongs of the weekend. On the flip side, we’re properly excited to see Joy Crookes bringing her effortless soul to the beach – her voice is practically made for a Cornish summer afternoon.
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But that, dear reader, is not all.
For those of you who prefer things a bit more high-octane, the addition of Pendulum’s live show means there’s going to be at least one night of pure, unadulterated chaos, while Lambrini Girls are set to provide the kind of raw punk energy that every good festival needs. Throw in the likes of Jacob Alon and Brooke Combe, and you’ve got a weekend that’s going to be impossible to forget.
