St Ives and Other Cornish Food and Drink Festivals 2026
Summer’s almost here, and with it comes that wonderful warm-weather tradition – the food and drink festival. The season kicks off in May here in Cornwall with one of our favourite annual events, the St Ives Food and Drink Festival, and then there is a whole summer of foodie celebrations to enjoy.
As always, the Cornish Escapes team aims to visit as many of these as possible, ready to enjoy the best of Cornish produce. Each festival hosts a fantastic line-up of chefs from Cornwall and beyond hosting food demonstrations, along with workshops for those who like to get stuck in.
You will also find entertainment, traders and family fun at these fabulous Cornish food festivals. Food, drink and music in some of the best settings in Cornwall – the perfect way to spend a weekend.
St Ives Food and Drink Festival
Let us take a closer look at our local festival, held in lovely St Ives. First things first: where and when is St Ives Food Festival 2026? The annual party is being held at its usual venue of Porthminster Beach – because how could they possibly improve on such a stunning location?
It is held over the weekend of 15, 16 and 17 May, there are usually slightly different opening times each day, so be sure to check before visiting.
And the best thing? The daytime festival and entertainment are absolutely free! There’s a charge for Masterclasses, be sure to book ahead to secure your spot!
Find out more about the St Ives Food and Drink Festival programme on the event website.
Other Cornish Food Festivals
It is not just our local food festival that we’re excited about. There are other events held across the county over the summer, giving you plenty of opportunity to catch at least one of these food-filled celebrations.
Here are a few of the treats in store for 2026.
The New Food Festivals
Great news for food fans – over the last two years, Cornwall has gained an amazing three new food and drink festivals!
Friends Barney Farnworth and Henry James-Mills with backgrounds in events and hospitality respectively, launched the Falmouth Food Festival in 2023, the Penzance Food Festival in 2024 and the Newquay Food Festival in 2025.
Their aim? To create unique and genuinely local events that celebrate the best of local produce – there is a rule that all the traders must come from within 30km of the host town. As you would expect from any good Cornish event, music and the arts also feature on the packed programmes. All three events are free to attend.
Falmouth Food Festival
Falmouth always has a lively vibe, and this gets even better when the town hosts one of its many events. The Falmouth Food Festival has already gained a reputation for being one of Cornwall’s must-visit foodie events.
This year, it is held over four days on 22 – 25 May.
Find out more on the Falmouth Food Festival website.
Newquay Food Festival
A fanfare please, to welcome Cornwall’s newest food festival held in beautiful Killacourt, Newquay (we are especially excited to see the fire cooking demonstrations!).
The four-day event runs from 9 – 12 July.
Here is everything you need to know about the inaugural Newquay Food Festival.
Rock Oyster Festival
Back to a more established event, the much-loved food festival at Rock. It has evolved over the years to become as much a celebration of music as food, and the headliners for 2026 include Groove Armanda, Scissor Sisters and Kool & the Gang.
Foodies will love the programme of demonstrations, which this year includes Raymond Blanc, Nathan Outlaw, Matt Tebbutt and Phil Vickery.
Rock Oyster Festival is held 23 – 26 July in Dinham House.
For details of the programme, times and how to book, see the festival website.
Porthleven Food Festival
The pretty fishing port of Porthleven comes alive during its 3-day food festival. Live chef demonstrations and masterclasses, independent traders and bars, and the much-loved Evening Sessions make for an unforgettable Cornish experience.
The festival runs from 24 – 26 April. Discover more on the Porthleven Food Festival website.
Truro Food Festival
If you are planning a trip to Cornwall in September, Truro Food Festival is a definite must-visit, especially if you love street food. The whole place smells amazing and the atmosphere is wonderful. Pop into a pop-up bar and enjoy the free live music that fills the city’s streets.
The festival has grown into a five-day event, running from 23 – 27 September. Opening times vary, so please check the Truro Food Festival website for details.
Book your Cornish break
It is not too late to book your accommodation for these fantastic festivals, even the St Ives Food and Drink Festival 2026. At Cornish Escapes, we have some stunning last-minute holiday accommodation. Take a look at our last-minute luxury holiday lets and book your foodie break in Cornwall.
Photo credit: St Ives Food & Drink Festival.