BOARDMASTERS plans to broaden its appeal to ensure the music festival’s long-term future.

Organisers Vision Nine proposes to evolve the popular annual event, which has a reputation for attracting post-school teenagers.

The company plans to make various changes after next year’s Boardmasters when the existing licence expires to “support the long-term development of the event and broaden its appeal, gradually shifting our audience profile over time.”

Vision Nine is submitting a new licensing application in the new year, which includes a request to increase the existing noise limits for the 2026 music festival. They are also seeking permission for the main stage to operate until 11pm on Thursdays, which would not take effect until 2027 if permission is granted.

Boardmasters say they do not want to change the existing daily capacity of 58,000 people.

Residents are being invited to a community meeting to hear about the upcoming plans and the licensing application, which will be held at the Boardmasters Beach Bar on Wednesday, January 14 at 6pm.

A spokesperson for Vision Nine said: “The licence application and proposed adjustments are part of our long-term strategy to evolve the festival in a considered way - strengthening the experience and ensuring it continues to appeal to a broad and diverse audience.”

In a letter to residents Boardmasters said: “Boardmasters would like to inform the local community, as a matter of courtesy, that we will be submitting a new licensing application for Boardmasters in early 2026.

“Our existing licence expires after the 2026 event, so now is the appropriate time for us to begin planning for the future. Before outlining the proposed changes, we want to be clear about what will not be changing. There will be no change to the existing daily capacity of 58,000, which includes 53,000 ticket holders plus 5,000 staff, performers and non-ticket holders.

“There will be no changes to the site layout and plan, permitted hours on site, licensable activities or hours for licensable activities.

“The changes we are proposing are intended to support the long-term development of the event and broaden its appeal, gradually shifting our audience profile over time.

“For 2026, this will include a request to increase existing noise limits, while continuing to protect against public nuisance. We will work closely with the environmental health team on this. A distinction between the pre-11pm and post-11pm periods will remain.

“We also plan to seek permission for the main stage to operate until 11pm on Thursdays, although this change would not take effect until 2027. As always, these activities will be managed in line with our noise controls and will not permit disturbance or public nuisance off site.

“Full proposals will be shared with the responsible authorities and the wider Safety Advisory Group this month, but we wanted to ensure our intentions were shared with local community in advance of this.”

People need to register to attend the community event and submit questions by visiting https://visionnine.typeform.com/to/AhMMQdx9