THE desire to hold a special gathering close to home in Cornwall has been on the Fisherman’s Friends’ minds for some time.

After two films, top 10 albums, a musical, a TV documentary and a book the next logical step was a bigger tent at their own festival.

The group have announced that in 2026 they will be hosting their very own Fisherman’s Friends Festival which promising to be a feast of top-class music, entertainment, friendship and fun over the Bank Holiday weekend (May 22 to 24) at Stithians Showground, near Penryn.

The Fisherman’s Friends themselves will open and close an eclectic bill of artists and entertainers from near and far including popular pianist and bandleader Jools Holland OBE and his 20 piece Rhythm & Blues Orchestra with special guest Roachford.

Guest vocalists include Ruby Turner, the first lady of folk and Mercury Prize winner Kate Rusby, Scotland's biggest Celtic band Skipinnish, County Clare trad legend Sharon Shannon, Westcountry folk singer and multi-instrumentalist Seth Lakeman, Stornoway’s folk rock trio Peat & Diesel, and Bristol-based sea shanty sensations The Longest Johns.

The Main Stage line-up is completed by the Porthleven Town Band, Falmouth singing group The Oggymen, the Cornish Splann Ceilidh Band plus sets from Kernow King and Johnny Cowling, who will also compere.

Band member Jon Cleave said: “The Fisherman’s Friends are so excited to invite you, one and all, to their brand new festival down in the very heart of our wondrous county at Stithians, in what promises to be a Cornish occasion for all friends you’ve known for years and for all those you’ve yet to meet. We’ll see you all dreckly!”

To turn this bright idea into reality, the chaps have partnered with David and Laura Farrow of DMF Music, the team behind staging the perennially popular Beautiful Days festival held each August in Devon since 2003.

They said: “We’ve known the Fisherman’s Friends and their team for a long time and were delighted to be asked to get involved in the festival. It’s shaping up to be a great weekend!”

With camping and glamping on site, plus local food, drink and crafts from artisan caterers and traders, and an independent bar, there are options for festival goers to immerse themselves for a whole weekend in the company of their favourite buoy band or simply dip in for a day.

May is often a beautiful month in Cornwall, but the Fishies have got things covered in case the weather turns by putting the main stage inside a huge, circus-style, open-sided Big Top tent.

An outdoor bandstand will host more live music, talks and sessions, and Circo Rum Ba Ba will be inviting audiences to squeeze into the belly of an enormous inflatable Sperm Whale for performances of The Whale, exploring sea creatures and their battle to survive in an ocean full of rubbish.

A spokesperson for Stithians Showground said: “Stithians Agricultural Association are delighted to be welcoming the Fisherman’s Friends to the Showground. We are very proud of our site and are super excited to see it be transformed next May and can’t wait for people to come and experience the festival vibes. It’s certainly going to be something to celebrate.”

Tickets for the Fisherman’s Friends Festival go on sale at 10am on Thursday, June 19 via the official website at: fishermansfriendsfestival.co.uk