FALMOUTH International Arts Festival (FIAfest) returns in just one week with a packed four-day programme of theatre, comedy, music and live performance from March 5 to 8.

Running alongside the festival on March 5 and 6, the Made-in-Cornwall Showcase Summit will bring together artists, producers and industry leaders from across the region and beyond.

The imPOSSIBLE producing team behind the summit has announced that actress, author, podcaster and presenter Giovanna Fletcher will join an already exciting line-up of speakers and actors at the event.

Giovanna, who is also partnering with Creative UK for a special industry fireside chat at National Maritime Museum Cornwall, will appear as one of the actors in imPOSSIBLE Producing’s Half Baked New Writing event, alongside Arthur Darvill, Mary Woodvine, Jill Greenacre and others, including graduates from Falmouth University and Hall For Cornwall’s Youth Company. Directors and writers of Half Baked Showcase work include Simon Harvey, Carl Grose and Agnieska Blonska.

The Made-in-Cornwall Summit, supported by Creative UK and Cornwall Transfers & Tours, showcases new work by local and South West artists developed through the imPOSSIBLE Ideas Studio. Many of the Made-in-Cornwall performances are open to the public as part of FIAfest.

For the wider UK performance industry, the summit will also offer vital conversation and practical insight into how ambitious theatre and immersive experiences can be realised in challenging economic times. National industry figures, including West End director Matthew Dunster, will lead discussions and share expertise across the two-day programme.

FIAfest 2026 includes a Rewind Party with 90s legend, Mr Motivator, comedy from acclaimed comedian and TV regular Sarah Keyworth, and a unique immersive experience, courtesy of world-renowned Belgian theatre company, Ontroerend Goed.

Other elements of the festival include Seamus Carey’s ‘Community Service’, the award-winning Cornish artist’s joyful mix of singing, dancing and playful audience participation. On Thursday 5th March, in just 50 minutes, Carey and will attempt to build a brand-new community from scratch with his audience, a lively, heart-warming experiment that blurs the line between performer and participant.

On Friday, March 6, award-winning writer, performer and showgirl, Temi Wilkey, brings a high camp cocktail of comedy and cabaret to Falmouth with her critically acclaimed show, 'Main Character Energy'. This outrageously hilarious autobiographical one-woman show sees talented black actress Temi finally taking up the space she’s been so routinely denied.

On the morning of Saturday, March 7, BAFTA award-winning screenwriter Helen Serafinowicz will join theatre and film director Lisa Forrell for a sparky conversation about the inspiration behind some of our best loved TV moments, working together on new projects, and finding Tinder in your twilight years.

On Saturday evening, 90s fitness icon Mr Motivator will be bringing nostalgic vibes to FIAfest with Rewind - a high-energy celebration of classic hits from the 60s through to the 90s.

On Sunday, March 8 - International Women’s Day - the day starts with the ‘FIAfest Frolic’ - a free sea exercise class on Gyllyngvase Beach. This is followed by creative changemaker Kate Doran (better known as Flotsam Flo) sharing an uplifting talk on resilience, creativity and rethinking materials (Falmouth Hotel). That evening, internationally acclaimed all-female troupe, Figs in Wigs bring their Astrology Bingo to Cornwall (Princess Pavilion).

Full programme details and tickets at fiafest.org.