THE harbourside streets were filled with maritime song this weekend, as the Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival returned for its 22nd year.

The festival is Europe's largest free-entry maritime music event, and early indications point to the busiest to date, with over 70,000 people expected to attend the three days and with more than 90 performing groups alongside a packed programme of market stalls, family-friendly activities and the ever-popular gala concert.

So far £31,268 has been raised for the RNLI, with counting still underway by the Falmouth Lifeboat team. The festival ran alongside Falmouth Classics.

Festival committee chairman Richard Gates said: “To see the streets so full, and to know that has translated into such an incredible amount raised for the RNLI, is brilliant.”

The 2026 festival also saw the launch of a new festival app, giving visitors access to festival information including performance schedule and maps; and a Shanty Shuttle Park & Ride service from Penryn’s university campus.

The 2027 festival will take place from June 18 to 20.