“They taste amazing, I’m going back for more!” Newlyn’s Cornish Sardine Festival 2026!
This year’s festival closed with knowledge that, based on all the feedback and comments over the two days, that all those concerned, from fishermen to the festival stalls to the volunteers to one and all, had done the humble sardine proud!
The rather unpredictable, and at times damp weather, was no match for the enthusiasm and effort put in by the organisers headed up by the Cornish Sardine Management Association together with Newlyn Harbour Lights in seeing that all those who were lucky enough to attend were fed the most delicious Cornish sardines they had ever tasted, entertained plenty of music and given the opportunity to experience a whole host of sardine fishing related activities.
There was something for all tastes and ages: gyotaku fish printing, knot tying, learning about fishiing net re-cycyling, getting the opportunity to toura modern sardine boat and talk wot skippers and crews about how they fish, being wowed by an inspired display of photography created with point-and-shoot cameras fishermen at sea the previous week, everything you need to know about the good practice endorsed 100% by Seafish, the MSC and Cornwall Wild Life Trust – so much to see and learn!
At the heart of the festival was the sardine itself, grilled and served up on a slice of gorgeous bread or stone-baked pzza – the whole experience was a total a feast in every sense!
Take a time-lapse tour of the site:
Day 1 in pictures:
With the forecast changing what seemed hourly in the run up to the weekend it was with much relief that Saturday saw sun and cloud and the odd gist of wind – but not the 40mph predicted at one point.
Either way, there were plenty of people already on the site to see Mayor Andy Law wield a large fishermen’s knife to cut through the line of sardine floats and declare the 2026 Sardine Festival open for business.
Day 2 in pictures:
Having enjoyed plenty of sunshine, some of it the Cornish varietySunday’s forecast included a yellow wind weather warning and plenty of rain from 5pm onwards Sunday, turned out okay – a couple of heavy showers not withstanding – and come 54pm the skies lightened up and the clouds decided to keep their contents to themselves. The day saw even more visitors than before all keen to sample sardines from Argoe’s magnificently efficient cooking crew who yet again excelled themselves dishing out thousands of plates to visitors hungry to experience perfectly cooked and plated sardines.
For those who may have never eaten freshly landed and grilled sardines, Serene Dawn skipper David Pascoe and son manned the Cornwall Sardine Management Associations grill dishing out whole sardines on a slice of French bread free of charge – though there was a box handy for donations nearby
Sardines sizzling non-stop, day two was even busier!
Not forgetting that the event is done in partnership with Newlyn Harbour Lights and a reminder that next weekend is there main fund raising event of the yer – Newlyn Raft Race!
