Boat Festivals 2026 - Watercraft-Magazine

Douarnenez is back this year from 23-26 July, together with a couple of other ‘even year’ traditional boat festivals closer to home. In West Cornwall, Mousehole’s Sea Salts and Sail runs from 3-5 July, while the late spring bank holiday will see the second edition of Lugger Fest. Held from 22-24 May in Ullapool, northwest Scotland, the festival returns after the success of its inaugural event in 2024, which attracted luggers from all over the UK.

Mediterranean maritime history is celebrated with another biennial festival, Escale à Sète, which returns from 31 March – 6 April. In the Basque Country, in northern Spain, Pasaia Itsas Festibala will take place from 14-17 May, where the Albaola museum and boatbuilding school recently launched their incredible reconstruction of the 16^th century whaling galleon San Juan.

Plus many more events worldwide, from Port Townsend to Portsoy. Mark your diaries now! And if you have an event to add to our festival calendar, do get in touch. Email cat@watercraft-magazine.com with all the details – we’d love to hear from you!