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Welcome to 2026 in Plymouth, where Britain's Ocean City promises an extraordinary year of adventure, culture, and celebration. From world-class festivals to groundbreaking new attractions, here are 26 of the most exciting things to see and do throughout the year.
Jump to: Major Events | Music & Entertainment | Art, Culture & Heritage | Water & Active Adventures | Family favourites & days out
Major Events
1. Pirates Weekend
Prepare for two days of swashbuckling fun across the waterfront for Pirates Weekend on 9 and 10 May. Meet Pirates, watch cannon firings, enjoy puppet shows, discover treasure trails, and plenty of family entertainment, bringing the high seas to Plymouth's historic waterfront.
2. Flavour Fest
Flavour Fest transforms Plymouth's Piazza and Civic Square with over 80 traders showcasing delicious delights. From Friday 29 to Sunday 31 May, feast on local produce, street food favourites, and international cuisine while enjoying live entertainment, workshops and more.
3. Wimbledon on the Big Screen
Returning for its second year, Wimbledon on the Big Screen brings the thrill of the Championships to the city centre with live action on a giant outdoor screen from 29 June to 12 July. Enjoy the world’s greatest tennis alongside padel courts for visitors to try, premium catering options and a vibrant summer atmosphere perfect for sports fans and families alike.
4. British Firework Championships
Watch the sky explode with colour as six top pyrotechnic companies battle it out in August over two spectacular evenings on Plymouth Hoe. With live music and entertainment from 5pm and fireworks at 9.30pm, the British Firework Championships attracts over 100,000 spectators around Plymouth Sound each year.
5. Plymouth Armed Forces Day
Join over 45,000 people on Plymouth Hoe for this national celebration of the Armed Forces on 27 June. Experience all-day arena programs, military parades, hands-on displays, thrilling demonstrations, over 100 military charities, the Junior Field Gun Event, and an evening concert featuring tribute bands.
6. Seafest Plymouth
Celebrate Plymouth's maritime heritage in September with Seafest, a fun-filled weekend of delectable seafood, live cooking demos, sea life displays, and activities across the waterfront.
Music & Entertainment
7. Morvala Festival of Arts
Experience Cornwall's bold new four-day camping festival set in the breathtaking Mount Edgcumbe Country Park from 25 to 28 June. Morvala is an immersive celebration of music, culture, and connection offering stunning sea views and promises to become a landmark event on the cultural calendar.
8. Home Park Fan Zone Festivals
Home Park, home of Plymouth Argyle FC, is turning up the volume in 2026 with a packed line-up of live music and family entertainment. The season kicks off in May with RNB MANIA’s all-day R&B party on 16 May, followed by the glitter-filled GirlyPop UK pop celebration on the 17 May. June brings the Clubland Live outdoor dance festival featuring Ben Nicky, DJ Sammy and Ultrabeat, before K-Pop Live bursts onto the stage on 5 July with high-energy performances and family fun, and This Ain’t Texas Festival bringing country music on 18 July.
8. Ruckus Festival
Get ready for two days of incredible live music, local food, and great vibes as Ruckus Festival returns to Brickfields Stadium from 3 and 4 July. After an electrifying debut in 2025, the 2026 lineup promises chart-topping headliners and rising talent that will keep the crowd moving all weekend.
10. Plymstock Festival by the Sea
Returning to its stunning coastal site near the South Devon coastline, Plymstock Festival by the Sea takes place on 12 and 13 June, offering two days of family-friendly tribute acts and incredible seaside performances.
11. Pop-up events in city centre
The city centre will stay vibrant with a dynamic programme of pop‑up performances throughout the year. Look out for local musicians, theatre, and street acts in Old Town Square, Phoenix Square Amphitheatre and across key public spaces.
12. Discovery Festival
Central Park will host Discovery Festival, an exciting new three-day music festival from 12 to 14 June 2026, with artist announcements coming early in the new year.
13. Plymouth Arena
Plymouth Arena delivers a packed 2026 calendar of must-see live shows, from arena concerts and big-name music to comedy, dance and spectacular touring productions, making it an ideal place to add a big night out to your Plymouth break. Highlights include rock legends 10cc on 14 March, top comedian Russell Howard on 19 and 20 March, K‑POP All Stars on 17 April, Strictly The Professionals on 23 and 24 May, science superstar Professor Brian Cox on 24 October and Jeff Wayne’s The War of The Worlds on 26 October, plus many more music, comedy and family shows throughout the year.
Art, Culture & Heritage
14. Beryl Cook: Pride and Joy
From 24 January to 31 May, The Box presents the most extensive exhibition of Beryl Cook's work ever assembled, featuring over 80 pieces from iconic paintings to rarely seen treasures. This landmark exhibition marks 100 years since her birth and fundamentally reassesses her significance as a chronicler of everyday life, celebrating her radical approach to representing working-class joy, body positivity, and LGBTQ+ culture.
Beyond the gallery walls, Plymouth’s streets will burst with colour and character as four life-size sculptures inspired by Cook’s most famous paintings appear across the city, creating a vibrant public art trail to complement the exhibition.
15. St Luke’s Guiding Lights Art Trail
St Luke's Guiding Lights promises to be one of Devon's most ambitious, must-see, family-friendly events in 2026. A spectacular lighthouse art trail is set to brighten the streets of Plymouth from July to September, as 40 decorated lighthouse sculptures, each over 2 meters tall, appear across the city for 10 weeks. Created in partnership with Wild in Art, this spectacular trail engages local communities, schools, and businesses, culminating in a grand auction at summer's end.
16. A Big Year at Theatre Royal Plymouth
Theatre Royal Plymouth’s 2026 season includes huge musical names like Matilda The Musical, Moulin Rouge! The Musical and FAME, alongside new productions, dance and family favourites. With work across The Lyric and The Drum, it’s the place to catch big touring shows and homegrown creativity during a cultural city break.
17. Plymouth Literary Festival
Celebrate stories, spark creativity and meet inspiring authors at Plymouth’s vibrant Literary Festival on 14 and 15 February, a celebration of reading and writing. Across talks, panels, workshops and open‑mic sessions, you can explore diverse genres, discover new favourites and connect with fellow book lovers of all ages.
Water and Active Adventures
18. WORLDSTAR Round-the-World Yacht Race
Witness history as the Royal Western Yacht Club launches Worldstar, a brand-new around-the-world sailing event from Plymouth Sound National Marine Park on 26 September. Solo and double-handed boats between 35-60 feet will circumnavigate Antarctica and return to Plymouth, offering sailors the ultimate test of seamanship.
19. Plymouth Boat Fest
After a hugely-successful first year, Plymouth Boat Fest returns to Plymouth Yacht Haven on 20 June, with exciting on-water displays, children's entertainment, fantastic local food and drink stalls, and opportunities to try something new on the water.
20. Britain’s Ocean City Running Festival
Britain’s Ocean City Running Festival on 17 May combines the Britain’s Ocean City Half Marathon with a 10K, both starting and finishing on the Hoe. Runners enjoy a mix of city streets and coastal views, with thousands taking part and plenty of space for spectators to cheer from the waterfront.
21. Plymouth Triathlon
Challenge yourself with the Plymouth Triathlon, with middle, standard, or sprint distances at the stunning Mount Edgcumbe venue on 14 June. The sea swim is sheltered with land on both sides, the bike course offers rolling roads with spectacular sea views, and the traffic-free runs wind through Mount Edgcumbe's beautiful grounds along the coast path.
22. Plymouth Breakwater Swim
Plymouth’s open‑water scene steps up a gear with the Plymouth Breakwater Swim on Sunday 21 June, a spectacular sea swim from the city’s iconic Breakwater back towards the shore.
Family favourites & days out
23. Big Wheel on The Hoe
From April to September 2026, the Plymouth Big Wheel rises above the Hoe, offering panoramic views over the Sound, city and countryside. The 36 metre high wheel features enclosed cabins, including an accessible capsule, and is set to return every summer through 2028.
24. Family friendly attractions across the city
Plymouth’s family highlights include National Marine Aquarium, The Box, the Mayflower Museum, Tinside Lido, Continue Arcades and green spaces like West Hoe Park, plus easy days out to Dartmoor Zoo and Mount Edgcumbe. Together they offer a mix of indoor and outdoor fun, ideal for school holidays or long weekends.
25. FamFest Live in the Park
On 15 August, Central Park will be transformed for FamFest Live, a full‑on family festival with live entertainment, interactive activities and plenty to keep children busy.
26. West End Carnival
Mark your calendars for Saturday 29 August for a jam-packed day of free family entertainment at the West End Carnival. Immerse yourself in all the sights, sounds and smells of the carnival in the vibrant West End of Plymouth City Centre.
Plan your visit
With events spanning from January through December, 2026 promises to be Plymouth's most exciting year yet. Whether you're drawn to world-class festivals, spectacular exhibitions, thrilling water sports, or family-friendly adventures, Britain's Ocean City offers something extraordinary for everyone.
Start planning your 2026 Plymouth adventure today; book ahead for ticketed events, follow Visit Plymouth on social media for the latest updates, and prepare to discover why Plymouth truly is Britain's Ocean City.
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In partnership with GWR, Destination Plymouth’s lead travel partner.
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