Ireland will host the 2026 European Junior Surfing Championships from 24th September to 4th October.

Welcoming Europe’s top junior surfers to Bundoran’s iconic breaks, The Peak and Tullan Strand. The ten-day event is organised by Irish Surfing in collaboration with Saltwater Festival and is expected to draw hundreds of athletes, coaches, officials, and supporters, bringing significant sporting and tourism impact to the northwest region.

Gavin McCrea of Irish Surfing said, “Hosting the European Junior Championships is a landmark moment for Irish surfing. It reflects the strength of our athlete pathway and the international reputation of our waves.”

Ryan Vail from Saltwater Festival added, “This event showcases not just world-class surfing, but the energy, culture, and community of Ireland’s west coast.”

The competition venues will be The Peak and Tullan Strand in Bundoran. Hundreds of athletes and supporters are expected to travel from across Europe, highlighting Bundoran as a high-performance surfing destination.

Further details, including participating nations and full event programming, will be announced in the coming months via Irish Surfing and Saltwater Festival socials and websites.

Key Information:

- European Junior Surf Championships
- September 24th - 4th October 2026
- Bundoran / Ireland

Day Ticket Pre-sale: 26th February at 10AM

Day Ticket General Onsale: 27th February at 10AM

Final chance to sign up to the Day Ticket pre-sale via: boardmasters.com

Boardmasters, the UK’s flagship surf and music festival, announces the launch of its 2026 Day Ticket pre-sale and General Onsale.

These tickets offer fans the option of attending individual days to experience the festival’s signature blend of live music, surf culture and coastal wellbeing.

Pre-sale Day Tickets go on sale this week, Thursday 26th February at 10am. Sign up is still available for exclusive 24-hour early access to the lowest price tier. Any remaining tickets will then move to General Onsale on Friday 27th February at 10am.

With Glastonbury taking a fallow year in 2026, Boardmasters steps forward as one of the South West’s most anticipated moments of the summer. Perfectly tailored for local audiences across Cornwall and the South West, Day Tickets provide entry to the Main Arena across Friday, Saturday or Sunday, opening the door to a full programme of live music, curated experiences and coastal culture without the need to camp. 

Sustainable travel remains a key focus for 2026, with Big Green Coaches operating official carbon-neutral Day Return services from 13 South West locations. New for 2026, Bristol joins the network, making it easier than ever for regional audiences to attend without the need for overnight stays. Day Ticket holders can also access dedicated parking from £25 or travel via Newquay train station with shuttle connections to the site.

Across the weekend, attendees on the dramatic Cornish coastline can experience headline performances from Fatboy Slim, Kasabian and Lily Allen along with top tier performances from The Kooks, Loyle Carner, Rudim3ntal, REN, Joy Crookes, BRITs Critics’ Choice winner Jacob Alon, Rose Gray, Tash Sultana, Dizzee Rascal, Lambrini Girls, Window Kid, Example, Tinie Tempah, Hamdi, Ewan McVicar, Dimension, 4AM Kru, Goldie LIVE, Holysseus Fly, and more. Grassroots local talent will also remain firmly embedded in the programme, further cementing Boardmasters’ commitment to championing South West creativity.

Beyond the Main Stage, the Day Ticket experience extends far beyond the music with multiple curated spaces featuring wellness workshops, comedy, and brand activations, all set high above the Atlantic with Boardmasters’ iconic clifftop views. Attendees can even dive into the World Surf League and Junior surf competitions on Fistral Beach, catch live action at the skate ramp seconds from the shoreline or discover conversations and culture at the popular Boardmasters Talks stage. The elevated Cliff Top will house street food  spotlighting independent South West traders alongside craft bars and alcohol-free options, family programming and hands on art and creative sessions.

VIP Day Ticket holders can elevate their visit with dedicated VIP fast-track entry lanes and exclusive access to the Hospitality Lounge with prime positioning by the Main Stage. Housing premium toilet facilities, complimentary wifi, private DJs and street food, it’s the perfect spot to reset and recharge in between sets.

Boardmasters offers flexible Day Ticket options to make it easy for fans to join the festival experience. Adult Day Tickets start from £93, VIP from £120, with Teen and Child options also available. With music, surf and wellness set against the Cornish coast, Boardmasters is set to be a defining moment of the UK summer festival season.

Sign up to the Day Ticket pre-sale now at  at boardmasters.com 

TICKETING HIGHLIGHTS

Day Tickets: From £93

Flexible payment plans: spread the cost from just £17.60 per month (plus booking fees)

Day Ticket + Coach bundles: From £88

Travel in comfort with Big Green Coaches from 13 South West locations

VIP Day Tickets: From £120

Enjoy exclusive access and premium amenities inside the Main Arena

Teen (13–15) and Child (6–12) Day Tickets: From £65 and £25

(All prices inclusive of booking fees)

Thursday 5th March, LS/FF is hosting a special evening of award-winning surf cinema and stand out stories from around the globe at The Lighthouse Cinema, Newquay.

Bringing to the big screen the Cornish premiere of 5 handpicked award winners from 14th Edition LS/FF accompanied by filmmaker Q+A's, goodies, good times and more... you're not going to want to miss this!

Taking you from the desert south of Morocco with surf adventurer Kepa Acero and style-master Snoopy, to the frozen edges of Antarctica seeking out unridden realms and vital research into the  melting icecaps with the Gauchos del Mar and journeying from NYC's surf community with Karen Song to Celtic coastlines closer to home with the likes of perennially poetic Mike Lay, Scottish chargers Phoebe Strachan and Mark Boyd, through the keen lens of Seth Hughes and Gabriella Zagni it's a celebration of our global surf community, the things that unite us and the very best of surf culture. 

TICKETS – £15 serve up a whole night of epic surf cinema, culture & community plus a complimentary beer Sharp’s Brewery (over 18’s only)! 

There are epic goodies too from Finisterre, Yeti Europe, Surf Girl and Carve  who celebrate and elevate the creativity that exists in our culture.  

Full details and tickets here:

https://londonsurffilmfestival.com/best-of-the-fest-a-very-special-evening/

LS/FF BEST FILM

Kingdom of the Evening  // Dir. Clint davis

Surf adventurer Kepa Acero travels back in time to meet an old friend & surf mythical waves. But is the dream of the perfect trip a reality? A joyous journey along Morocco’s dusty points that will make you fall in love with surfing over and over again. 

LS/FF BEST DOCUMENTARY & VIEWER’S CHOICE AWARD

Antarctica – Domain One // Dir. Julian & Joaquin Azulay

Multi award winning filmmakers go in search of unridden realms on the frozen continent on their most challenging surf adventure yet.  Narrated by Kelly Slater, and navigating treacherous waters and equally challenging encounters with sea life, this film is not to be missed.  Carve spoke with the Gauchos del Mar about the project HERE

LS/FF BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Gwynnik // Dir. Seth Hughes 

Rooted in the Celtic landscape featuring sublime surfer and Penwith poet Mike Lay, Gwynnik, ‘little fair one’ is a journey home, an appreciation that the chase for surfing fulfilment may ultimately lead back along the narrow roads and cliff paths of home. A beautiful big screen, big audio delight.

WOMEN OF THE SEA

Surf, Eat, Repeat // Dir. Karen song

A journey through New York surf culture via shared meals, shared stories & cold waves

At a time when even the line up can feel divided, this timely tale celebrates the rich diversity in surfing. Surf Girl magazine spoke exclusively with filmmaker Karen Song  about the project >>  HERE

LS/FF SHORTIE OF THE YEAR

No Place Like Home // Dir. Gabriella Zagni

Surfing in Scotland is cold, that’s a given, and at this time of year can take next level motivation. But for Thurso chargers Phoebe Strachan & Mark Boyd there’s no place like home… Celebrating and elevating the very best homegrown talents. 

SEE YOU THERE! 

https://londonsurffilmfestival.com/best-of-the-fest-a-very-special-evening/

As part of Carve Collective, we are catching up with surfers, shapers, photographers and all round local legends across the UK and Ireland.

Starting from the very bottom of our isle, we talk to Mike Lay.

Give us the basics - who are you, where are you based, and what’s your lane?

My name is Mike Lay, I’m from St Just in far west Kernow, home beach is Sennen. I’m a lifeguard, writer, surfer (longboarder), and recently a cyclist and YouTuber.

What does a normal week look like for you right now?

My weeks are very seasonal, summers are 10-6 on the beach and during winter no two weeks are ever the same. Right now it’s off-season for lifeguarding and also half-term so I’m at home with my wife Frankie and two kids Enys and Mora. I was in Ireland last week filming for a Finisterre project with James Bowden, Luke Pilbeam and Canadian surfer Andy Jones. But this week will be riding bikes on the prom in Penzance, day trip to St Ives and lots of play park time.

What keeps you hooked on surfing at this stage?

My relationship with surfing has changed and fluctuated over the years, especially since parenthood which is a radical shake up of priorities. I value lifeguarding greatly at this stage of my life, it offers a physical release and the opportunity to be in the sea every day while providing a vital service. Enys and I shared a few a waves last year which was phenomenal, some of the best waves of my life.

What are you working on or trying to improve?

I feel I’ve probably reached my ceiling in terms of surfing performance, definitely with longboarding, not that I’m in any way a complete surfer, more that I have maxed out my own ability! So instead of trying to improve in a performance-sense, I have been focusing on maximising my enjoyment of surfing, of lowering my expectations and attempting to enjoy the simple act of riding waves. 

What or who has been inspiring you lately?

Ahh man, I’m inspired by most everyone who surfs in Cornwall through the winter. To pick out a couple, Stef Harkon, long time lifeguard, surfer and skater, Stef is into his 60’s and still surfing and keeping fit, as I approach my 35th year I am inspired by his stoke and longevity. At the opposite end of the spectrum, the young surfers of Sennen are super inspiring, kids in their late teens surfing before and after school on shortboards, longboards and everything in-between, and the groms from the primary school who thrive in the sea no matter the conditions, their enthusiasm is inspiring and infectious.

What are your plans for the future, near or far?

In a couple of weeks I plan to set off on the next stage of my ongoing project to circumnavigate the whole of Britain with my bike and trailer and surfboard. I’m doing the trip in stages and am at Bristol so far so the next stage will be all of South Wales. I’m filming my adventure and turning it into a YouTube series. The whole thing has been a massive physical and mental challenge but I’m learning to love it! (I think…).

Shout out one local spot, person, or brand that deserves more love.

Moulded earplugs! Clare and Chris are down the road from me here in west Kernow and offer an incredible service checking out people’s ear’s and making custom earplugs with filters so you can still hear. I have super bad surfer’s ear and wish I had worn earplugs earlier in my career. Moulded earplugs do clinics all around the country so worth going to their website and checking them out.

Any closing remarks?

Thanks for having me on and keep up the good work at the mag. Honoured as always to feature.

Keep up with Mike through his words : https://mikelay.substack.com/archive
Or on his new youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@laymike

Celebrating Surfing Communities Across the UK & Ireland

Introducing CARVE COLLECTIVE. Each month, we’ll be sharing clips and photographs from every corner of the Isles - from the rugged reefs of the north coast to sheltered bays, city breaks, secret slabs, and windy beachies. If it floats, flies, or falls off a wave somewhere between Cornwall and County Donegal, we want to see it.

What We’re Looking For:

Anything and everything that captures the spirit of your local scene.

• Top-tier surfing from the standouts pushing performance

• Unsung chargers who are out every swell, no matter what

• Groms landing their first turn

• Club contests and grassroots comps

• Wipeouts that deserve a slow-mo replay

• Dogs surfing

• Board builds in garages

• Post-surf pints

• Community beach cleans

If it tells a story about your coastline and the people who call it home, it belongs here. Yes. Even a seagull surfing another seagull.

Surf culture here is in a unique place. It’s colder, often windier, quite fickle — but fiercely committed. The UK and Ireland are stitched together by small, passionate communities. Local legends aren’t always the most followed online; they’re the ones who shape boards in sheds, teach at the surf schools, organise club meets, and paddle out first when it’s overhead and howling.

Carve Collective is about giving those stories a platform.

Januaries roundup can be found below:

How to Get Involved

Send us your clips and pics to [email protected]
Or tag us in your posts with #carvecollective

Tell us about the characters. The breaks. The rivalries. The heroes. The heartbreaks. The humour.

Each month we’ll curate a snapshot of what’s happening across the Isles — a living, breathing archive of British and Irish surf culture as it unfolds.