The highly anticipated annual Falmouth Oyster Festival returns from October 8-11th, with a host of new experiences and hands-on masterclasses helping visitors discover the people, produce and traditions behind Falmouth’s native oysters.
Falmouth is one of the only places in the world where native oysters are still harvested by sail and oar. Generations of local oystermen have preserved this time-honoured practice, passing down the skills required to work the tides and winds of the Fal.
The festival celebrates the start of the oyster harvesting season. It’s free to attend, held on Events Square and includes a mix of live demonstrations with top chefs, panel talks, market stalls, live music, children’s arts and crafts activities, and the ever-popular Oyster Shucking Competition and Working Boat Race.
New for 2026, the programme is going beyond the festival hub to offer visitors the chance to get out on the water, meet local oystermen, experts and producers to learn new skills and explore Cornwall’s food and drink culture.
Visitors can take to the water with Fal River, with two different oyster experiences on offer especially for the festival:
- On Friday 9 October, Oysters & Fizz on the Bay invites guests to cruise along Falmouth Bay, enjoying freshly shucked native Fal Oysters, fizz and spectacular coastal views, while learning more about the traditional oyster fishery from a master oyster shucker.
- On Saturday 10 October, the Fal Oyster Fishery Cruise heads up the Fal Estuary to the Fal Oyster Fishery itself. Led by a traditional Fal oysterman, the cruise offers a rare behind-the-scenes insight into how native Fal Oysters are grown and harvested, as well as the history and heritage of the fishery.
In collaboration with the festival’s exclusive hotel partner, St Michaels Resort, three brand new events join this year’s lineup:
- An evening with the Oystermen, Wednesday 7th October 6.30pm – kicking off the festival weekend local oyster fisherman will be sharing stories of the waters and traditions behind the native Fal Oyster; paired with freshly shucked oysters and a wine tasting experience.
- St Michaels Seafood Feast Night, Saturday 10th October, 6.30pm – Celebrate with a generous feast inspired by Cornwall’s coast. St Michaels chefs will showcase the best of locally landed seafood, from Falmouth’s famous native oysters to beautifully prepared fish and shellfish, with fresh Cornish flavours taking centre stage.
- Sea Shanty Sunday Lunch, Sunday 11th October, 12pm – Enjoy a relaxed, banquet-style Sunday Lunch feast of roast sirloin, porchetta, pan fried fillet of Newlyn hake or butternut squash with chestnut wellington, served with all the trimmings – accompanied by the lively sounds of sea shanties.
There is also an enhanced programme of food and drink masterclasses offering visitors the chance to get hands-on with some of Cornwall’s best-loved ingredients and culinary traditions.
Falmouth Oystermen are hosting a series of oyster shucking sessions, sharing the skills and knowledge needed to open and serve oysters properly, alongside stories from the water and an insight into Cornwall’s native oyster heritage. Each session includes three fresh oysters and a glass of fizz.
For those keen to develop their fish skills, Annie Seabourne of My Fish Kitchen is hosting a practical Fish Filleting and Ceviche masterclass; Chef Jude Kereama from Kota, will join Cornish Dairy for a hands-on masterclass dedicated to the art of compound butter. Participants will create their own Café de Paris-style butter using Cornish Dairy butter, with tips on how to use it to elevate everything from seafood and steak to vegetables and freshly baked bread.
Drinks are also firmly on the agenda. Chris Jarratt, of Kona Bar, is hosting seasonal and seafood-inspired cocktail masterclasses, exploring flavour, spirits and pairings and teaching participants how to make three cocktails to enjoy and recreate at home. While wine lovers can join sommelier Elly Owen for three different wine tasting experiences across the weekend.
Tim Vigus, organiser of Falmouth Oyster Festival, says: “Falmouth Oyster Festival has been running for almost 30 years, and we’re looking forward to bringing some new experiences to the programme this year. It’s exciting to create new ways to celebrate Falmouth’s native oysters, enhance education and awareness and work with leading local experts, whilst tucking into some fantastic food. These new experiences are a brilliant addition to the festival, alongside our chef demos, live music, market and lots more!”
Nigel Carpenter, owner of St Michaels Resort and the festival’s hotel partner, adds: “Falmouth Oyster Festival is such a wonderful celebration of our town, our waters and the incredible produce that comes from them, so we’re delighted to be partnering with the festival this year. We’re excited to be offering new experiences at St Michaels, joining the wider festival celebrations.”
The enhanced programme is designed to give visitors a more immersive experience of Falmouth and its food heritage. For further information or to book tickets for live music, masterclasses or experiences, please visit www.falmouthoysterfestival.co.uk
