Port Isaac Shanty Weekend 2026

On the weekend of October 3rd and 4th 2026, Port Isaac will once again be ringing out to the sound of shanty groups singing their hearts out in our small village by the sea. Port Isaac’s Shanty Weekend is a celebration of the human voice and our maritime heritage, and it is completely free to attend. There can be few more evocative locations to hear shanties being sung than in this historic harbour village. This year the event has moved from the spring to the autumn, and performances will be taking place in eight indoor venues across the village, with the main stage and weekend hub at Port Isaac Village Hall with performances also programmed for The Chapel Café, The Slipway Hotel, The Mote Restaurant, The Golden Lion Pub, The Old School Hotel, All Aboard Café and St Peter’s Church.

There can be few more evocative locations to hear shanties being sung than in this historic harbour village.

The Shanty Weekend is organised by Port Isaac’s “Shanty Girls”, Dee, Sharon, Liz, Cheryl and Clare, who do it voluntarily as a fund raising event for Port Isaac Village Hall. Ahead of this year’s event we caught up with Dee, to find out a bit more about what we can expect this October.

Dee, for 2026 the Shanty Festival has rebranded as the Port Isaac Shanty Weekend. What can attendees and visitors expect from this year’s event?

We've gone for “small and intimate” this time as we don't have the two big stages up at the field, but everybody coming can still expect the warmest of welcome everywhere they go, great singing, lots of laughs, and very definitely a weekend to remember.

What elements of the original Shanty Festival concept was it important to you all, as organisers, that you held on to and carried in to this new version of the event?

I think of all the shanty events we've organised, going back to our first small festival in 2018, they've all been based on the huge friendship bond that exists among the shanty community. You meet someone once and you’re friends forever, and when you read our Shanty program or look on our website at what the acts have written they nearly all mention the friendship within their group.

How important was it to you all that the event remained village-wide and free to attend?

There was never any question that anything would change. It will always be a village-wide event and will always be free to attend and, really, we've never considered changing that. It works as it is!

The five of you organise this event as volunteers. What is it that motivates you all and how do you all feel at the end of the event every year?

I can only base my answer to this question on how I feel, but I'm pretty sure that the other girls feel the same. When we first started back in 2018 we were just three women from the Village Hall Committee and we'd been trying forever to raise money to improve our hall and getting nowhere fast. Then one evening Liz said “Why don't we put on a Shanty weekend?” So we did! When Sharon joined the committee, she came on board making us four, and then for this year we've roped in Claire, another committee member. The bottom line is we all love the village, we all love music, and we all love shanties. At the end of every event so far we've all felt immensely proud of what we've achieved, and every single time we say: “Never again!” And every time, we go back on that statement. The reason this year is a lot smaller is because of the costs involved up at the field - we needed to raise £20,000 before we even started, plus the weather is always a factor, particularly in October. Neither of those things matter much now!

How do you go about sourcing and booking acts for the weekend?

It's not that difficult really, especially considering we ask them to come and play for us for nothing! In the beginning we just got in touch with all the shanty acts we knew or had seen, and since then it's just been easy. Lots of times musicians contact us, and we also just get in touch with everyone who has been and performed before. That's it really!

Who are you particularly excited about hearing sing at this year’s event?

That's a tricky question. Who am I particularly excited about hearing this year? It's not tricky actually, it's easy: everyone! I just hope I get time to catch a bit of every act.

*Port Isaac’s The Yarny Goats singing on The Platt*

What would your advice or “top tips” be for somebody coming to Port Isaac for the Shanty Weekend for the first time?

Well, first of all, remember you're going to have to park at the top of the village - and also there is an extra car park field being opened up there as well as the Brookland's View car park and the main car park. Second tip is to wear sensible shoes… I can’t believe I just said that - I sound like my mother! And wear something warm and waterproof for the evening because it is going to be October and it's definitely getting chillier. And just remember that in the main, brollies don't work in Port Isaac, they just get blown inside out. Finally, just to remind everybody that EVERYONE involved with the weekend is doing it free of charge and all donations that you give go to helping make Port Isaac Village Hall the best it can be. Thank you.

Shanty Weekend Programme

Planning a last minute break to enjoy the Shanty Weekend?

The following Port Isaac properties have availability: