Bodmin is set to host an exciting programme of events and activities in early 2026, following the approval of funding for eight local projects designed to celebrate the town’s creativity, heritage and community spirit.

The projects, supported through Cornwall Council’s Experience programme, span live music, immersive arts, heritage discovery, cycling and outdoor activity, creative workshops and large-scale participatory events. Together, they reflect the breadth of what Bodmin has to offer - not just as a visitor destination, but as a place shaped by its people, stories and landscapes.

Running across the town centre and surrounding areas, the programme will invite residents, visitors and communities from across Cornwall to experience Bodmin in new and unexpected ways, while also laying foundations for activity that will continue well beyond 2026.

A town-wide programme of diverse experiences

Outdoor activity and inclusive adventure are central to Cornwall Life Recycle from The Bicycle Project, which will deliver a series of grassroots cycling events and woodland experiences based around the Camel Trail and Cotton Woods, Nanstallon. From family rides on Tuesday 17 and Saturday 21 February to exciting downhill racing on Friday 3 April, the programme combines cycling with community campfires, storytelling and nature connection, helping to connect Bodmin with surrounding communities while promoting sustainable travel. A discovery trail is happening along the Camel Trail in May.

On Thursday 19 February, Unlocking St Petroc’s: A Heritage Adventure led by Bodmin Way - a large-scale, free one-day event - invites visitors of all ages to explore the history, skills and stories behind Cornwall’s largest parish church. Through hands-on heritage crafts, interactive activities and opportunities to shape the church’s future restoration plans, the project aims to inspire new heritage advocates and draw visitors from across the region.

In the heart of Bodmin, Shadow Lounge on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 February is a multi‑sensory promenade experience created by Rob Mennear (GRIT Productions), unfolding within the ancient stones of St Petroc’s Church, Bodmin. Guided by wireless headsets, the audience will journey through installations where shifting light moves through intricately cut paper forms, bringing untold myths to life through shadow, spoken word and bespoke sound. It has been developed in collaboration with composer Matthew Thomason, artist Jessica Marlton and spoken word Artist Robbie Gillett, shaped by conversations with the people of Bodmin themselves.

Another one of the projects is the Discovering Bodmin Creative Workshops, led by Bodmin Revival CIC. Based at Bodmin Gallery and Creative Studio on Fore Street, the programme offers a rolling series of art, craft and heritage workshops inspired by the town’s culture and history. Forthcoming workshops include Willow Weaving on Saturday 14 March and a Silver Pendant Making workshop on Saturday 21 March. Designed to be accessible to both residents and visitors, the workshops are intended to become a permanent feature of Bodmin’s creative offer, supported by new equipment that will benefit the programme for years to come.

Public space and storytelling are brought together in TIMEPIECE: Tempus Fugitives!, a free, one-day illuminated arts event by Laura Frances Martin, which sees a trio of characters wrongly accused of a crime and lost somewhere, somehow, in Bodmin in times past. They must follow a series of clues and seek out a set of illuminated, time-related objects that help them prove their innocence and find their way back home. A roving, story-based illuminated & musical event, taking place in Bodmin on the Spring Equinox 2026, the show has an accompanying map & guide, and special story-scroll schools’ workshops, all aiming to imaginatively highlight and celebrate Bodmin’s rich relationship with concepts of time.

Live music is taking centre stage with Battle of the Bands – Bodmin, organised by The Beat as part of its Beat Academy programme. Taking place over a series of weekends and culminating in a public-voted grand finale in the next few weeks (check The Beat website for the date, once announced), the event showcases original local talent while giving young people hands-on experience in event management, sound engineering and music promotion. The project aims to strengthen Bodmin’s live music scene and establish the competition as a future annual fixture.

Flock: Signals from the Edge, developed by This Is Nation, is a new cultural project exploring migration, movement and belonging through the lens of bird flight and human journeys. Grounded in community collaboration, this initial phase will focus on engaging with the local community and developing creative ideas, preparing the ground for a future large-scale festival across Bodmin and its surrounding landscapes.

Discovery, play and sustainability come together in The Time Trail, a pilot project by award-winning science museum Discovering42 that combines cycling, science and Bodmin’s inventive heritage. Taking place along the Camel Trail and ending at Discovering42’s new makerspace, the experience invites participants to engage with interactive “time stations” inspired by Bodmin-born inventor John Arnold, before building their own clock. The project supports low-carbon tourism and will act as a springboard for future exhibitions and workshops.

Showcasing the breadth of what Bodmin has to offer

The eight projects demonstrate the range and depth of cultural, creative and community-led activity taking place across Bodmin. From experimental arts and heritage discovery to music, cycling and family-friendly events, the programme reflects a shared commitment to revealing the many layers of the town — showing Bodmin as a place of creativity, connection and ambition.

Significant work is being undertaken to ensure these activities not only deliver memorable events but also contribute to a longer-term vision for Bodmin as a place people want to visit, explore and return to.

New campaign and tourism website launching this spring

At the end of March, a new campaign celebrating the breadth of Bodmin’s offer will launch, alongside a dedicated tourism website showcasing the town’s experiences, stories and independent businesses.

Aimed at visitors, Cornwall residents and the local community alike, the campaign will bring together culture, heritage, landscape and people, helping audiences discover more of what Bodmin has to offer — whether they are visiting for the first time or seeing the town with fresh eyes.

Eight projects bring a vibrant programme of cultural and community events to Bodmin

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