What’s On

On the left black text reads 'Resilience' and 'Stories of change in coastal Cornwall' on a turquoise background. On the right a black and white photograph of a smiling person.

Saturday 23 November 2024 – Sunday 4 January 2026

An evocative, multi-media exhibition on the resilience of Cornwall’s coastal communities past, present and future.

A graphic poster that has the exhibition title SURF! in big,bold capital letters with an image of a woman holding a board under her arm while looking out to sea.

Friday 28 March 2025 – January 2027

SURF! is the next major exhibition from National Maritime Museum Cornwall, celebrating a century of surfing in Cornwall.

Surfing Memories

Saturday 28 June – January 2027

A community exhibition of photos and objects capturing the shared experiences of surfing holidays in Cornwall over the generations.

A group of seated musicians play saxophones while wearing festive Christmas hats.

A Christmas Performance from Cornwall Music Service Trust

Saturday 13 December, 1pm – 2pm

Cornwall Music Service Trust are bringing some of Cornwall’s finest youth Brass and Woodwind musicians to the Museum.

An illustration of fish, books, shells, pencils and magnifying glasses creates a repeating pattern.

Museum Minnows Cornish Language Takeover

Monday 15 December, 11am – 12pm

On Monday 15 December our regular Minnows Sessions will have a Kernewek / Cornish Language Theme, join in with storytelling & making activities for families with children under 5s.

An image of a sailing boat at sea in front of a large moon with Father Christmas being pulled by reindeer in the sky.

Nadelik - A Family Christmas Show

Saturday 20 – 23 December, 11am, 1pm, and 3pm.

It’s Christmas Eve in Cornwall and two little girls and their Gran are excitedly preparing for the big day. But where’s Dad?

A Cornish Christmas

Saturday 20 December – Sunday 4 January

Immerse yourself in the best of what makes our beautiful part of the world sparkle at this magical time of year with A Cornish Christmas.

Scrapheap Sailboat Challenge

Saturday 3 & Sunday 4 January, 12.30pm – 3.30pm

Join in with the Boat Pool Scrapheap Challenge! The whole family will be able to use recycled materials to build boats to race across the Boat Pool.

A painted seascape with wave breaking and seagulls flying above

How Painting Changed My Life

Friday 30 January – Sunday 19 April 2026

A display of work by local artist Jane Southern, exploring the positive role art can play in mental health recovery.

Surfer Sam Bleakley stands on a surfboard, riding a wave with one arm in the air, the other arm at his side.

Surfing, Sustainability & The Future of Waveriding in Cornwall – Lecture

Thursday 19 March, 7.30pm

In this Spring Lecture, SURF! exhibition guest curator Dr Sam Bleakley explores how surfing in Cornwall is a driving force for the blue economy.

A woman sits in a yoga pose, wearing lit-up headphones surrounded by surfboards in the SURF! Exhibition at National Maritime Museum Cornwall

Deep Blue Silent Disco Yoga

Friday 20 March, doors open at 6pm

Inspired by the SURF! exhibition, this one-of-a-kind experience invites you to connect deeply with the rhythms of nature through a flowing yoga practice led by Alicia Ray.

Gore Point Beach Alaska, 2013 A photographic artwork by Andy Hughes show plastic flotsam and jetsam stacked vertically on a stake of driftwood with a dramatic ocean landscape in the background.

Waves of Change: Surf Culture, Art, and Coastal Activism – Lecture

Thursday 2 April, 7.30pm

Artist Andy Hughes examines the powerful intersection of surf culture, contemporary art, and environmental activism in this Spring Lecture.

A group of people smiling at the camera stand around the back of a parked van, with surfboards on the roof-rack and the back doors painted with the words 'Surf Village Skewjack'.

Inside Skewjack Stories: Culture, Community & Change – Lecture

Thursday 14 May, 7.30pm

Skewjack Stories curator, Rachel Yates, takes us on a journey to the UKs first and only surf village in this Spring Lecture.

A photo of a man and a child taking part in Make and Take.

Minnows Makes

Once a month during term time

Get creative with your little one in Minnows Makes, craft sessions designed for under 5s. Join us to make something different each month using our most colourful and vibrant art supplies.

A photo of a lady reading a story to a group of adults and children.

Minnows Tales

Every Monday during term time

A weekly storytelling and lively sing-a-long session. Minnows Tales starts at 11am and is perfect for under 5s.

A man works on a wooden boat in a workshop.

Boatbuilding Workshop

If you’re visiting the Museum on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday you may spot our Boat Collection Manager & Volunteers working in the boatbuilding workshop on the latest reconstruction project.

A group of adult visitors are being shown a piece of fabric by a Museum volunteer, on a table next to them is a Viking helmet.

Talks & Object-Handling Sessions

During your visit you might find our visitor experience team delivering ten-minute talks or object-handling sessions around the Museum on various dates.