Cornwall's surfing community, families, beach lovers and visitors are being called upon to help make history at Great Western Beach this September
NEWQUAY, CORNWALL — August 2026: A new celebration of surfing, beach culture and community is coming to Newquay this September, as Earthwave launches its first UK event at Great Western Beach.
On Saturday 19 September 2026, surfers will take to the water with one brilliantly simple challenge: can Newquay get more than 110 surfers riding the same wave at the same time?
But Earthwave is about much more than the surfers in the water.
The Founding Event will bring together surfers, families, beachgoers, watersports enthusiasts, nature lovers, local businesses, charities and the wider Newquay community for an afternoon and evening celebrating the beach culture and coastline that make Cornwall so special.
Whether you've surfed your whole life, spent your summers on Cornish beaches, brought your children up beside the ocean or simply love being outdoors, Earthwave is calling on the community to come down and be part of it.
A world record with history
While Earthwave is new to Cornwall, the team behind it has done this before.
Earthwave was originally established in South Africa after founders Dene and Paul Botha heard that 40 surfers had ridden the same wave simultaneously in Bali.
Their first attempt at Muizenberg Beach in Cape Town saw 70 surfers successfully ride the same wave.
That number grew to 77, 90, 99 and eventually 110 surfers in 2009, establishing the Guinness World Record that remains the benchmark Earthwave will attempt to surpass in Newquay.
Alongside the record attempts, the original Earthwave grew from a three-hour community gathering into a two-day beach festival attracting thousands of participants and spectators, national and international media attention, and an ever-growing programme of surfing, watersports, beach activities, environmental initiatives and live entertainment.
Now, a completely new chapter begins in Newquay.
Earthwave founder Dene Botha said:
“The record gives us something exciting to aim for, but Earthwave has always been about the people around it. Newquay has an incredible surf and beach culture, and we want to bring surfers, families, businesses and the wider community together to create something that genuinely belongs here.
“This is year one. We want Newquay to be able to say: we were there at the beginning.”
Built in Cornwall, for Cornwall
A major focus of the Founding Event is ensuring that Earthwave grows from within the community rather than simply arriving as another event.
The team, volunteers and suppliers being brought together to deliver the event are predominantly Newquay and Cornwall-based, including those working across event operations, creative design, merchandise, photography, filming and the World Record Attempt itself.
Earthwave is also actively working with local businesses and organisations, creating opportunities for them to exhibit, participate, collaborate and become Founding Partners of the event.
The Wave Project will join Earthwave as a charity partner, reflecting the event's wider ambition to use surfing and the ocean as a platform for community, wellbeing, opportunity and positive impact.
Mark Warren, Newquay BID Manager, said:
“I’m really excited about Earthwave coming to Newquay. It feels like such a natural fit for our town. Newquay is all about surfing, our heritage and the incredible culture wehavearound the ocean, so bringing Earthwave here almost feels like it’s coming home to where it should have always been.
For me, what makes this event particularly exciting is that it’s about so much more than surfing. It’s about community, families and everybody who enjoys the sea and the beachcomingtogether, having a great time and being part of something really special.
I can see Earthwave growing year on year and becoming another fantastic event in Newquay’s calendar. We’re really excited to be part of it and to welcome surfers, families, visitors and the wider community to Great Western Beach to hopefully witness a little bit of history being made.”
More than a World Record Attempt
The World Record Attempt will provide the centrepiece of the day, but Great Western Beach will have plenty happening out of the water too.
The Founding Event is being designed as a relaxed, family-friendly beach celebration featuring live acoustic music, a sunset DJ, family activities, local food and drink, surf and community exhibitors, charity partners, professional photography and drone filming, competitions, prizes and official Earthwave merchandise.
Spectators can attend the beach event free of charge, while surfers wishing to take part in the World Record Attempt will need to register in advance or, subject to availability, on the day.
Softboard and wetsuit packages will also be available for those who want to participate but don't have the necessary equipment.
Saturday 19 September 2026
The Earthwave Founding Event takes place at Great Western Beach, Newquay, on Saturday 19 September 2026, with the World Record Attempt planned around the conditions and tide.
Sunday 20 September is reserved as the contingency day should surf, weather or water-safety conditions prevent the attempt from safely taking place on Saturday.
The start of something bigger
Earthwave 2026 is simply the beginning. The Founding Event will establish the concept in Cornwall before Earthwave grows into a larger annual beach culture festival, with an expanded event planned for 2027 and ambitions to develop the programme further in the years ahead.
The aim is to build something that celebrates Newquay's position at the heart of British surfing while generating opportunities for local businesses, charities, young people, tourism and the wider Cornish community.
For 2026, however, the challenge is simple: Can Newquay beat 110?
Surfers can register to ride the wave, while families, friends and spectators are invited to come down to Great Western Beach and be part of Earthwave's first day in Cornwall.
ENDS
Media enquiries, interviews, photography and further information:
Dene Botha
Founder, Earthwave
dene@earthwave.surf
www.earthwave.surf
Event: Earthwave Founding Event
Date: Saturday 19 September 2026
Contingency Date: Sunday 20 September 2026
Venue: Great Western Beach, Newquay, Cornwall
World Record Benchmark: 110 surfers riding the same wave simultaneously
