Cockermouth is set to come alive with a four-day celebration of music, performance and community spirit this July.
Now in its 17th year, Cockermouth Live! will take place from July 2 to July 5.
The much-loved volunteer-run festival, now a charity, transforms everyday venues – from pubs and churches to cafés, galleries, and even Cockermouth Castle – into performance spaces that showcase the best of local talent alongside acclaimed national and international acts.
Throughout the weekend, more than 70 local acts will perform across over 25 venues in the town.
The Kirkgate Centre will host Yoko Pwno a Scottish seven-piece and jazz supremos The Snake Davis Band. Jennings Brewery will host Sam Millne and the Virants and there will also be Cockermouth Mechanics Band now annual concert picnic Brass on the Grass at Cockermouth Castle as well as Cockermouth Community Orchestra’s festival finale on Sunday evening.
New for this year is a collaboration with Cockermouth Music Society which is bringing The Paramount Brass Quintet to town; also new is a collaboration with Cockermouth School to bring the annual blues night under the Cockermouth Live! umbrella featuring jazz, swing, rock and blues.
Cockermouth Live! 2026 will, as ever, mainly be about free events for everyone with local performers.
Following on from the successful expansion of the festival last year, there will again be more space for slightly longer sets and more time to perform.
There also promises to be a number of new venues across town taking part as well as pop up events right around town including 12-piece streetband BLAST Furness. There will also be a roaming Ship Piano with its musical captain.
Other activities include printing workshops, a shop window instrument trail, drop in crafts and kite making, and The Music Garden and storytelling for youngsters.
The town will also become a canvas for creativity, with the Meanders art trail winding through its streets, inviting audiences to explore and participate.
A new supporters scheme called Friends of Cockermouth Live! is bringing in new funding, as is a fundraiser night called Delicious featuring talks with free samples by Andy Walsh of the Coffee Kitchen Bakery, Buster Grant of Jennings Brewery and Stephen Kidd of the Moon and Sixpence coffee house.
Tetra Tech Europe has signed up to be the new main sponsor.
Craig Hatch, president of Tetra Tech Europe, said: “Tetra Tech is proud to sponsor Cockermouth Live! 2026. Though we are a global company, our roots in Cockermouth run deep, and we’re pleased to support the vibrant West Cumbria community.”
John Branch, of Brockbanks Solicitors, added: “We are passionate about supporting local events and the communities where we are based.
“We’ve decided to support Cockermouth Live! again in 2026 as it is the largest music festival in the local area and provides many young musicians with an opportunity to perform in front of large crowds and to grow their audiences.”
Andy Walsh, of The Coffee Kitchen Bakery, added: ” It’s lovely to support an event that showcases local creative talent. Walking around Cockermouth during the festival you hear music coming from all directions. There’s something for everyone.”
Tom Speight, chair of Cockermouth Festivals Group, the charity which makes the festival happen, said: “Cockermouth Live! has to be one of the best weekends our town has.
“It’s a chance for people to let their hair down and for audiences to have the chance to support some of the extraordinary local talent on offer – as well as performers brought in from far and wide.
“It’s also a moment for the town to show itself off and to bring in more footfall to local businesses. We’re grateful for all the support too – we couldn’t do it otherwise.”
