Rooted in Cornwall: How Locals Feel About the Royal Cornwall Show

The Royal Cornwall Show is one of those events that almost everyone in Cornwall knows about. It’s been a fixture of the county’s calendar since 1793.

Between 15^th and 22^nd May, 124 Cornish residents shared their views via the What Cornwall Thinks panel. What emerges is a picture of an event that is deeply rooted in local life, but facing very practical challenges when it comes to getting people through the gates.

Everyone knows about it… and most have heard about this year’s Show

The Show is about as well-known as it gets. Two thirds of people (66%) say they are very familiar with it, and almost everyone else at least knows something about it.

In addition, nearly two thirds (63%) say they’ve seen or heard something about the Show this year. This tends to be through fairly traditional routes: posters, Facebook, local news, or simply word of mouth. Social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok barely register.

Plenty have been… just not recently

Three quarters (76%) have been to the Royal Cornwall Show at some point.  However, of those who have been, most (61%) haven’t been in the last three years.  A third of previous attendees (32%) haven’t been in the last ten years.

That suggests a sizeable group of “lapsed” visitors – people who know the Show, have experienced it, but haven’t felt the pull to go back recently.

Whilst one in ten (9%) of participants say they go every year without fail, for most (61%) it’s a more occasional visit – typically every few years.

One in five say they are probably going in 2026

When asked about 2026, 1 in 5 (19%) say they will probably or definitely go. Meanwhile, roughly 4 in 5 (80%) say they’re unlikely to attend.

So what’s putting people off?

The reasons come through loud and clear – and they’re largely practical.

For those who have never been and are unlikely to go this year (21% of participants), this is almost entirely due to perceptions of traffic / parking hassle (62%) or seeing it as too expensive (54%).  To a lesser extent, crowds, distance and not seeing it as “my kind of event” are also putting them off.

The reasons were similar for those who have been before but are unlikely to go this year (57% of participants).  What might make them more likely to return would be easier access / transport improvements (including parking) (17%) or cheaper / reduced admission prices (e.g. discounts for pensioners) (14%).  Only 13% of this group said they were unlikely to ever be persuaded back.

In other words, it’s not so much about what the Show is, but how easy (or difficult) it feels to get there, get around, and feel it’s worth the cost.

For those who do go, it still really matters

Despite all this, the people who do attend are clearly getting something meaningful from it.

When asked why they keep coming back, the answers are less about specifics and more about what the Show represents:

• It’s a Cornish tradition (38%);
• It supports local farming and businesses (38%);
• It’s a chance to see friends and feel part of the community (33%).

These are not easy things to replace. They speak to identity, not just entertainment.

And when people think ahead to this year, the main thing they’re looking forward to isn’t a particular attraction – it’s simply being there, among other people (43%).

However, they do agree that those not attending have a point about the parking – when those planning on attending the Show this year were asked what would most improve it for them, 30% suggested it would benefit from better parking / transport.

Only two of the 124 participants had never been before but are likely to attend this year – and both mentioned the food and drink offering as a key reason!

A proud tradition… with mixed feelings

When asked to sum the Show up in a single word or phrase, the most popular answer is telling:

“A Cornish institution.” (33%)

The second most popular answer: “Traditional” (10%).

That says a lot. The Show is still seen as part of what makes Cornwall, Cornwall.

But alongside that come more critical words too: “expensive” (9%), “overrated” (9%), “commercial” (6%).

It’s a reminder that while the Show is respected, it’s not beyond scrutiny.

So where does that leave it?

Overall, the picture is quite balanced.

The Royal Cornwall Show still has huge awareness, strong cultural importance and a loyal base of attendees.  But it’s also facing a large group of people who’ve drifted away, with practical barriers of cost and parking that even the Show’s advocates acknowledge as issues.

People haven’t fallen out of love with the Show. But for many, real-world factors – cost, congestion and convenience – are getting in the way of turning that goodwill into attendance.