What’s On Plymouth | May 2026

<p>Discover a curated selection of handmade goods from some of the South West’s most exciting independent makers - from students and start-ups to established creatives. Whether you're shopping for thoughtful gifts or treating yourself, this is your chance to shop locally and support small.<br /><strong><br />Free entry<br />2 May 2026, 10am - 4pm<br /><a href="https://www.nativemakers.co.uk/events/2026/05/02/spring-market-market-hall-may-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Find out more</a></strong></p>

<p>One of the South West’s largest free food and drink festivals returns to Plymouth city centre, with local producers, street food, chef demos and live entertainment across multiple stages.<br /><strong><br />Free entry<br />29, 30, 31 May 2026 </strong><a href="https://www.flavourfestsw.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><br />Find out more</a> </p>

<p dir="ltr">Celebrate the arrival of spring at this popular family-friendly event, where a giant Green Man figure is created from storm-damaged trees against the backdrop of Mount Edgcumbe House.</p> <p dir="ltr">Enjoy a full programme of live music, traditional activities including morris dancing and fairground entertainment, plus food stalls, a licensed bar and craft stands.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Free entry (parking £5 per vehicle)<br />Saturday 23 – Sunday 24 May 2026, 10am–4pm</strong><a href="https://www.visitplymouth.co.uk/whats-on/green-man-weekend" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><br />Find out more</a><br /></p>

<p dir="ltr">Set sail for one of Plymouth’s biggest events as Pirates Weekend returns, bringing a swashbuckling celebration to the city’s iconic waterfront.</p> <p dir="ltr">This family-friendly festival is packed with pirate-themed entertainment, live sea shanty performances and interactive activities for all ages. From thrilling raft races to immersive experiences across the waterfront, it’s a lively and engaging weekend by the sea.</p> <p dir="ltr">Perfect for families, visitors and maritime enthusiasts alike, Pirates Weekend offers a fun-filled atmosphere with plenty to explore across the city’s harbourside.</p> <p><strong>Saturday 9 – Sunday 10 May 2026</strong><a href="https://www.visitplymouth.co.uk/whats-on/major-events/plymouth-pirates-weekend" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><br />Find out more</a></p>

<p dir="ltr">Three legendary comedians. One very unusual dressing room.</p> <p dir="ltr">This acclaimed West End production imagines Tommy Cooper, Eric Morecambe and Bob Monkhouse together backstage, reflecting on life, death and the craft of comedy.</p> <p>Written and directed by Paul Hendy, the play blends humour with poignancy, offering a nostalgic and thoughtful look at what it really means to make people laugh. Featuring standout performances from Damian Williams, Simon Cartwright and Steve Royle, this is a warm, character-driven production that balances sharp wit with emotional depth.<strong><br /></strong></p> <p><strong>5 May – 9 May 2026<br />Tickets: £22</strong><a href="https://theatreroyal.com/whats-on/last-laugh/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><br />Find out more</a></p>

<p>A night of live alternative music featuring The Heavenly Bodes, Love Fortress and Funband, hosted by Sweet Jeans Presents. Expect fantastic performances in an artsy, intimate venue setting.<strong><br /><br /></strong><strong>Friday 8 May 2026, 7:30pm<br />Tickets £10</strong><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sweet-jeans-presents-the-heavenly-bodes-love-fortress-funband-tickets-1733564410819" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><br />Find out more</a></p>

<p>Kick off summer with SWEAT as residents Blue and Pookiebear take the stage, featuring a debut set from Holly Bush to open the night. A queer clubnight dedicated to community, celebration and music to make you move, from dance pop to house, funk to techno!<strong><br /></strong></p> <p><strong>Saturday 23 May 2026, 21:30 - Late<br />Tickets £6</strong><br /><a href="https://ra.co/events/2371888?utm_source=ig&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_content=link_in_bio&amp;fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnKjr0XvOSXraTHsNagrEpWPRMz366qjOHjrrDDTlIIM1Fl5f0G3j4McMdXNk_aem_4ICh4qESyJ8NWAOEteNicQ" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Find out more</a></p>

<p>A major retrospective of Plymouth artist Beryl Cook, featuring well-known works alongside rarely seen pieces exploring everyday British life.<br /><strong><br />Runs until 31 May 2026</strong><a href="https://www.theboxplymouth.com/events/exhibitions/beryl-cook-pride-and-joy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><br />Find out more</a></p>

<p>Take a journey of discovery across four gallery spaces exploring the complex histories between Europe and the South Pacific. Centre stage is ‘Portrait of Mai’ by Plympton-born Sir Joshua Reynolds – widely considered to be his finest work and a portrait of the first Polynesian person to visit Britain.<br /><strong><br />Runs until 14 June 2026</strong><a href="https://www.theboxplymouth.com/events/exhibitions/journeys-with-mai" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><br />Find out more</a></p>

<p>Join this public talk exploring <em>Journeys with Mai</em> and its wider themes, with artist Lisa Reihana and Dr James Fox.<br /><strong><br />14 May 2026, 6:30pm–7:30pm</strong><a href="https://www.theboxplymouth.com/events/talks-and-tours/in-conversation-lisa-reihana-and-dr-james-fox" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><br />Find out more</a></p>

<p dir="ltr">Louise Fago-Ruskin presents <em>Til All Is Correct</em>, a multidisciplinary exhibition exploring exile, displacement and violence shaped by ideology, inviting audiences into an immersive space for reflection.</p> <p dir="ltr">Rooted in the artist’s own family history, the exhibition traces inherited narratives of loss, including the impact of the Shoah on her relatives, and expands these into a wider exploration of belonging, exclusion and ethical remembrance. Through sculpture, installation and material investigation, the work considers how objects can carry emotional and historical weight beyond their physical form.</p> <p dir="ltr">Central to the exhibition is the recurring motif of the shoe, acting as both relic and witness. It holds traces of movement, survival and loss, reflecting on lived experience and the imprint of history.</p> <p dir="ltr">Through a practice grounded in themes of exile, homecoming and identity, Louise Fago-Ruskin creates a contemplative environment that asks how art can hold space for trauma, memory and what remains unspoken.</p> <p><strong>Runs until 30 May. </strong><a href="https://mirrorplymouth.com/whats-on/till-all-is-correct" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><br />Find out more</a></p>

<p>Now in its third landmark year, the Contemporary British Printmakers exhibition returns to Delamore Arts. Since its debut in 2024, this showcase has grown into a highly anticipated part of the Delamore programme, establishing a dedicated space to celebrate the intricate, tactile, and masterful world of original print.</p> <p>Building on the success of previous collections, the 2026 exhibition continues to challenge the misconceptions of the medium. Printmaking is far more than reproduction; it is a primary art form - as vital as oil on canvas or bronze in the round. This year, they delve deeper into the interplay between tradition and the avant-garde, and artists exhibiting include Grace Beswick, a graduate from our BA (Hons) Painting, Drawing &amp; Printmaking degree!<br /><br /></p> <p><strong>Runs until 31 May 2026</strong><a href="https://www.art-hub.co.uk/ex/cbp26" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><br />Find out more</a><strong><br /></strong></p>

<p>Step inside a breathtaking 50-minute immersive experience that brings the story of our planet, and humanity’s place within it, to life like never before.</p> <p>Created by the award-winning filmmakers behind Sir David Attenborough’s documentaries, <em>Our Story</em> combines stunning real-world footage with cutting-edge animation and giant 360° projections to transform the way we experience the natural world<br /><br />Previously only shown at the Natural History Museum in London, this powerful experience is now coming to Plymouth for a limited run.<br /><strong><br />8 May – 2 September</strong><br /></p> <p><a href="https://www.realideas.org/our-story" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Book your tickets</a></p>

<p>What’s on at Arts University Plymouth this May includes campus tours, online advice sessions and student showcases, offering plenty of opportunities to explore creative study and experience the university.</p>

<p>Visit the campus, explore studios and facilities, and get a feel for studying in a specialist arts environment. Ideal if you cannot attend a full Open Day.<br />Friday 1, Friday 8, Saturday 9, Friday 15 and Friday 22 May 2026<br /><strong>Various times<br /></strong><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Find out more</a></p>