Crowd dancing in a forest under colorful geometric canopy at a psychedelic DJ stage.

Bournemouth7s: Sports & Music festival

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South Western Railway March 12, 2026 4 min read

In this article, you'll learn the following:

When and where is Bournemouth 7s Festival?
How do I get to Bournemouth7s?
Things to see and do at Bournemouth 7s Festival
Things to do in Bournemouth
Where to stay in Bournemouth
Bournemouth 7s Accessibility

When and where is Bournemouth 7s Festival?

Bournemouth 7s festival is the place to be for music and sport this May bank holiday weekend. Taking place on the 22nd, 23rd and 24th May 2026, get set to compete in your favourite sport during the day, while dancing to major music headliners at night. The sports and music festival takes place at Chapel Gate Sports Ground, Chapel Gate, Bournemouth (BH23 6BL), which is located right next to Bournemouth Airport.

Discover a festival with something for everyone. Sport-wise, you can compete in various competitions including rugby, hockey and netball - just choose your favourite sport and enter a team to be in with a chance of becoming Bournemouth 7s champions for 2026. Here for the music? Then check out the 9 different festival arenas, each with their own genre from disco and funk to guilty pleasures and techno.

Fancy dress theme this year is 'Far Far Away’ so get your fairy tale costumes ready for this year’s Bournemouth 7s festival.

Tickets for this event vary, depending on what type of ticket you need. There are student weekend tickets that start at £89.00 +£6.68 booking fee, adult weekend tickets starting at £119.00 +£8.93 booking fee, along with weekend camping tickets which start at £219.00 +£16.43. Get more information on Bournemouth 7s ticket pricing here.

Crowds of people at a festival

How do I get to Bournemouth7s?

This year, there will be Shuttle bus transfers available as part of Bournemouth 7s greener festival initiative. Buses will be available across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole with more details to follow shortly.

Travelling by train

Planning your transport to Bournemouth 7s this year? This can be done by travelling with SWR from many locations across the southwest. The closest train station to the event is Christchurch train station, which is a 13 min drive away.

You can travel directly to Christchurch and Bournemouth with SWR, with trains running from Waterloo and Clapham Junction in under two hours. Travelling from further west? You can reach Christchurch or Bournemouth stations from Weymouth in approx. 1 hour or Poole in just 25 mins approx. with SWR. From here, the shuttle bus may be available, once timetables are announced.

Explore our full range of ticket types to find the right one for your journey. You can find cheap train tickets by booking early or going off-peak, and if you have a Railcard or if you’re travelling in a group, you could save even more.

Things to see and do at Bournemouth 7s Festival

Festival tent with crowds of people in and around it

Sport Activities

There's a whole range of sports for teams to participate in at Bournemouth 7s festival. Football, dodgeball and Cheerleading are just some of the sports available. New to the Bournemouth 7s festival in 2026 is Dance. With 3 categories to choose from, including jazz, street and wildcard, compete on the festivals biggest stage for your chance to win.

Learn more about Bournemouth7s teams, choose your favourite and apply today.

Music

Bask in the variety of music events happening this weekend during Bournemouth 7s. World famous names will take to the stages over the 3-day festival with Hedex headlining the Saturday event and Rudimental chosen as Sunday headliner. Throughout the weekend, there will also be tribute acts and DJ sets. You can find the full 2026 festival line-up here.

Bournemouth 7s Experiences

Other activities are also taking place during the sports and music festival:

- The Parachute display has become one of the most loved traditions of the festival and will take place on Sunday finals day, delivering the match ball for the final game.
- There is also a funfair for those seeking adventure, take a break from the music and head down to the funfair rides.
- Bournemouth 7s National Cup lets you watch the nation’s elite men’s and women’s teams face each other in the National Cup competitions.
- Bingo Loco is also set to take place this weekend. Enjoy the chaos, dance-offs, stage performers and music that comes with this crazy experience.

Things to do in Bournemouth

While you’re in Bournemouth, why not extend your trip for a fun summer getaway.

Make the most of its golden sandy beaches, play a round of mini-golf on the restored Boscombe Pier, stroll through Bournemouth’s gorgeous gardens, and explore the Russell-Cotes house, gallery and garden on the cliff top. There’s lots more to do in this vibrant beach town - learn more in our comprehensive Bournemouth guide. Looking for more information about destinations in the south-west? Discover SWR’s destination guides and find the perfect holiday destination for you.

Don’t forget to browse SWR Rewards to make savings on food and drink, things to do, and more.

Crowds of people dancing outside at a festival

Crowds of people dancing outside at a festival

Where to stay in Bournemouth

By the seafront you’ll find plenty of chic hotels. For a luxury option try The Green House, an eco-friendly, boutique hotel, situated by the seafront and near the New Forest. Closer to the sea, Bournemouth Council’s innovative beach-hut lodges are chic, modern, and sleep up to 4 adults and 2 children.

If you’re after a budget option try Premier Inn Bournemouth Seafront.

Bournemouth 7s Accessibility

Bournemouth 7s offers complimentary tickets for all Carers and Personal Assistants. Contact info@bournemouth7s.com for more details on how to avail of this offer.