Gorsedh Bosvena 2026 / Bodmin Gorsedh 2026
This year the ceremony will be held in Priory Park, Bodmin on Saturday 5th September and will be conducted by the Grand Bard of Cornwall, Jenefer Lowe, Gwythvosen, assisted by Gorsedh Kernow Officers.
Our ceremony will again be live streamed so that those of you who will be unable to attend for whatever reason will be able to join us online. The link will be available on the Gorsedh Kernow website in due course.
There will be stalls and entertainment on the field from 10.30am
Booking for Bodmin
Please note that you must book, even if you are only attending the ceremony. This is to ensure we have the right number of chairs available. If you do not, you may be asked to stand. This year there is again a choice of ways to book. For your convenience, we have an online form which is quick and easy to complete.
An alternative form is also provided which can be emailed to tickets@gorsedhkernow.org.uk. Following feedback last year, this year’s form can be saved so that you have a record of what you submitted.
Payment by BACS should be made to Keskerdh Kernow Ltd. Account details are: Bank: Lloyds, Sort code: 30-98-76 Account no: 01509012 Please reference your payment as ‘tickets’. If booking by ordinary post please send your completed booking form plus cheque or postal order for the full amount as appropriate, made payable to Gorsedh Kernow, to Gorsedh Treasurer Jerry Rogers, 17 Chiltern Road, Sandhurst, Berks, GU47 8NB
ALL BOOKINGS SHOULD ARRIVE BY AUGUST 16TH
Bardic tea
The bardic tea is for bards and Civic guests only. For bards who are not booking a bardic tea, and for their families and friends, there are cafes in the centre of Bodmin, which is a short walk away.
The bardic tea will be held in the Shire House Suite. Each table will be given a plate of food to share on their table (special diets will be kept in the kitchen). Serving of tea will commence once official guests are in place and the Gorsedh Chaplain has said Grace. We will endeavour to start on time, but occasionally Gorsedh officers and /or guests may be delayed. If that is the case, please bear with us.
Please note: Tea tickets will not be posted out. They will be held on the reception desk for when you register.
Car parking
There will be car parking for bards in the Priory Park car park. This will be clearly signed. If additional space is needed, there are several other car parks nearby. Bodmin Town Council has kindly agreed to make Priory Park car park free of charge – other car parks are not in their jurisdiction so will charge as normal.
Access requirements
There will be priority parking for bards with reduced mobility, but these need to be ordered in advance on the booking form and we will then contact you. The circle will be a short level walk from the robing rooms.
Please note any other needs on the form and advise the Senior Marshal, Tim Hambly, Roscarrek, (telephone 01566 773716, mobile 07790 926010) in advance if you have any special requirements for the day which arise after booking.
Robing
This year there will be no morning civic procession. Robing will be in Shire House Suite.
Marshal’s briefing
The briefing will take place outside the Shire House Suite at 1.30 pm.
New Bards
There will be a group photograph of all initiates, taken with the Grand Bard if possible. The photograph will be taken by one of Gorsedh Kernow’s official photographers before the briefing for the afternoon bardic ceremony.
Order of the procession
To facilitate the work of the Marshals and Stewards in forming the procession, it is requested that bards and guests acquaint themselves with the linear order of the procession, which is as follows:- Marshal, Piper, Gorsedh Kernow Banner, Civic Guests, Initiates, Gorsedh Kernow Choir, Bards, St. Piran’s Banner, Council Members, Esedhvos Banner, Mistress of Robes and Herald, Chanter and Chaplain, Horner, Dancers, Lady and Attendants, Past Deputy Grand Bards, Past Grand Bards, Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer, Breton Banner, Breton Representatives, Welsh Banner, Welsh Representatives, Half Swords, Deputy Grand Bard, Sword Bearer, Grand Bard, Junior Marshal, Deputy Senior Steward, plus Old Cornwall Society Banners on the return procession
Timings for the bardic ceremony
11am Robing rooms open.
12.30pm Initiates to be robed before a briefing at this time by the Initiates Stewards and a group photograph with the Grand Bard.
12.45pm Group photograph with Grand Bard and Old Cornwall Society Banner Bearers
1.30pm All bards to gather, robed, outside the Shire House Suite. The Senior Marshal will brief bards, guests, initiates, Lady of Cornwall and dancers with specific instructions for the ceremony.
1.25pm OCS Banner Bearers depart for Gorsedh Kernow ceremony site.
1.40pm Bardic Procession leaves for the Circle.
2pm The Gorsedh Ceremony begins on site.
4.15pm Prompt! Bardic tea in Shire House for invited civic guests and bards who have pre-booked.
Please note that tea will start promptly in order to allow the hall to be re-arranged for the evening concert.
Dress and Decorum
We are the public face of a very well-respected cultural organisation, so please ensure that your robe is clean and ironed and that your appearance is tidy. No jeans, shorts, trainers or flip-flops to be worn under robes please. It is important that the ceremony is orderly and impressive, so please retain ranks throughout the procession.
Seating
The chairs forming the bardic circle are for bards, dignitaries and special guests only. Public attendance is FREE and welcomed, but visitors are asked please not to enter the bardic circle although they are very welcome to bring their own chairs and view the ceremony from behind the circle.
Photography
Only official Gorsedh Kernow photographers will be allowed in the bardic circle during the ceremony.
Recording & Livestream
As the camera and sound crew cannot enter the circle, it is very important that no-one moves or alters the way in which the microphones and other equipment is set up.
Esedhvos
The draft Esedhvos programme is available on the Gorsedh website. It includes events from Tuesday to Sunday. We look forward to seeing bards at as many events as possible.