Isle of Wight Jigsaw Puzzle Festival

About

Unique Isle of Wight tradition

If you love jigsaw puzzles, discovering hidden treasures or simply enjoying a unique day out, the Jigsaw Festival at St James' Church in East Cowes is an event not to be missed. Celebrating over three decades of puzzle-solving, this much-loved annual festival welcomes visitors of all ages to browse hundreds of completed jigsaw puzzles, all available to purchase and take home.

Whether you're an experienced puzzler, a collector or looking for an affordable family outing, the Jigsaw Festival offers something different, making it one of the Isle of Wight's most distinctive annual events. 

Discover hundreds of jigsaw puzzles

Throughout the festival, St James' Church is transformed into a colourful gallery showcasing approximately 300 completed jigsaw puzzles at any one time. Every puzzle has been lovingly completed by volunteers throughout the year and is displayed for visitors to admire before being sold.

What makes the festival especially exciting is that as soon as one puzzle is purchased, another takes its place. This constantly changing display means no two visits are ever quite the same, with fresh puzzles appearing throughout the week. 

Puzzles for everyone

From traditional countryside scenes and breathtaking landscapes to modern artwork, nostalgic favourites and challenging brain teasers, the festival caters for every taste and skill level.

You can browse an incredible variety of puzzle styles, including:

• Children's jigsaw puzzles
• Collectable and vintage puzzles
• 3D puzzles
• Double-sided puzzles
• Murder mystery puzzles
• Crossword puzzles
• Wasgij® puzzles
• Mirrored image and impossipuzzles

Whether you're searching for an easy afternoon challenge or your next complex masterpiece, you're sure to find a puzzle to take home.

Enjoy refreshments during your visit

After choosing your favourite puzzles, visitors can relax in the Church Hall, where a wide selection of refreshments is available throughout the festival.

It's the perfect opportunity to take a break, enjoy homemade refreshments and soak up the friendly atmosphere before your newly purchased puzzle is carefully broken up and packaged ready to take home. 

Plan your visit

The 2026 Jigsaw Festival takes place from Monday 10 August to Saturday 15 August at St James' Church, East Cowes.

Opening times are:

• Monday to Saturday: 10am – 4pm
• Wednesday and Thursday evenings: 6.30pm – 8.30pm

Admission is just £1 for adults, while children enter free. Once you've paid, you can return as many times as you like during the week at no additional cost, making it easy to revisit and discover newly displayed puzzles.