Isle of Wight What's On Guide

If you’re new to the Isle of Wight you’ll be interested to hear that we’re more than just a beautiful Island surrounded by sandy beaches and fascinating landscapes. We also have a packed schedule of things to do all year round.

From the famous Isle of Wight Festival to the less well-known Eklectica, Lendy Cowes Week to the Round the Island Race, the magical illuminated forests of the Electric Woods at Robin Hill to Classic Beer, Buses and Walks and from Isle of Wight Pride to the Isle of Wight Comic Con, we really do have something for everyone.

Festival Island

With it’s rich history and beautiful landscapes and beaches, it may not strike you as the place to be when it comes to festivals. However, our little Island has been dubbed ‘festival island’ in honour of the number of events we host every year.

For you music lovers out there, the Isle of Wight is home to a number of music festivals. The legendary Isle of Wight Festival is back this year featuring incredible headliners including Liam Gallagher, Depeche Mode and the mighty Van Morrison. Jack-Up the 80’s - the biggest 80’s festival to rock the Isle of Wight - is back again for it’s sixth year and Rhythm Tree will return to Calbourne for more fun-filled and family-friendly fun.

Taking place on the Island twice a year, Ryde is home to world famous scooter event, the Isle of Wight Scooter Rally, hitting the Island every August. Thousands of scooterists fill the streets of Ryde with loads of musical events throughout the weekend to enjoy.

The brand-new annual festival of open-air picnic concerts, The Wight Proms, celebrates Isle of Wight's music, food and people, featuring red squirrels, free arts workshops and the inaugural 'Proms Art & Sculpture Exhibition' based at Northwood House in Cowes.

For food and garlic lovers, the Isle of Wight Garlic Festival features mouth watering local produce to tempt your taste buds, all set against a beautiful backdrop of rolling green hills and farmland at the heart of the Isle of Wight.

Carnivals galore

For some streetwise fun, check out one of the many carnivals that go on throughout the summer months on the Island. Isle of Wight Mardi Gras is a carnival with a fantastic themed parade with 800 children and young people taking part in fabulous carnival costumes performing some great choreography. And this year Isle of Wight Pride is proud to be hosting UK Pride 2018 bringing with it a vibrant and colourful parade taking place in Ryde. Our carnivals are an experience not to be missed. In fact, we have more carnivals per square head of population than anywhere else in the country!

History comes to life on the Isle of Wight

Osborne is open to visitors throughout the summer months, and it's one of the most evocative and historically important sites on the Island. Walk where Queen Victoria walked through her beautiful gardens and see where she died, as well as the spectacular Durbar Room that was featured heavily in the recent movie Victoria & Abdul, starring Dame Judi Dench and Eddie Izzard.

There are many special events through the summer at Carisbrooke Castle. There are stunning views to be had from the walkable ramparts, and you can meet the famous Carisbrooke donkeys, as they give short and sweet demonstrations of their predecessors' job turning the water mill at the castle.

Bursting with surprises, the 44th Island Steam Show at the Isle of Wight Steam Railway is an action packed event featuring a variety of displays and attractions to keep the whole family entertained throughout the day.

Sailing Events

It's world famous, it's historic... in fact, it's one of the best-known sailing events in the world and every year attracts sailing enthusiasts, professional sailors and a host of celebrity enthusiasts, Lendy Cowes Week in August is about races and competition, but also about socialising, music and excellent food and drink, with plenty on offer throughout the week to suit sailors and landlubbers alike.

The Round the Island Race in July is sailing's answer to the London Marathon, as 1600 boats crewed by some of the biggest names in sailing, as well as keen amateurs, skim past The Needles - the Island's distinctive rocky structure - round St Catherine's Point and Bembridge Ledge and back to the Solent.

So much on offer

We've barely scratched the surface of what's on during the year on Isle of Wight. There's so much more, with the Official Isle of Wight Bear Hunt Adventure Weekends and the magical We’re Going On A Bear Hunt event at Robin Hill, the eclectic Ventnor Fringe Festival and Isle of Wight Literary Festival, our little Island is bursting at the seams with things to do and see.

Don't miss out

Many of the accommodation owners, and travel operators (including ferry providers and Hovertravel) offer exclusive discounted tickets for visitors coming to the big Isle of Wight festivals and events. It's always worth checking out the latest festival and event offers for further information.

Book your accommodation

You're going to need somewhere to stay for the events and festivals, particularly if you don't fancy camping on site at the Isle of Wight Festival! We have lots of accommodation to offer, from fancy hotels to glamping in the woods. Whether you're after a bed and breakfast, self-catering cottage, caravan park, country hotel or campsite, there are loads to choose from. Many offer discounts in conjunction with festivals and events, so you can get a really good deal if you search through our accommodation.