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Isle of Wight Festival 2026 - ticket news, lineup and rumours

**Ferry offer: 10% off Red Funnel via this exclusive link**
Here's our guide to the Isle of Wight Festival 2026, which will take place from 18 - 21 June 2026.

Our guide includes lineup rumours and ticket news based on educated guesses, chit-chat and what has happened over the last few years. 

If you've overheard a bit of juicy gossip, please help us whip up some excitement by getting in touch.

We've also got advice on cheap travel to the festival. Anyone who wants to avoid camping at Isle of Wight Festival 2026, should look at our guides to places to stay near the Isle of Wight Festival site, Isle of Wight hotels with sea views or Isle of Wight holiday parks.
Jess Glynne on Isle of Wight Festival main stage 2025
Having a large one at the Isle of Wight Festival in 2025

When is the Isle of Wight FEstival 2026? 

The Isle of Wight Festival 2026 will take place from 18 - 21 June. The main acts will likely be on the 19 - 21 June with a few extra acts on the Thursday night for those who arrive early (that's been the pattern for several years).
IOW Sign at the Isle of Wight Festival
A familiar fixture at the Isle of Wight Festival

Where can I buy tickets for Isle of Wight Festival 2026?

You can buy tickets for the Isle of Wight Festival 2026 on this Ticketmaster page. 

There was an early bird sale, which went on sale at 8am on 26 June 2025. Tier one early bird tickets (i.e. the cheapest ones) sold out after seven hours. Tier two early bird tickets sold out at 3pm on the follow day (i.e. 31 hours after the tier one sale begun).

How much are tickets for the Isle of Wight Festival 2026?

Here are the standard prices for the Isle of Wight Festival 2026:

  • Weekend tickets for the Isle of Wight Festival 2026: £320 (including booking fees)
  • Weekend islander ticket: £289
  • Older child ticket for 9-12 year olds: £35
  • Younger child ticket for 3-8 year olds: £25
  • Infant ticket for 0-2 year olds: Free
  • Weekend car park ticket: £42
  • Campervan ticket: £308 
  • Campervan with electric hookup: £456.50

Weekend and student teen tickets don't seem to be an option anymore. Day tickets aren't currently available, but have previously been added later. Last year, they were £125 for adults. We couldn't find campervan tickets when we checked, but they may also be added later. Last year they were £308 (on top of the ticket price) or £456.50 with a hookup.
**Discover large cottages near the Isle of Wight Festival arena with Classic Cottages**

Confirmed Lineup for the Isle of Wight Festival 2026

Thursday:
Joel Corry
Maximo Park
Hot Dub Time Machine
Elvana (Elvis Fronted Nirvana)

Friday Main Stage: 
Lewis Capaldi
Wet Leg
Two Door Cinema Club
Alessi Rose
​Ash

Friday Big Top:
Tom Grennan
Perrie (Edwards)
Good Neighbours
Chloe Qisha

Saturday Main Stage:
Calvin Harris
Teddy Swims
Rick Astley
Five 
Anastacia
KT Tunstall

Saturday Big Top:
Sex Pistols Featuring Frank Carter
Feeder
The K's
Starsailor
Freddie Halkon

Sunday Main Stage:
The Cure
The Kooks
The Last Dinner Party
David Gray
Suzanne Vega

Sunday Big Top:
Jo Whiley's 90s Anthems
Shed Seven
Rose Gray
The Twilight Sad
Luvcat
Voila

Lineup rumours for the Isle of Wight Festival 2026

The Main Stage and Big Top acts have been announced for the Isle of Wight Festival 2026, but for our own amusement, we like to keep a running list of artists that we think are on the radar for future festivals:

  • In 2025, John Giddings spoke to Festival Insights and said that '“I would always want to book Pink Floyd, but you try getting them together...Taylor Swift, Madonna and Lady Gaga would be brilliant, and they can all put on a show. 
    ​
  • In 2022, John Giddings was being interviewed by Isle of Wight Radio after a Kylie Minogue song had been playing. John commented that "we should book her". Was it a throwaway comment? Probably. Are we still going to whip it up into a rumour for a future festival? Of course! There was also a story in the Daily Star in 2018 about Kylie playing at the Isle of Wight Festival.

  • ​In the same Isle of Wight Radio interview in 2022 John Giddings said that they had "thought about Lizzo" and that she is "definitely on a list for the future".

  • A 2022 interview with the Isle of Wight County Press included John Giddings saying that "Pink Floyd aren't going to reform, neither are Led Zeppelin". This reads more like an anti-rumour than a rumour but let's include it anyway as we know John Giddings is a big fan of them both. I do think it's likely that Robert Plant will be booked for a future festival. He played back in 2002 and he played at the Isle of Wight's Rhythmtree Festival in 2019 so he knows where to catch the ferry from.

  • Along similar lines - in 2020, John Giddings gave an interview to the University of Exeter. He said he'd "love to reform Pink Floyd". This is a common theme, as he also told Absolute Radio in 2015 that he'd like Roger Waters ​to play. In the University of Exeter interview he also mentioned Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets, which play old Pink Floyd songs and are managed by Solo. He also expressed his love for Little Mix though it wasn't exactly clear that he was inviting them to the Festival (they are another act which is managed by Solo). 

  • In 2018, John Giddings told the Isle of Wight County Press that "I would love the Arctic Monkeys to play. I asked them ages ago, but I haven't heard back from them". They've never played the Isle of Wight Festival.

  • In 2016, John Giddings told the Isle of Wight County Press that he'd like to book Oasis, Green Day and The Kinks. Noel Gallagher and Liam Gallagher have both played the festival since then in 2018, 2019 and 2021, so that one has sort-of happened. The Green Day suggestion finally came true, a mere eight years after John Giddings mentioned it. 

  • In 2015, John Giddings dropped a few names to The Price is Wight, including Beyonce, Rihanna and Ed Sheeran. It was more of a wish list than any insight into conversations that had taken place. I wouldn't buy a ticket expecting to see any of them, but you never know.

  • Way back in 2014, John Giddings told Glamour Magazine that 'I'd still love Coldplay, the Foo Fighters or Muse to come back because they were so good'. He repeated the Foo Fighters and Coldplay line in an interview in 2015. Muse returned in 2022, so we can remove that one. Note that it took eight years for that one to come true as well!
    ​
  • We are getting a little ancient now, but John Giddings was interviewed by the NME at the Isle of Wight Festival 2013 and said that "When Oasis reform, I want them to play". He also said that he wanted Bob Dylan, as he played at the Isle of Wight Festival in 1969. He then said that Blur, Fleetwood Mac, Red Hot Chili Peppers were on his wish list. These three subsequently appeared in 2015 and 2014. John then said that he wanted repeat performances from Foo Fighters, Coldplay, Jay-Z (none of which have happened yet). He also said he wanted Deap Vally at a future festival.

A few hunches and educated guesses about future Isle of Wight Festival lineups

  • We predicted that some of the bands which dropped out of the Isle of Wight Festival 2021 might play at future festivals. The festival was delayed twice and the lineup changed due to artist availability and travel restrictions. Two of those turned out to be true - Chemical Brothers (2023) and Jess Glynne (2025). Other cancelled acts which have yet to appear include Lionel Richie, Black Eyed Peas and Dido. Meanwhile, Teddy Swims was due to appear in 2025 but dropped out and was later added to the 2026 lineup.
     
  • We know that organisers of the Isle of Wight Festival are keen to feature more female acts. As previously discussed, the headline acts at the Isle of Wight Festival have been very male-dominated. John Giddings sent out a request for 'more non-cis male acts' for one of the smaller stages in 2021 so the imbalance is certainly on their radar. Who could that be? Perhaps a female act which has already played at the Isle of Wight Festival such as Florence + The Machine (2010) or Pink (also 2010)? Am I just plucking names out of the air or do I have secret insider information? (Ed: it's the former, stop pretending).  

How about some solo acts?

It's always a good bet that some artists managed by Solo will appear at future Isle of Wight Festivals. This has happened several times in the last few years, which is unsurprising as John Giddings is the MD of Solo.

For example, Solo-managed Starsailor/singer-James Walsh have appeared at the Isle of Wight Festival 13 times (2003, 2003, 2008, 2014, 2017, 2019 and 2026 plus James Walsh in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2018, 2019 and 2022 for anyone writing a pub quiz), whilst Suzanne Vega has appeared six times (including 2026). James have appeared six times. Iggy Pop has appeared four times.

Other Solo acts which have appeared at the Isle of Wight Festival or are booked to appear include: Alison Moyet (played at Isle of Wight Festival 2017 and 2025), Bananarama (2009), Bang Bang Romeo (2018, 2019), Blondie (2010, 2013 and 2023), Germein (2022, 2023, 2024), GIRLBAND (2023), Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly (2018, 2019, 2021), Gutterdammerung (2016), Imelda May (2017, 2021), Mike + The Mechanics (2016), Paradisia (2018), Pharrell Williams (2015), Spandau Ballet (2010), Sting (2008 as The Police and 2025 as a solo artist), The Clause (2023), The Compozers (2022), The Corrs (2016 and 2025), The High Kings (2016), The Kooks (2006, 2008, 2017, 2022 and 2026) Tom Meighan (2024, 2025), Wet Wet Wet (2019).
​​
Other Solo-managed acts that haven't yet played at the Isle of Wight Festival include Phil Collins, Julian Lennon, Ronan Keating, Bullet For My Valentine, Genesis and Little Mix. You can see the full list of artists on the Solo website. 

Other regular attendees that aren't managed by Solo have included Feeder (2005, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2018, 2024 and 2026), George Ezra (2017, 2019, 2023), The Courteeners (2010, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023), Example (2012, 2013, 2017, 2021, 2023, 2025), The Script (2009, 2011, 2013, 2021, 2025), Scouting For Girls (2008, 2017, 2021, 2023, 2024), Blossoms (2016, 2018, 2022, 2024) and Clean Bandit (2014, 2017, 2025).

We have been repeatedly wrong with our hunch that other artists managed by Live Nation might appear. The company has a 'majority stake' in the Isle of Wight Festival (although it is still run by Solo). For what it is worth, Live Nation artists include: Beyonce, Barbara Streisand, Justin Timberlake, Lady Gaga, Madonna, Shakira and U2.

As you'll have noticed, Justin Timberlake is on the only name on that list that has actually been added to an Isle of Wight Festival line-up. 
 
I'm still clinging on to the possibility of U2, although they very rarely play festivals so I think it's unlikely. 

Will the Isle of Wight Festival 2026 sell out?

Obviously we can't say for sure whether the Isle of Wight Festival will sell out. Honestly, who wrote these daft questions?

However, we do know that 2023 weekend tickets sold out about a week before the event. I didn't hear anything to suggest that the Isle of Wight Festival 2024 or 2025 sold out, but both certainly felt like they were close to capacity. The attendance was reported as being 55,000, which I believe is the capacity.

However, it isn't one of those events that usually sells out within 14 minutes as it has a large capacity. You don't need to set up six devices to try and get a ticket. The cheapest early bird tickets sold out within about 19 hours for the 2025 festival.

What's the cheapest way to get to the Isle of Wight Festival 2026?

Red Funnel ferry in Cowes
Red Funnel, Wightlink and Hovertravel will all get you to the Isle of Wight Festival
The cheapest way to bring a car to the Isle of Wight Festival is usually to get an early bird deal. Wightlink offered 1/3 off for the 2026 festival, but that offer has ended. Red Funnel's offer is still on the website, but there wasn't much availability when I checked. You might like to have a look for yourself.

Standard fares are likely to be very high for the festival weekend so I would consider coming as a foot passenger, particularly if you aren't bringing a car full.

You can currently get a £20 return deal from Red Funnel. In previous years, this discount has been available right up until the weekend but you might like to book it to make sure. The standard foot passenger fare is more like £40 return (although there are often other deals that turn up).

The cheapest place that I've found for parking in Southampton is at the railway station. They do a long weekend deal for about £12. You could also try Just Park.

If you've not been to the Isle of Wight before, see our ferry travel guide for beginners. ​​Your options are:
If you stay in accommodation off site you can usually ask your accommodation provider to book the ferry for you at a special rate (e.g. Away Resorts). They get trade rates on the ferry that can sometimes be up to half price, and can pass the saving on to you.
If you've missed the early bird deals, then you can still save 10% with this Red Funnel booking form.

Also check our discount ferries page as you might find a better offer comes along.

Most people travel via Southampton or Portsmouth, whilst the Lymington crossing can be a bit quieter. You may find that travelling as a foot passenger on a car ferry is the best way to avoid long queues and delays.

How do I get from the ferry to the Isle of Wight Festival site?

There are shuttle buses that will get you to the Isle of Wight Festival bus station.

Last time we checked, these departed from:
  • Cowes (ferry departs from Southampton)
  • East Cowes (ferry departs from Southampton)
  • Ryde (ferry departs from Portsmouth Harbour or Hovercraft from Southsea)
  • Yarmouth (ferry departs from Lymington, next to Lymington Pier railway station).

Note that there wasn't a shuttle bus from Fishbourne, which is where the Wightlink car ferry from Portsmouth arrives. It's about four miles from the Festival site. You can walk to the main road in Fishbourne in about 15 minutes and then catch the 'normal' buses.

In 2025, the shuttle bus was £16.50 return per adult, £14.50 for a child or £64 for a group of 5. They ran from Thursday morning until Monday lunchtime.

It is cheaper to use the 'normal' buses on the Isle of Wight, but you don't end up as close to the festival site. The walk from Newport bus station to the camping entrance (Gate A3) is about 1.5 miles, which is about 30 minutes or perhaps a bit more if you are dragging bags on a hot day.

You may also find that a taxi full of people is cheaper than the shuttle bus, but I haven't tried that out myself.
Isle of Wight Festival shuttle bus
Shuttle buses run from most ferry ports on the Isle of Wight (this one was in Cowes)

What accommodation is near to the Isle of Wight Festival (apart from camping)?

Take a look at our guide to 10 of the best places to stay near the festival or a cheap option is one of the Isle of Wight's holiday parks. Most resorts are by the coast, but The Lakes Rookley is quite a large resort which is 11 minutes' drive from the Isle of Wight Festival site (use discount code DOGFRIENDLY10 via this link until 31/12/26 to save up to 10% and they'll also get you cheap ferry travel).
​
Other options include Travelodge in Newport and Booking.com for hotels near the Isle of Wight festival site. 

​There is a Premier Inn at the Isle of Wight Festival site, but it is reserved for artists and crew.

Newport is one of the less interesting places on the Isle of Wight so you might prefer to stay somewhere near the beach and make it more of a holiday (see our guide to Isle of Wight towns or hotels with a sea view). The music starts at lunchtime from Thursday but a lot of people turn up mid-afternoon, which gives plenty of time to explore the Island over lunch.

Of course, you'll need to get to your accommodation after the festival has finished each night. You can either rely on public transport/taxis or bring a car and park nearby. We use the pay and display Coppins Bridge car park, which is a 15 minute walk from the festival entrance. Don't tell anyone I told you. There are also plenty of buses after the festival ends.
The Lakes Rookley waterside view
Most holiday resorts aren't near the Isle of Wight Festival but The Lakes Rookley is 11 minutes away by car

When should we arrive at the Isle of Wight Festival 2026?

The biggest bands at the Isle of Wight Festival are on Friday, Saturday and Sunday but there are discos and smaller stages to encourage people to arrive on Wednesday or Thursday.

In recent years, the Thursday headliners have been:
  • Bjorn Again (2008)
  • The Human League (2009)
  • Squeeze (2010)
  • ABC and Boy George (2011)
  • Primal Scream (2012)
  • Happy Mondays and The Farm (2013)
  • Boy George and Inspiral Carpets (2014)
  • Billy Idol (2015)
  • Status Quo (2016)
  • Razorlight (2017)
  • Wombats (2018)​
  • Wet Wet Wet and Heather Small (2019)
  • Happy Mondays (originally booked for 2020 but cancelled)
  • Scouting for Girls (2021)
  • Happy Mondays (2022)
  • Groove Armada DJ Set (2023)
  • ​Scouting for Girls (2024)
  • ​Example (2025)
  • ​Joel Corry (2026)
Example at Isle of Wight Festival 2025
If you turned up early in 2025 you'd have seen Example in the Big Top
Ferries are cheaper if you book early - click here to read our guide

Can under 18s attend the Isle of Wight Festival without an adult? Do children get in free?

We don't have details for 2026, but we do know the rules for 2025.

In summary, teenagers needed an adult with them. Under 2s are free, 3-12 year olds pay a small price for a ticket.

The Terms and Conditions for 2025 say that:

"Tickets for Teenagers aged between 13 and 17 as at 19 June 2025, can only be purchased with adult tickets. Unaccompanied Teenagers will be refused entry to the Festival...In addition, where Teenager(s) are in the group of 4, there must be at least one Adult in that group who is aged 21 years or over as of 19 June 2025"

Can my band play at Isle of Wight Festival 2026?

Sorry, this is nothing to do with us. Isle of Wight Guru is an independent site, which has no official link to the Isle of Wight Festival. As much as I would like you to pop round to my house and play for me, it wouldn't really achieve anything.

In previous years there have been Battle of the Band competitions held by the organisers.

There was also a Platform One stage at Isle of Wight Festival 2025 (Platform One is a college of music on the Isle of Wight). 

Should I go to the Isle of Wight Festival 2026?

The Isle of Wight Festival has evolved (like most festivals) from one great big stage to a 'visitor experience' (John Giddings' words) with various big tops, bars and stages. At the last count, there were 15 stages to choose from. There are also funfair rides etc. 

In an interview with the Isle of Wight County Press in 2023, John Giddings said that: “I reckon half the audience come because they like the show and the entertainment that goes with it, and the other half come depending on who is on the bill".

The age range at the Isle of Wight Festival is pretty wide with loads of families (kids get in for next to nothing) and lots of people who are old enough to have attended the first festival in 1968. If you grew up on the Isle of Wight, there's a high probability of witnessing one of your schoolteachers looking worse for wear after a jug of Pimms. 

In the last few years, the price has only really creeped up with inflation and is much cheaper than Glastonbury. You've got to pay for the ferry, but it is reasonable if you split it between four people in car. If you're travelling alone or as a couple, it will be cheaper to travel as a foot passenger (see further up the page for ferry deals).
Kid Zone at Isle of Wight Festival 2024
The Isle of Wight Festival aims to appeal to kids, as well as trendy dads like me

Can you give me some tips and useful advice about the Isle of Wight Festival?

  • It’s relatively easy to come and go at the Isle of Wight Festival, so staying off-site is pretty easy. That’s not been my experience of Glastonbury, which is so large that leaving the site daily is an ordeal. Thousands of Islanders go home each evening from the Isle of Wight Festival and it's a well organised process. You will probably queue for a few minutes to get back in, but we've never had to wait more than about 20 minutes (and sometimes we've only waited for two minutes).

  • You can bring a folding chair with you, but there's a big sign saying 'no chairs beyond this point' as you get closer to the stage. To be honest though if you’ve reached the chair carrying phase then you probably aren't looking to make it to the front. There is some underlying tension between the Chair-Brigade and the Non-Chair-Brigade.

  • You can bring in a bottle of 500ml sealed water through the main day visitor entrance, but you can't bring in food.

  • Bring a jumper or a thin coat. By the time it gets to 11pm you’ll be shivering, even if it’s the hottest day of the year. My personal favourite festival outfit is a hoodie, as it doubles up as a coat if it starts raining. I’m aware this all sounds very sensible, but you’ll thank me later.

  • If you’re bringing your own car and staying off-site then you’ve got a couple of options. Buses are pretty decent on the Isle of Wight and run quite late. Alternatively, you can park in Newport and then walk to the site in about half an hour. We’ve written a guide to free and cheap parking on the Isle of Wight, which includes some advice on where to park in Newport.
    ​
  • I don’t camp at the festival (my Mum lives near the site) but the usual festival camping advice applies – bring spare toilet roll, bring a powerbank for your phone and - quite obviously - don’t light a barbecue in your tent as the smoke will give you carbon monoxide poisoning...

How can I get in free to the Isle of Wight Festival?

Unless you are a 6' 7" ​tall former footballer or own a hot air balloon, your best bet is to volunteer to clean up during the festival.

An organisation called EcoWarriorz will give you free entry in exchange for a number of shifts. You generally work during the day so you can still see the main acts in the evening. They also provide some food and hot showers for you.

Lineup and ticket update archive

Lineup update - 26 January 2026

The second wave of acts have been added to the lineup, and the stage and day splits have been confirmed for the non-headliners.

New acts include Two Door Cinema Club, Joel Corry, Perrie (from Little Mix), Rose Gray, The K’s, Ash, Alessi Rose, The Twilight Sad, Voilà, Chloe Qisha, Maxïmo Park, Good Neighbours, Freddie Halkon, Hot Dub Time Machine and Elvana.

Ticket update - 1 October 2025

Standard ticket prices for 2026 have been released and look like this: 
​
  • Weekend tickets for the Isle of Wight Festival 2026: £320 (including booking fees)
  • Weekend islander ticket: £289
  • Older child ticket for 9-12 year olds: £35
  • Younger child ticket for 3-8 year olds: £25
  • Infant ticket for 0-2 year olds: Free
  • Weekend car park ticket: £42

Lineup and ticket update - 29 September 2025

The main line-up announcement is here! Lewis Capaldi, Calvin Harris and The Cure are headlining.

Standard tickets go on sale on 1 October 2025!

Ticket update - 27 June 2025

Tier two early bird tickets have sold out, 31 hours after the tier one tickets went on sale. They were priced like this:
  • Weekend with/without Camping: £247.85
  • Islander weekend ticket: £198.35 (Isle of Wight residents can 'unlock' the discount by entering their Isle of Wight postcode without spaces)
  • Older child weekend ticket (9-12): £25 (can only be booked whilst buying another ticket)
  • Younger child weekend ticket (3-8): £15 (can only be booked whilst buying another ticket)
  • Infant (2 & under) weekend ticket: Free (but you need to book one whilst buying another ticket. You can't just turn up!)
  • Weekend Car Parking: £35 ​
Standard weekend tickets increased by about £30 compared to last year whilst Islander weekend tickets increased by about £60. 

Ticket update - 26 June 2025

Tier one early bird tickets have sold out in seven hours, compared to 19 hours last year.

This is how much you paid for tier one early bird tickets for Isle of Wight Festival 2026, including fees:
  • Weekend with/without Camping: £231.35 
  • Islander weekend ticket: £187.35 (Isle of Wight residents can 'unlock' the discount by entering their Isle of Wight postcode without spaces)
  • Older child weekend ticket (9-12): £25 (can only be booked whilst buying another ticket)
  • Younger child weekend ticket (3-8): £15 (can only be booked whilst buying another ticket)
  • Infant (2 & under) weekend ticket: Free (but you need to book one whilst buying another ticket. You can't just turn up!)
  • Campervan: £308.00 (this doesn't include entry to the festival, you still need to buy a ticket)
  • Campervan + Electricity: £458.00 (again, this doesn't include entry to the festival, it's just a supplement to bring your motorhome or campervan).
  • Weekend Car Parking: £35 ​

The tier two tickets were about £10 - £15 more for the weekend.

Ticket update - 25 June 2025

The Isle of Wight Festival 2026 is confirmed! It will take place from 18 - 21 June 2026. Tickets go on sale tomorrow. 

Woohoo!

Related guides from Isle of Wight Guru

Isle of Wight Festival History

Our guide to every line-up at every Isle of Wight Festival from 1968 to today
Isle of Wight Festival History

London To The Isle of Wight

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London To The Isle of Wight

Isle of Wight Public Transport

How to get around the Isle of Wight without a car
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