Justin Timberlake and Jess Glynne on Sunday Night at Isle of Wight Festival 2025

As mentioned previously, we decided to combine the Isle of Wight Festival 2025 with a couple of cycle rides around the Island. 

After the long ride and late finish on Saturday, we decided to temper our ambitions. Plan A had been a tour of the South Wight, including hilly Ventnor, St Boniface Down and St Catherine's Lighthouse. Plan B was a more serene cycle alongside the River Medina to Cowes. This route features in our guide to the Red Squirrel Trail and offered us a shady cycle along with views of the festival on the other side of the river and lunch at the Woodvale in Gurnard.

It proved to be a good choice, as it gave us enough energy to make the most of Sunday night at the Isle of Wight Festival - rather than spending it lying down and groaning under a tree.

We had lunch at the Woodvale before heading to the festival site

Big Savings On The Big Wheel

The afternoon Main Stage acts included Alison Moyet and Olly Murs but we began with a tour around some of the other stages, including a little time with Nieve Ella in the Big Top.

As the clock ticked towards 6pm, we made a strategic move towards the big wheel - having previously discovered that this was the point at which the price increased from £8 to £10.

We boarded at 5.58pm and enjoyed Texas from the top of the wheel on one of our three loops round, whilst considering how we would spend our £2 saving.

Our £8 ride on the Big Wheel gave us a good view of Texas

Moody Weather

The weather at the Isle of Wight Festival 2025 did an excellent job of adjusting to the mood of the crowd. 

After the heat of the previous two days, things cooled a little, giving everyone a chance to relax a little and enjoy the breeze coming off the Medina.

We wandered away from Texas to enjoy a) The Kut on the River Stage b) Alessi Rose in the Big Top and c) a slice of toffee cake for £3.50. I was crushed to discover they had sold out of Earl Grey tea, but the cake got me through it.

Jess Glynne's Long-Awaited Return

Jess Glynne was up next, who carried a certain amount of intrigue. 

She was first booked to play at the Isle of Wight Festival in 2015 but delayed to 2016 due to surgery.

In 2019, she was booked again but dropped out on the day due to 'exhaustion'. 

Reports at the time suggested she wouldn't be asked back, but she was and put on a terrific show with a backing band and singers.

We ended up close enough to be covered in ticker tape as she worked her way through several of her seven number ones and made the most of the runway stage that had been set up for the evening's headliner.

Jess Glynne's return was much welcomed

Cry me a River Medina

There are certain moments where I still can't quite fathom that the Isle of Wight is home to a festival that has hosted some of the world's most famous musicians and singers. I grew up playing football, tennis and cricket at Seaclose Park with friends on sunny Sunday evenings and never would have imagined that the site would later host David Bowie, the Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney.

The arrival of Justin Timberlake was another of these memorable moments. I am not really a big fan of pop music, but this felt like it would be the moment of the weekend, and I wanted to make the most of it.

With this in mind, I suggested to my fellow festival-goers that we should make our way towards the front when Jess Glynne had finished.

This split the party, with one friend agreeing to join me and another deciding to head back and watch from a distance.

And so, as The Tennessee Kids arrived on the stage ahead of Justin Timberlake, we found ourselves only a few metres from the front, shoulder to shoulder with superfans.

The show was epic, even for a non-fan, with a stage-filling band, runway dance-moves, frequent puffs of smoke and a fireworks finale. It was also LOUD, with the bass notes causing the ground to shake under our feet.

As the fireworks continued and Primal Scream played over the festival's traditional credits, we walked home after another sensational evening at Seaclose.

Thanks to all who made it happen.

Justin Timberlake and the Tennessee Kids brought the party to Seaclose Park (Credit: Isle of Wight Festival)

Jessica Biel watched on from the side of the stage (Credit: Isle of Wight Festival)

Credit: Isle of Wight Festival