In the absence of Glastonbury Festival in 2026 for a fallow year, punters will bw looking elsewhere to get their music festival fix.

A mere 90-minute drive from the Glastonbury site to the Southampton ferry port (Or Portsmouth down the road if you’re that way inclined), here’s why you should make Isle of Wight (IOW) your festival of choice for this year.

IOW is a unique festival, only accessible via ferry or flight if you’re lucky enough. But don’t let that deter you, the procedures are well and truly in place by now, and accessing the site has never been easier.

IOW is the ultimate family festival, with acts covering every genre, and areas that include the Kidzone to cover the needs of anyone on-site.

Lineup

For many people, the lineup is pivotal in deciding which festival to attend, and IOW aims to cater for all.

The headliners this year are Lewis Capaldi, Calvin Harris and The Cure. These three acts alone immediately showcase the diversity of genres in the lineup, albeit missing a female act.

Lewis Capaldi returns to the live music scene this year, following a period to focus on his health and the release of new singles and an EP ‘Survive’ last year. He’s scheduled to play a big summer run of outdoor shows across UK and Ireland, as well as embarking on a North America tour in spring.

As well as IOW, he will also be taking to the stage at inaugural Roundhay Festival (Leeds), American Express Presents BST Hyde Park and Sziget Festival, as well as others.

Calvin Harris is ever-present in the UK festival scene, and a slot at IOW beckons this summer, alongside a headline role at Creamfields and two massive homecoming shows at Hampden Park, Glasgow.

Marking one of their biggest European summer schedules in years, The Cure will be closing the main stage at this year’s iteration of the festival. Alongside major headline festival slots across Europe, they will also be performing outdoor headline shows in Dublin, Belfast, Cardiff, Manchester and Edinburgh. There’s also speculation of a new album coming, following 2024’s ‘Songs of a Lost World’. Although, there’s no
official word from the band on that matter yet.

Elsewhere in the lineup, Isle of Wight’s very own stars ‘Wet Leg’ make their return to the festival for the first time since 2022. Starting as a local duo, they’ll be playing the main stage for the very first time, to much anticipation from the hometown crowd.

American genre-blending singer-songwriter Teddy Swims will be taking to the main stage for the first time, as part of his UK tour which will see him play Belfast, Dublin, Exeter, Cardiff and Glasgow.

The Kooks will also be returning to the festival, 20 years after their first appearance back in 2006, following the release of first album ‘Inside In, Inside Out’. Consisting of Luke Pritchard and Hugh Harris, they’re currently running the wave of 2025’s album ‘Never Know’.

The Last Dinner Party, Rick Astley, David Gray, Five, Suzanne Vega, Anastacia and KT Tunstall round off the Main Stage lineup currently.

As attentions turn to the Big Top lineup, festival attendees will continue to be met with the range of acts Isle of Wight has become known for. Tom Grennan, Sex Pistols Ft. Frank Carter and Jo Whiley’s 90s Anthems headline the stage. Feeder, Shed Seven, Starsailor and Luvcat also feature on the Big Top lineup.

This is just the first wave of acts announced, as we build towards June there will be many more slots, filling a whole host of genres over the wide variety of stages. IOW truly has something for everyone.

Also keep an extra eye out for the Hipshaker Lounge lineup, who for the past five years have had very special showcase slots from The Songbird HQ….. Will we be returning for a sixth year and who will be our guests if we are?

Stages and Areas

It’s not all about the Main Stage and Big Top at IOW, as there’s a whole host of stages and areas showcasing a full range of genres and artists.

Whether its’s the This Feeling stage, which focuses on new acts, or Electro Love for the ultimate 80s, 90s and 00s party zone.

You may be interested in the acts on Hipshaker Lounge, which focuses on funk, soul, disco, ska, reggae, indie, punk, new wave, britpop, rock, motown and more. It’s also, of course, home to the bands that The Songbird HQ choose to showcase, so keep your eyes peeled for any updates on that!

There’s also plenty of chill-out zones and food areas for those who wish to pursue a slower pace.

Location

The location of this festival has a lot to play in what makes it so special. The fact you must travel to a separate island makes it feel as though you’ve escaped to a remote land. The sort of vibe other festivals cannot replicate.

Bridging Generations

IOW Festival manages to bridge the generations in way’s other festivals may not be able to. Parents and grandparents take their children and grandchildren, with dedicated family zones, and the lineups reflect this. Similarly to this year’s lineup, there’s usually modern, contemporary acts paired alongside legacy slots.

Intensity

IOW feels less intense than other festivals. Although the site is big, and thousands of people attend, it has dedicated areas for revellers to take a break. The Main Stage arena offers plenty of space to move, and if being penned inside tent stages isn’t your vibe, you’ll have the opportunity to sit close by and still take it all in.

History

Isle of Wight Festivals of 1968, 1969 and 1970 have been well and truly cemented into British music history. Acts such as Bob Dylan, T-Rex and The Who graced the island on those early iterations.

1970 especially, has forged its way into the history books, with it being known as one of the largest human gatherings ever witnessed. It’s believed over 600,000 people were in attendance. On that occasion, the masses were treated to acts like Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, Chicago and The Who.

The event forced the Government to impose an act against gatherings of more than 5,000 people on the Island without special permission. In 2002 however, the festival was revived and has been a main stay on the British music calendar ever since.

In short, this is a festival that appeals for its location and history, as much as it does the music. The vibes, music and holiday appeal can co-exist without overbearing the other. Well and truly one not to miss!

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Words by Brad Halcrow