Isle of Wight What's On Guide: 2024 Events OnTheWight

Current and Upcoming Festivals

Creative Ryde

Fri 29 Mar 2024 - Tue 31 Dec 2024

Creative Ryde is a cultural hub, facilitated by Creative Island, the Island's Cultural Development Agency who is committed to convening a series of local conversations with the cultural community of each town on the Isle of Wight.

Creative Island's ambition is to speak about and listen to the particular challenges and opportunities that we all face, to explore collaborative opportunities, share information and network with others.

Painting of Ryde by Nick Martin
© Nick Martin

The first of many
The first of these creative events was held in Ryde in October 2023. It involved creative practitioners, cultural leaders, town councillors and influencers in Ryde. Meetings are held every quarter to discuss challenges, achievements and more.

This section of the site encompasses all arts events taking place in Ryde.

Find out more
Visit the Creative Island website to find out more the Isle of Wight Cultural Development Agency

Cowes Fringe Festival

Fri 24 May 2024 - Sun 26 May 2024

Isle of Wight Festival 2024

Thu 20 Jun 2024 - Sun 23 Jun 2024

Experience the legendary Isle of Wight Festival 2024, returning with a bang from June 20-23. Celebrating its rich legacy, the festival showcases a stellar lineup, including headliners The Prodigy, Pet Shop Boys, and Green Day, among other top-tier acts. As one of the UK's most anticipated music events, Isle of Wight Festival combines the charm of its historic roots with a modern flair that caters to fans across the musical spectrum. Tickets are now available for those looking to capture the essence of live music at one of the year's most vibrant gatherings. Don't miss out on the chance to be part of the Isle of Wight Festival's 2024 edition – a cornerstone of the summer festival season!

Biosphere Festival 2024

Sat 29 Jun 2024 - Sun 30 Jun 2024


Past Festivals


Isle of Wight Literary Festival 2020

The Isle of Wight Literary Festival is an established event on the UK Arts calendar. It provides a far-reaching eclectic programme designed to attract a wide audience and increase the cultural richness of the Isle of Wight.

Hosted at Northwood House, Cowes over a number of days 60+ writers and presenters will share their latest works. Topics includes crime fiction, history, travel, maritime adventure, gardening, medicine, technology and the social and political issues of our time. From first time novelists to seasoned historians – speakers passionate about their subject will share insights and information.

The Youth Programme was set up by the festival a number of years ago to enrich education for the under 18s on the Isle of Wight by increasing the cultural experiences available to stimulate interest in learning and creative ideas. The majority of Island schools now participate in the programme.

Cowes Powerboat Races 2020

Cowes is recognized as the birthplace of international powerboat racing.

It is therefore fitting that every year some of the biggest, brightest, loudest and most powerful boats in the world assemble to re-enact the famous race from Cowes to Torquay then turn around and race back from Torquay to Cowes where the first race was hosted in 1961.

The Cowes – Torquay – Cowes race covers a distance of 190 nautical miles.

Cowes Torquay Cowes, Cowes 100 & Cowes Poole Cowes Offshore Powerboat Races.

Isle of Wight Scooter Rally 2020

The Isle of Wight Scooter Rally will take place at a brand new venue in 2020.

With uncertainty over the future of Smallbrook Stadium, the rally home for 20 years, and the loss of use of 50% of the site, organisers VFM have been working hard to secure a new venue to take the International Scooter Rally forward into 2020 and beyond.

The new venue for the 2020 scooter rally will be Sandown Airport, on the south east of the Island.

With easy site access, a huge camping area and Sandown on the doorstep, plans are being drawn up with regards to entertainment and the popular dealers village, as well as the international scooter custom show, all taking place on the site.

As before, a shuttle bus will take day trippers to and from the nearby town of Sandown, offering Scooterists a change of scenery from previous years both on and off the site.

Isle of Wight Walking Festival 2020

Join the Isle of Wight Walking Festival and take part in one of the UK’s longest running walking festivals. Discover unique routes with experienced local walkers and enjoy an extensive walks programme that includes walks across, over and around the Island. The popular Isle of Wight Challenge and fundraiser Walk the Wight with Mountbatten also form part of the festival.

Get up close and personal with the best of the Island’s stunning scenery; journey from the beautiful chalky cliffs of the west coast to the lush green rolling hills of the east. The Isle of Wight is often referred to as ‘England in Miniature’, so in just one day of walking you could see the very best of the English countryside from sand dunes and pebbly coves to thatched villages and bustling sailing towns.

Wight Proms 2020

Wight Proms is an open-air picnic concert festival on the Isle of Wight celebrating classical music, musical theatre and comedy.

The huge success of the 'Wight Proms' in 2018 & 2019 has ensured that the festival returns for 2020, with the promise of it being even bigger and better than before!

The festival has quickly established itself as one of the ‘must-do’ events on the Isle of Wight, which returns on 17th July - 19th July 2020, in the grounds of the Grade II* listed Georgian, Northwood House, Cowes.

An integral aim of the Wight Proms, whether via the free workshops or by simply attending the festival and seeing the top international line-up, is to give the opportunity to hundreds of people to be involved in the arts, which otherwise they may not have experienced. We're also adding new events this year!!

The Isle of Wight has a wealth of musical talent, amazing food, a strong community feel and is one of the few places in the UK, where you can still see the native Red Squirrel; the Wight Proms festival celebrates all of this, during the outdoor proms festival.

Harp on Wight 2020

Learn how to play a harp, learn how to make a harp, listen to world-class harpists or enjoy a harp-themed candlelit dinner.

There’s much to choose from at this year’s Harp On Wight Festival.

Hullabaloo 2020

Hullabaloo is a FREE Discovery & Exploration event in Sandown Bay on the Isle of Wight.

An unusual combination of the arts, sciences & heritage together with the madcap antics of carnival & seaside traditions.

By bringing artists, creators, community groups & "ordinary people of all ages", together with scientists, engineers & businesses, this exciting weekend of discovery & celebration on the Isle of Wight will engage thousands of people in a unifying, uplifting & unconventional way, helping to build relationships & find common ground amongst those who perhaps do not ordinarily meet.

Cowes Week 2020

Since 1826 Cowes Week has played a key part in the British sporting summer calendar and is one of the UK's longest running and most successful sporting events. It now stages up to 40 daily races for around 1,000 boats and is the largest sailing regatta of its kind in the world.

The event offers a great mix of competitive sailing and social activities. The 8,500 competitors range from Olympic and world class professionals to weekend sailors. In excess of 100,000 spectators come to watch the sailing, enjoy the parties and live entertainment, and to experience the unique atmosphere. It is genuinely a one-of-a-kind event.

Ventnor Fringe 2020

Ventnor Fringe is the Isle of Wight's multi award-winning arts festival.

A 6 day wonderland of pop-up bars and boutique venues, featuring more than 300 artists from across the world.

Launched in 2010 as an intimate gathering of just 200 people the festival has grown to become one of the Island’s cultural highlights and now hosts hundreds of performances spanning theatre, comedy, cabaret, music and film screenings.

Remaining proudly independent and open to all, the Ventnor Fringe has become a hub for a creative community which welcomes visitors from all around the world. Where else could you catch a puppet show in a launderette, a midnight cellist concert in an 11th century chapel, morning yoga sessions in the park or a late night party on the Harbour!

Whatever your age and whatever your budget, don’t miss this extraordinary week in Ventnor.

“One hell of a homegrown festival…an authentic, bohemian festival experience”
The Independent

“…rapidly becoming the country’s most surprising and inspirational multidisciplinary arts festival”
The Sunday Times

Below are just the acts that have been released so far - Check back, as more will follow.

Ryde Arts 2019

Local arts throughout the year.

Art and music events, workshops and happenings in Ryde.

Bringing together arts groups during the year in the beautiful Georgian town of Ryde.