Sunshine, superstar performances and a feel-good atmosphere made Isle of Wight Festival 2025 one to remember, with tens of thousands of music lovers – 53,000 according to Olly Murs – flocking to Seaclose Park for the start of the festival season.
The glorious weather dominated this year’s 4-day festival, helping to create a buzzing Summer atmosphere as revellers enjoyed headline acts, emerging talent, and all the extras that make the festival one of the UK’s most iconic.
Friday’s Main Stage line-up set the tone for the weekend, with Amy MacDonald delivering a lively and heartfelt set that had the early evening crowd singing along. She noted it had been 18 years since she was last at Seaclose, making it a ‘once in a generation event’.
The Scottish singer was followed by The Corrs, who returned to the Festival for the first time in almost a decade. John Giddings told Island Echo is was one of his favourite acts of the weekend.
As the sun began to dip, headliner 73-year-old Sting stepped up with a polished and powerful set, performing a selection of solo work alongside iconic and timeless tracks from The Police. Another favourite performance of Festival promotor, John Giddings.
Faithless then brought Friday to a close with a high-energy performance that had the late-night crowd dancing into the warm Summer night.
Saturday kicked off with Isle of Wight band 5 Degrees North opening the Main Stage, followed by a warm and uplifting set from Emmanuel Kelly. Mae Muller kept the early afternoon energy high with a mix of recent singles and her Eurovision entry, engaging a growing crowd under the increasingly hot sun.
Razorlight returned to Seaclose Park next with a run of early-2000s anthems, drawing a strong response from the crowd. But one of the highlights of the entire weekend was Busted, who followed with a vibrant, pop-punk performance that had fans jumping and singing along to every word.
Paul Heaton, joined by Rianne Downey, delivered a soulful and lyrically rich performance (but it seemed he was reading the lyrics from a screen), offering a moment of calm reflection before The Script took to the stage with their signature blend of heartfelt ballads and pop-rock hits.
The day ended with a commanding headline set from the Stereophonics. Playing through to nearly midnight, the Welsh rockers powered through their expansive back catalogue, delivering a perfectly balanced set that thrilled long-time fans and new listeners alike as the warm evening gave way to night.
Sunday’s Main Stage line-up began with Bjorn Again delivering a fun and nostalgic ABBA tribute that got early arrivals dancing in the sunshine. Ella Eyre followed with a powerful vocal set that blended pop and R&B energy.
80s sensation Alison Moyet took to the stage next, offering a soulful performance that included both solo favourites and hits from her Yazoo days. But she wasn’t keen for photos to be taken, closing the pit to photographers.
True showman Olly Murs kept the tempo high in the late afternoon, engaging the crowd with his trademark charm and sing-along anthems. He utilised every inch of the stage to put on a performance to remember. Backstage, he spent time taking selfies with the fans and soaking up the Festival atmosphere after a bite to eat.
Another unforgettable set of the weekend came from Texas. Lead singer Sharleen Spiteri really engaged with the crowds and even decided to drag her mic to the end of the runway stage to be closer to the thousands gathered.
Proving she is a ‘nice person’, Sharleen noted a woman’s poster and signed a microphone – as it was the fan’s birthday!
Jess Glynne – who actually turned up for this year’s event – brought her signature voice and emotional hits to a packed field. A firm favourite with the crowds.
The festival’s closing act, Justin Timberlake, delivered a slick, hit-filled headline set that spanned his solo career and featured full choreography, dazzling visuals and a closing fireworks display – ending Isle of Wight Festival 2025 on a high. He spent Sunday night in Shanklin.
Elsewhere across the weekend, festival-goers enjoyed a standout Big Top performance from Remember Monday, fresh off their Eurovision appearance, showcasing their tight harmonies and growing popularity.
Midge Ure also drew a strong crowd on Sunday, with a nostalgic set that paid tribute to his work with Ultravox and beyond, providing a moment of reflection amid the heat and festivities.
With another successful year in the books, early preparations for the Isle of Wight Festival 2026 are already underway. More details, including ticket information and line-up teasers, are expected soon!
The over riding feedback of having attended the 3 main days of the Festival (and as a ‘veteran’ of 3 Festivals now) is that the Camping Chairs are dangerous and something needs to be done.
There was a moment on Saturday after Busted where we were caught in a crowd which was not moving. Anywhere. it took from Busted finishing until Paul Heaton starting to reach the Helter Skelter and some space.
The standing area is fine. You can push through, and in the recognised pathways, they move.
But as soon as the seats are reached. it is like Kettling. Which the Police are not allowed to do. You cannot squeeze so many people into such tight walkways. Next year, they are going to need ropes to keep walkways clear, or find a way of limiting the number of chairs [and I appreciate that they don’t want to discourage the seat users attending]
Very noticable this year was the menace of the chairs outside the Big Top. You cannot apprach it down the side, there is a wide arc of seats along the open side. Which makes approaching the Big Top to go inside very difficult.
There needs to be a better balance and better solution.
To be honest I didn’t see that much of a probelm with the chairs,..
Yes there were a lot, and probably more than previous years, but a blanket with people laid out on it is just as much of a barrier as the chairs.(possibly worse as in a moving crowd, you can’t see then as easilly until you trip over them)
I did see security staff actively policing the area towards the main stage (beyond the official ‘white line’ & making people move any chairs they had there..
to me, in general if seemed a lot busier than previous years, with the whole main stage arena packed full, all the way up to the food stands..
Previous years, on the Sunday, we would turn up just after lunch & find a spot, somewhere in the middle of the main-stage arena, & settle down for a chilled afternoon of relaxing in the sunshine, listening to the music… This year there was hardly any space to be found..
it would be interesting to see what the official ticket sales figures are,.. as I would question Olly Murs’ figure of 53,000.. to me it seemed much busier than some previous years when the ticket sales were supposedly 75,000 & sold-out
it also seems that they have changed something to do with traffic / parking,..
as the day-time traffic around Wootton (getting from Newport to East Cowes) was consistantly MUCH busier than previous years.. at times taking over an hour to get from Newoort to teh East Cowes roundabout.
in previous years it was only like that on the first day of the diversions.
it was still a very good weekend, with fantastic weather & a reasonbly good line-up.
Roll on next year !!
The traffic problem was getting festival cars into the carpark quick enough causing grid lock all round the area, including from E Cowes. Staplers/Briddlesford/Park Road all jammed solid.I got caught in that- over an hour from Newport to E Cowes.
Second time I went via Asda heading to Sandown, up to the Hare and Hounds, Briddlesford Rd and turned off to Havenstreet/Firecopse Road/Wooton. Then through the back road via Brocks Copse/Averstone Road. 25 minutes, no cars .Heaven
Sting was great.
agreed
The old ones are the best.
From the line up the festival looks desperate as yes some big names but the other 80% of rhe time the artists were no names or people copying other artists. Watching it on TV was same but many of the supposed lineups you wouldnt go see intentionally anywhere else. So very expensive tickets to see your main artists for 44 minutes
I think your in the moanority,it was a fabulous weekend good time had by all ages,and as for “artists you haven’t heard of”all great artists start off like that and playing fringe tents at big festies..who knew who The Script were 20 years ago when they first rocked up to The Island Festival?they were awesome by the way!.it’s 58 hours of unscripted chaos ,fingers crossed for weather,and fun ,stick to the Tele coverage if you can’t cope with that!.
Wonder what the festivals will do when the headliner veteran performers finally have to stop. Not a lot of big name contenders coming up to replace them