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Category: festivals
Updated: 02nd February 2023

Isle of Wight Festival 2023: Lineups, Tickets & Logistics

Isle of Wight Festival 2023: Lineups, Tickets & Logistics

The Isle of Wight Festival is set to return to Seaclose Park, Newport from 15-18 June 2023, with a lineup of some of the biggest names in music. The festival, which has been running since 1968, is known for its diverse lineup and unique atmosphere, making it one of the most popular festivals in the UK. The 2023 edition promises to be no different, with a lineup that includes acts from across the spectrum of popular music, from indie rock to electronic dance music.

In this article, we cover every angle, from the latest lineups and ticket info to camping, travel and on-site logistics.

Who is playing at the Isle of Wight Festival this year?

Headlining the festival are some of the biggest names in the industry, such as Arctic Monkeys, Stormzy, and The Chemical Brothers. Other notable acts include Billie Eilish, Foals, Lewis Capaldi, and Nothing But Thieves, ensuring that there is something for everyone at the festival. In addition to the music, the festival also offers a wide range of activities and experiences, including food and drink vendors, art installations, and other interactive experiences.

The Isle of Wight Festival is known for its unique and intimate atmosphere, making it a must-attend event for music lovers. With a lineup that promises to be one of the best in recent years and a setting that is second to none, the 2023 edition is shaping up to be one of the most exciting festivals of the year. So, mark your calendars for 15-18 June 2023 and prepare for an unforgettable weekend of music, art and culture at Seaclose Park, Newport.

Pulp

Britpop icons, Pulp, have been heroes of the common people and mainstays of the British indie and alternative scene since they exploded onto it in 1992. Formed in Sheffield in 1978 and led by the charismatic Jarvis Cocker, the band have released several critically acclaimed albums and toured extensively. With witty, kitchen-sink-drama tales set to driving guitars, new wave synths and disco-inspired rhythms, we all remember the first time we experienced Pulp - and we’re always eager for the next.

George Ezra

George Ezra can give you more than one good reason why you should never miss a chance to see him in person. The velvety-voiced singer, songwriter, and now popular podcaster is back on his feet after walking from one end of the UK to the other - as documented in his film ‘End To End’ - to promote ‘Gold Rush Kid’, his third UK number one album in a row.

The Chemical Brothers

Ushering in the big beat genre along with the Prodigy and Fatboy Slim, the Brothers have a legendary track record dating back to the dawn of the nineties, showing that some chemical bonds cannot be broken. A highlight of any festival line-up, electronic music duo the Chemical Brothers have an array of anthems in their arsenal, including fan favourites ‘Hey Boy Hey Girl’, ‘Galvanize’, and ‘Setting Sun’.

Robbie Williams

British pop sensation Robbie Williams has rarely been out of the spotlight since he stepped out from Take That’s shadow with his debut solo album, ‘Life Thru a Lens’, featuring his biggest hit single to date and the unofficial theme tune to every karaoke night in the country, ‘Angels’. Williams is one of pop music’s most beloved stars, sporting an iconic voice and a classic back catalogue, all tied up with his famous cheeky smile.

The Human League

Influential synth-pop group, the Human League, have been captivating audiences with their forward-thinking electronic music and striking visual style ever since their early eighties heyday. Solidifying their classic lineup in 1981, with bandleader and keyboardist Philip Oakey sharing vocal duties with Joanne Catherall and Susan Ann Sulley on the ubiquitous ‘Don’t You Want Me’, the Human League are once again touring their trail-blazing act to the delight of new fans and old.

Example

Walk into any club in 2010 and there’d be a fair chance Example’s unstoppable hit ‘Kickstarts’ would be blasting through the speakers. Example has continued to experiment within the electronic music genre, collaborating with some of the biggest names in the game such as Calvin Harris and Chase & Status, and his latest album ‘We May Grow Old But We Never Grow Up’ shows that he’s still got plenty of ideas up his talented sleeves.

Manic Street Preachers

Welsh rockers Manic Street Preachers are still kicking up a fuss over 30 years since their debut, ‘Generation Terrorists’. Their string of acclaimed studio albums continues to grow ever longer, with 2021’s ‘The Ultra Vivid Lament’ showing the band as lyrically and musically confrontational as ever.

Courteeners

Singer-songwriter Liam Fray took Courteeners in a more pop-psychedelia direction on their most recent album, 2019’s ‘More.Again.Forever’, to a universally positive reaction. Taking that into account with the fact that they released a complete reimaging of their beloved debut, ‘St Jude’, just one year prior, Courteeners clearly have a great deal more to offer creatively - and what indie fan doesn’t enjoy singing along to ‘Not Nineteen Forever’ at the top of their lungs anyway?

N-Dubz

Camden Town trio N-Dubz are back, following an 11-year hiatus ending in 2022 - and the hype has been as insane as it has been instantaneous. Selling out their comeback UK arena tour in mere minutes after its announcement, Dappy, Tulisa, and Fazer will be making a stop at the Isle of Wight festival to deliver a set of grime-influenced hip-hop and R&B hits, including ‘I Need You’ and ‘Best Behaviour’.

Anne-Marie

BRIT Award-nominated singer-songwriter Anne-Marie has been going from strength to strength ever since scoring a Christmas number one alongside Jamaican rapper Sean Paul on the Clean Bandit track, ‘Rockabye’, in 2016. Two albums later and with a third in the pipeline, Anne-Marie has also been lending her considerable vocal talents to contestants on The Voice UK in her capacity as a coach - but she’s back in the spotlight herself this summer!

Blondie

American new wave band Blondie, famed for their ability to mix punk, reggae, disco, and pop together into a sound that is unmistakably their own, are taking the Isle of Wight Festival Stage this summer. Fresh from their ‘Against the Odds Tour’, charismatic singer Debbie Harry will be adding her signature charisma and iconic singing voice to such beloved hits as ‘Heart of Glass’, ‘The Tide is High’, and ‘Atomic’.

OneRepublic

As they prepare for the release of their sixth studio album, Colorado Springs pop rock band OneRepublic are hitting the road to flex their musical muscles. Never straying too far away from the single charts ever since ‘Apologize’ and ‘Stop and Stare’, OneRepublic’s most recent effort, the single ‘I Ain’t Worried’, which was chosen for the soundtrack to ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ has fans reassured that Ryan Tedder and co have everything under control.

Sam Ryder

After gaining an impressive following on TikTok, British singer-songwriter Sam Ryder bounded onto the nation’s TV screens with a huge smile and an even huger voice to represent the UK for the Eurovision Song Contest. On the strength of his entry, ‘Space Man’, Ryder went on to receive a BRIT nomination for Best New Artist for his debut album, ‘There's Nothing but Space, Man!’ - a first for a Eurovision act.

Gabrielle

Gabrielle has been a staple within R&B, soul, and pop circles ever since she topped the charts with her very first single, ‘Dreams’, back in 1993. Now firmly back in the limelight, Gabrielle has appeared on ‘The Masked Singer’, been invited onstage by Adele, and featured in a Stormzy music video - all in the space of a couple of years!

Niall Horan

Irish singer-songwriter Niall Horan is back with his first solo single in almost three years, ‘Heaven’. In the wake of the success of his former boy band, One Direction, Horan has opted to take his own music down a more folk-orientated path, citing Bruce Springsteen and the Eagles, as well as indie bands Arctic Monkeys and Kasabian, as major influences on his guitar playing style, as heard on his previous two hit albums ‘Flicker’ and ‘Heartbreak Weather’.

Sugababes

Mutya, Keisha and Siobhán are back - as the original Sugababes! After surprising fans with the recent release of ‘The Lost Tapes’, originally recorded in 2013, this is shaping up to be a year of firsts for the R&B-influenced pop group, following their first-ever Australian tour with their biggest-ever headlining show at O2 Arena in London.

Scouting For Girls

Scouting For Girls came out swinging in 2007, scoring a UK number 1 with their eponymous debut album. Fans took an instant liking to the piano-led pop of ‘She's So Lovely’ and ‘Elvis Ain't Dead’, and, judging by the positive response to the release of their double vinyl album ‘Live at the Trinity: 2022’, they’re just as upbeat and enjoyable as they were back in the mid-noughties indie heyday.

James Bay

Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, James Bay, became an instant hit in 2014, first releasing his debut single ‘Hold Back the River’ then releasing his debut album ‘Chaos and the Calm’, which was recorded in Blackbird Studios in Nashville. Bay’s latest album, ‘Leap’, has been perceived as a return to his interest in and connection to the Americana and folk that influenced his first outing, with portions of the 2022 record again being recorded at Blackbird Studios.

Mika

Since bursting onto the scene with his first album ‘Life In Cartoon Motion’ in 2007, Lebanese-born British singer-songwriter Mika has barely stopped to take a breath. The ‘Grace Kelly’ and ‘Love Today’ singer is working on two simultaneous albums - one in French, the other in English - due for release in 2023, as is his first-ever film score. Somehow, he’s still managing to fit in a hotly anticipated appearance at the Isle of Wight Festival.

How do I buy tickets for the Isle of Wight Festival?

Weekend and day tickets for the Isle of Wight Festival can be purchased via official ticket agents, such as Ticketmaster. Payment instalment plans are available.

What are the camping options at the Isle of Wight festival?

Access to the festival’s standard campsite is included in the price of a weekend ticket. The campsite is divided into colour-coded fields, so you can easily find the area you choose to stay in.

You can pre-pay for additional services, such as luxury showers and toilet facilities in the Washroom, as part of the Camping Plus option (tents not included).

For more options for campers who are bringing their own tents, visit: Isle of Wight Festival - Where to stay - Camping & Camping Plus.

There is also a range of boutique camping options available for Isle of Wight Festival guests to hire. Weekend tickets to the festival must be bought separately for each of these options, and guests who are driving their cars to the festival are reminded to book their festival car park ticket too.

To find out more about booking a pre-pitched luxury unit with access to premium facilities in the Harvest Moon Boutique, Tipi Terrace, Lakeside Lodge, and Pink Moon Village areas, visit: Isle of Wight Festival - Where to stay - Boutique camping.

Are there any restrictions on what I can bring to the Isle of Wight Festival?

Anything that will threaten the safety or enjoyment of other festival-goers, such as weapons, flares, illegal substances, and megaphones, is not allowed into the Isle of Wight Festival.

For a full list of what you cannot bring, visit: Isle of Wight Festival - Info - Care & Safety.

Isle of Wight

Are there any shuttle buses or public transportation options to the Isle of Wight Festival?

Whichever way you decide to travel to the festival, you need to reach the Isle of Wight via one of the four mainland ports - Lymington, Portsmouth, Southampton, or Southsea. However, there are a few ways of doing this.

If you are travelling to a mainland ferry port by foot or by train (without your own vehicle), you can choose from several modes of transport, including by hovercraft and by speed boat, in addition to by ferry.

If you are driving yourself to the festival via car, you can book with either Red Funnel or Wightlink, and drive your vehicle right onto the ferry. Once your ferry arrives at the Isle of Wight, you can follow the signs and drive to the festival - just remember to pay for your festival parking in advance.

For more information about different transport options, visit: Travel - Isle of Wight Festival.

Big Green Coach is the official coach travel and ticket partner of the Isle of Wight Festival. All Big Green Coach services are carbon-neutral.

Big Green Coach can transport guests from one of 15 pick-up locations across the UK on the Thursday (with additional London service on the Friday) and return them to their pick-up point on the Monday once the festival is over.

All Big Green Coaches bound for the Isle of Wight Festival drive onto the ferries themselves and take you directly to the festival’s entrance, so you don’t need to worry about buying an extra ticket or moving your luggage from one transport to another.

For more information on travelling to the Isle of Wight Festival with Big Green Coach, visit: Big Green Coach - Isle of Wight Festival - Coach travel.

What kind of food and drink options will be available at the Isle of Wight Festival?

Numerous food outlets and bars are located between the campsite and the main arena.

Are there any age restrictions for the Isle of Wight Festival?

Music fans of all ages are welcome to attend the Isle of Wight Festival, although parents are advised that some acts may be unsuitable for young children.

The following conditions must be followed for each age group:

  • Teenagers aged 13-17 require a Teen ticket
  • Children aged 3-12 require a Child ticket
  • Infants (children aged 2 and under) can enter the festival free of charge

Is there any merchandise available for the Isle of Wight Festival?

The Isle of Wight Festival’s online shop offers a range of quality branded products and memorabilia. As well as clothing such as hoodies and t-shirts, you can browse through event posters from previous years.

To view all merchandise, visit: The Isle of Wight Festival website