The Cure at Isle of Wight Festival 2026: Portsmouth Guide

Last month, the Isle of Wight Festival 2026 took over Seaclose Park in Newport from Thursday 18 June to Sunday 21 June, culminating in a highly anticipated Sunday night headline set by The Cure. Performing in support of their album Songs of a Lost World—their first studio release in 16 years, which debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart—the legendary band drew thousands of fans across the Solent. For those of us based in Portsmouth, the festival is practically on our doorstep, making it one of the most accessible major music events of the summer.

Getting to the festival site from Portsmouth was straightforward, with several convenient crossing options. Many local fans opted for the Wightlink FastCat, which runs from Portsmouth Harbour directly to Ryde Pier Head in about 22 minutes. Tickets for this route were priced at £29.20 for a day return or £41.40 for a period return. Another popular fast route was the Hovertravel service from Southsea to Ryde, taking just 10 minutes. Once on the island, a dedicated festival bus service operated from Thursday morning through to Monday midday, costing £16.50 for an adult return, which connected travellers directly to the Newport site.

For those who attended the full weekend, tickets were priced at £320 for standard weekend entry (including camping or non-camping options), while local island residents with an eligible postcode could access them for £289. Day tickets started from £125. The festival itself was completely cashless, requiring digital payments across all food stalls and bars. Alongside The Cure, the weekend featured major performances from Lewis Capaldi and Wet Leg on Friday, and Calvin Harris on Saturday, making the short trip across the water well worth the journey for Portsmouth music lovers.