FAIREST ISLE FESTIVAL

As the final notes of Monteverdi's magnificent 1610 Vespers faded beneath the soaring arches of All Saints, Ryde, another unforgettable Fairest Isle Festival came to a close.

Across a remarkable weekend, audiences joined us in churches, historic venues and unique heritage sites across the Isle of Wight to celebrate the beauty, drama and humanity of early music. Whether you attended a single event or immersed yourself in the entire festival, we are enormously grateful for your support.

This year's highlights included:

Amidst the Shades – a sublime opening recital from internationally acclaimed soprano Ruby Hughes, joined by Sergio Bucheli (theorbo) and string players in music by Dowland and Purcell that captivated audiences from the very first note.

Havana Nights – Cubaroque's exhilarating journey through the sounds of Latin America transformed Cowes' Sugar Store into a vibrant celebration of rhythm, song and storytelling.

Monteverdi 1610 Vespers – our Festival Finale brought together I Fagiolini, the English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble, the Fairest Isle Festival Singers and an outstanding cast of soloists for a performance that many audience members described as one of the finest concerts they had ever experienced.

Alongside these headline events, audiences enjoyed intimate performances at Brading Roman Villa, the Dinosaur Isle, a hugely successful Come & Sing Monteverdi workshop led by Robert Hollingworth, and our growing education programme, including the Isle of Wight Recorder Extravaganza, which continues to introduce hundreds of young people to the joy of making music together.

Stay Connected

Planning is already underway for future festivals and Come & Sing and Come & Play workshops in 2027 and we'd love you to be part of the journey. So if you’d like to receive advance booking information, artist announcements, special events and behind-the-scenes updates, please join our mailing list.

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Friends of Fairest Isle Festival

If you enjoyed this year's festival and would like to help us continue bringing world-class artists, inspiring educational projects and unique musical experiences to the Isle of Wight, please consider supporting our work through membership or donation.

Find out more on our Support page.