What's on
There's lots to do on the island, so please revisit these listings as new events are added.
April 2025
Wednesday, 16 April
Beetle drive to raise money for Islay RNLI. Support out lifeboat and have some fun from 7pm at the Gaelic Centre, Bowmore.
Good Friday, 18 April
Community Open Afternoon with a range of family activities at Islay Nature Centre, Port Charlotte.
Friday, 18 April and Saturday, 19 April
Live music with Raise the Roof, 9pm to midnight at Bowmore Hotel, Jamieson Street.
Saturday, 19 April
Afternoon tea to raise money for the Rhinns Lighthouse Festival at Rhinns Hall, Portnahaven 3pm-5pm. (Price £6, £3 for kids).
Friday, 25 April-Sunday, 27 April
Machrie Four-Ball Championship at Another Place, The Machrie, Islay. A great three-day pairs event to start the golfing season, this competitive yet sociable 36-hole event gives you and your partner three memorable rounds on the championship links – where teamwork, strategy and good golf go hand in hand. Enter online here.
May 2025
Wednesdays and Sundays
Live music at Port Charlotte Hotel: traditional musicians in the bar. Music starts around 8pm.
Friday, 16 May-Sunday, 18 May
Yoga and wellbeing break: a three-day yoga and wellbeing break led by expert instructor Laurie Bell, taking place at Another Place, The Machrie. Begin each day with invigorating Atlantic swims and mindful flows, moving through energising workshops and calming practices beside the dunes. More information here.
Saturday, 14 May
Jura Fell Race: seven summits, 2,370m of climbing, 28km. 10.30am start.
FÈIS ÌLE 2025
See the Fèis Ìle website for full details, including links and information on tickets and other events beyond the distillery open days.
Friday, 23 May
FÈIS ÌLE OPENING EVENING – 5pm-10pm, free to all. Join the crowds in Port Ellen to watch the parade, enjoy the music and much more!
The first fling – waiting list only.
Peatzeria timeless tasting – see website for tickets and details.
Fèis Ìle bowling competition – join the locals at Bridgend Bowling club, 1.45pm start. £5 entry.
Saturday, 24 May
Lagavulin – 11am-6pm, free general entry.
Islay Rum – 10am-8pm, free general entry.
Islay Whisky Vault – 12pm-6pm, ticketed event.
Honky Tonk and High Spirits – country music, drams and more at the Gaelic Centre, Bowmore. See website for details and tickets.
Peatzeria timeless tasting – see website for tickets and info.
Sunday, 25 May
Bruichladdich – 1pm-6.45pm, ticketed event
Monday, 26 May
Caol Ila – 11am-6pm, free general entry. Shuttle bus available.
The Whisky Nosing – Legendary and Infamous Fèis Ìle whisky nosing competition hosted by the inimitable David Brodie! Can you guess the local core single malts by smell alone? There’s always a mystery malt to further confuse and tantalise your senses! Local band North of the Bridge playing traditional songs, ceilidh tunes and modern classics. Doors open 7pm, band at 9pm Ramsay Hall, Port Ellen.Ticketed event.
Illicit Distillers Experience – 2pm. See website for tickets and details. Experience the true spirit of Islay’s illicit distilling history with this unique whisky adventure on the edge. Participate actively in the process of preparing and producing illicit spirit saturated in Islay insights and oral history. Let’s journey to the origin of Islay's whisky heritage and discover where it began.
Journey of Taste Walk with Mac-Talla – See website for tickets and more details. Led by renowned local guide Dougie MacTaggart and Mac-Talla Brand Ambassador Thomas Cuthbert, this immersive walk invites you to explore Islay’s diverse terrain while savouring five carefully chosen drams of Mac-Talla Islay Single Malts, including our exclusive 2025 Friends of the Fèis Limited Edition specially selected to reflect the very landscapes beneath your feet.
Big Peat X Another Place, The Machrie Hotel. 2pm session and 6pm session. Tickets on the website. Join Dougal Barr, Douglas Laing’s Global Brand Ambassador at Another Place, The Machrie (Islay) as he guides you through an exclusive whisky tasting and pairing dinner during the annual Fèis Ìle. Five hand-selected whiskies from Big Peat and Douglas Laing have been chosen and each have been expertly paired with locally inspired dishes prepared by the team at The Machrie.
Tuesday, 27 May
Laphroaig – 10am-5pm (last entry 4.30pm), free general entry.
Port Ellen – 12pm-6pm, free general entry.
The Indie Whisky Fèis – At Ramsay Hall, Port Ellen. Ticketed event, various times – morning session, afternoon session and evening session. Join us for the Indie Whisky Fèis Ìle to meet a wide-ranging group of independent bottlers showcasing some of the finest whiskies from Islay, Jura and beyond. There promises to be new releases exclusively available from the event as well as a wide range of exciting whiskies to try.
A record number of confirmed independent bottlers are appearing this year, including: Douglas Laing, Dram Mor, Dramfool, Hunter Laing, Kilninian, Lady of the Glen, Little Brown Dog, Mac-Talla, Scotch Malt Whisky Society, Uncharted Whisky, Vintage Malt Whisky Company, W.D. O'Connell, Woodrow’s of Edinburgh.
The Illicit Distillers Experience - Experience the true spirit of Islay’s illicit distilling history with this unique whisky adventure on the edge. Participate actively in the process of preparing and producing illicit spirit saturated in Islay insights and oral history. Let’s journey to the origin of Islay's whisky heritage and discover where it began. Tickets and more info online.
Wednesday, 28 May
Bowmore – 11am-5pm, free general entry.
Ardnahoe – 12pm-5pm, free general entry (shuttle bus available).
The illicit distillers experience – see Tuesday, 27 May for details. Tickets and more details on the website.
Mairi McGillivray at Fèis Ìle – A night with three amazing Scottish artists! Abigail Pryde and Isla Callister join Islay’s Mairi McGillivray. Includes food. Sponsored by Big Peat.
Robin Laing: A Whisky Flavoured Concert – Whisky-flavoured concert hosted by Robin Laing. Join the Whisky Bard for songs and stories! Price includes a pie and a dram!
Pizza Paired Pours with Mac-Talla – From Italy to Islay: an afternoon of pizza and whisky pairings at Peatzeria.
Thursday, 29 May
Kilchoman – 10am-4.30pm, free general entry.
The Clootie Dumpling Ceilidh – A Clootie Dumping Ceilidh! Family friendly and infused with Scottish Dance traditions, hosted by The Ella Edgar Highland Dancers. Headlined by Niall Kirkpatrick and overflowing with local talent. Never tried Clootie Dumpling? This is your chance to taste the best in Scotland! Under-16 free admittance and no ticket required.
Licensed event with bar. All funds raised from the event go back to Ella Edgar’s Highland Dancers to help with their costs throughout the year. At Ramsay Hall, Port Ellen.
Friday, 30 May
Bunnahabhain – 10am-5pm, free general entry. Shuttle bus available.
Jura – 10am-6pm. Continuous shuttle from Feolin to Jura Distillery.
Saturday, 31 May
Ardbeg – 10am-5pm. Tickets £10.
THE FINAL FLING – see the Fèis Ìle website for details of this final concert.
Fèis Ìle Bowling Competition – Join the locals for a Lawn Green Bowls Competition! Start 1.45pm at Port Ellen Bowling Green. Entry £5.
June 2025
Sunday, 1 June
Fèis Ìle Bowling Competition – Join the locals for a Lawn Green Bowls Competition! Start 1.45pm at Port Ellen Bowling Green. Entry £5.
Friday, 27 June-Sunday, 29 June
The Machrie Open at Another Place, The Machrie – An individual three-day event to put your game to the test on our championship links at the height of the Hebridean summer, when the course is in peak condition and the days at their longest. Our flagship Open competition is a true 36-hole challenge – perfect for those chasing a low score as well as enthusiasts just looking for a great weekend of golf in stunning surroundings. Enter online here.
July 2025
Sunday, 6 July-Friday, 11 July
Cantilena Festival – Enjoy a week of world-class music on Islay. Every July the beautiful Hebridean island of Islay is home to Cantilena’s professional musicians and students of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland who together bring their unique sound of chamber music to residents and visitors, with many of the concerts being held in the famous Islay Malt Whisky distilleries. Tickets on sale from June. Find out more here.
August 2025
Wednesday, 6 August
Islay, Jura and Colonsay Agricultural Show. This year sees the 177th annual show – a not-to-be-missed event on the islands. See cattle, horses, sheep and dogs in the main judging ring. With handicrafts and hens, vegetables and home baking also coming under the judges’ keen eyes there is plenty to see, and plenty of silverware up for grabs. Around the main tents, showground and horse jumping ring you’ll find a host of entertainment from children’s rides and stalls, to food and drink, local groups and organisations, vintage vehicles and tractors and much more. It all takes place at the showground near Whin Park, Bridgend, Islay. Tickets can be bought on the day and there will be parking on the showground fields. Learn more here.
Friday, 8 August-Sunday 10 August
Rhinns Lighthouse Festival. A collaboration between the Rhinns Hall, The Friends of Portnahaven Church, Bun Othan Harbour Association and The Rhinns Playing Field to celebrate the bicentenary of Orsay Lighthouse, and the part it has played in the community over the past 200 years.
Opening with a traditional Ceilidh at the Rhinns Hall, the weekend of events to mark the Bicentenary of the Rhinns Lighthouse includes and Exhibition, Sports Gala, Storytelling & Song, Live Music at An Tigh Seinnse and a Street Party and Island trips from Bun Othan Coastal path.
Friday, 8 August: traditional Ceilidh
Saturday. 9 August: exhibition, sports Gala and Storytelling
Sunday, 10 August: Street Party and trips to Orsay
More information: see Rhinns Lighthouse Festival on Facebook and Instagram.
Thursday, 28 August-Sunday, 31 August
Islay Book Festival. Authors and events still to be announced, so keep an eye out on this site and on social media for updates. Or sign up to our newsletter to be the first to know!
September 2025
Friday, 19 September-Monday, 22 September
Islay Jazz Festival. Enjoy a range of jazz styles being performed in venues across the island. For more information visit the Islay Jazz Festival website.
October 2025
Friday, 3 October-Sunday, 5 October
Machrie Team Championship at Another Place, The Machrie, Islay. End the season in style and come together with your chosen team of four players on our championship links for a challenging and camaraderie-boosting, group golf competition with three rounds over three days. Enter online here.
Friday, 3 October-Monday 6 October
Mindfulness and meditation break. Learn and experience mindfulness practices that inspire everyday living, guided by meditation and mindfulness instructor Laurie Bell. Take three nights to concentrate on conscious living and integrated health amidst Islay’s inspiring landscape. Taking place at Another Place, The Machrie. More information here.
Friday, 10 October
Photography and wildlife break. Get to know Islay’s wildlife and landscape – as well as your camera – as your explore the mediums of landscape and wildlife photography, refining your composition, lighting and other technical skills. Led by Islay photographer Ben Shakespeare and wildlife expert and RSPB warden David Dinsley. More information here.
Ongoing
ACTIVITIES
Ceramic painting at Persabus Pottery. Come have a go at painting your very own ceramic piece. The pottery is open for pottery painting workshops Tuesday-Friday 12pm-4pm, Saturday 12pm-3pm. Explore your creativity with our pottery painting workshops, or why not book a space on one of our ‘Mindfulness and Art experiences’. Discover more at our website.
Swimming, gym and sauna, MacTaggart Leisure Centre. Features a 25m x 8.5m four-lane pool and gym overlooking Loch Indaal, fully equipped with range of cardio and resistance machines. Five-seater Eco sauna. See here for opening times and further details.
Museum of Islay Life – due to reopen May/June. Find out more about the history of the island and its inhabitants and explore its extensive collection of artifacts. The museum, which is in a former church in Port Charlotte, has just undergone refurbishment. Keep checking the website for updates.
Islay Nature Centre, Port Charlotte. Open every day 1pm-4pm. Come and find out more about Islay’s flora and fauna and meet some of the sea creatures that inhabit our seas.
RSPB. Visit the RSPB nature reserves at The Oa and Loch Gruinart. Come and search for Eagles, chough, Hen Harrier and more, and learn about the conservation work they are carrying out to protect this amazing wildlife on the notice boards or at the Loch Gruinart visitor centre. For more information visit The Oa Nature Reserve or Loch Gruinart Nature Reserve.
LOCAL PRODUCE & CRAFTS
Handmade Scottish Tablet. An Gleann is open for the new season. Come and visit for some home-grown preserves, a range of our own honey and beeswax gifts and, of course, lots of new season tablet! See the An Gleann website.
Made In Islay and Jura Arts and Crafts Market. Every Tuesday and Thursday (up to mid-September). A fine selection of arts and crafts made on Islay and Jura will be on sale at craft fairs on Islay. Talk to local artisans and take away a unique souvenir of your visit. Tuesdays at Bruichladdich Hall 11am-5pm, Thursdays at the Gaelic College, Bowmore 11am-4pm.
The Blue Letterbox. In the centre of Port Ellen, this sells artisan crafts and gifts from makers across the islands. See more here.
Windswept Farmshop, Port Charlotte. Sells a range of island produce and Scottish produce, including meat reared on the farm, ready meals, deli produce, preserves and pickles and a range of gifts and handicrafts including crocheted items made on the farm. Learn more.
Islay studios, Islay House Square. Photographic and art gallery and café. Open 10am-5pm to Easter Saturday, . Closed Easter Sunday and Monday. Open Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm until Christmas. More details here.
Port Wemyss Cake Cupboard. The cake cupboard at Burnside Lodge B&B is open for the summer season. Normal hours are Saturday and Sunday 10am-4pm. Call in for teas, coffees and incredible home-made cakes, or take some home to enjoy later or as you enjoy the path and admire the view!
MUSIC
Live traditional music. It all happens at the Port Charlotte Hotel, Port Charlotte, every Wednesday and Sunday night.
BOAT TRIPS
Islay Sea Adventures. Regular tours run until October 31. Wildlife Tours: Monday-Friday, 10am and 2pm, Saturdays at 10am. Seafood Tours: Fridays at 2pm: Fishing Tours: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10am and 2pm. Corryvreckan Tours: set days each month to correlate with the spring tides. Private charters are available any time. Discover more here.
Jura Boat Tours. From 5 May until 30 Sept. Wildlife tours run every day. Corryvreckan tours run on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday from Craighouse. Circumnavigate Jura runs of Wednesday from Craighouse and Monday & Friday from Port Askaig. Sunset Tours are available and will be advertised on social media; alternatively, call for information. Private charters are available April-Sept. Longer tours are passenger/weather-dependent but Jura Boat Tours will always try to reschedule and get you out on your trip. More details here.
CHURCHES
Visit our religious services page for information on individual churches, their history and service times. A brief round-up:
St Kieran’s Church, Port Charlotte.
Catholic services are held at the Episcopalian church (St Columba’s), Bridgend at 4pm on the first and third Sunday of every month. Special services at other times are available on the church notice board, outside the gate and posted on the community Facebook page.
Islay Baptist Church has these services: 10am every Sunday in Port Ellen (with Junior Church 4-16 year olds) and 6.30pm every Sunday in Bowmore.
St John’s Church, Port Ellen welcomes everyone to their services of worship held each Sunday at 11.30am.
Church of Scotland services are posted on the Islay and Jura Facebook page.
Services are held every week on Islay at:
10am: Round Church, Bowmore
10.30am: St. Kiaran’s Church (last Sunday alternates between Kilmeny and Portnahaven)
11.30am: St. John’s Church, Port Ellen
Everyone is always welcome.