What’s new on the Mainland? Events and Adventures in 2026

A new year brings new reasons to explore the mainland. Whether it’s the UK’s biggest sporting events, new museums and hotels, or stunning new walking routes, 2026 is packed with reasons to cross the Solent.

Here we delve into landmark anniversaries, world-class festivals, film locations and foodie experiences across Britain. There’s never been a better time for Islanders to make the short hop with Wightlink for something extraordinary.

History meets high-tech this year, with immersive new museums and attractions opening across Britain.  Whether you make a quick trip to the capital or a longer journey north, these milestones promise a cultural start to your year.

In Wrexham, the Football Museum for Wales reopens in the home city of one of the world’s oldest professional football clubs – just as Welcome to Wrexham with Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds hits our screens again. In the south of Wales, Caerphilly Castle unveils a digital-first makeover, where interactive projections and state-of-the-art displays bring medieval history to life.

In Scotland, Inverness Castle Experience transforms a Highland landmark into a story-led attraction exploring Jacobite history through immersive technology. In County Durham, Kynren: The Storied Lands combines live action, stunts and light effects in an open-air theme park setting.

Closer to home in London, the long-awaited London Museum opens at Smithfield, with millions of artefacts on show in a revitalised Victorian market. In Shoreditch, the new Museum of Shakespeare transports visitors back to Elizabethan London above the remains of the Curtain Playhouse, where Romeo and Juliet was first performed. Elsewhere in the city, V&A East celebrates design and innovation at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, while the National Portrait Gallery hosts Lucian Freud: Drawing into Painting, offering fresh insight into the artist’s process.

Plan a packed week of history, art and inspiration or just a day trip to London; all of these cultural highlights start with a trip across the Solent with Wightlink.

As well as the 200th anniversary of Cowes Week in here on the Island in 2026, next year marks big birthdays for some of Britain’s most loved institutions.

Just across the water, Portsmouth will be celebrating 100 years since it was officially granted city status. Portsmouth100 is a year-long celebration that’ll include grand civic ceremonies, cultural showcases and creative installations. You’ll find events across the city that reflect the diversity and spirit of Portsmouth, from heritage and history to sport, environment, enterprise, and the arts.

Elsewhere the Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh turns 200, celebrating two centuries of creativity with special exhibitions and events. Meanwhile, London’s Southbank Centre celebrates its 75th anniversary with a packed programme of music, theatre and art – from Danny Boyle’s ‘You Are Here’ to a major new Anish Kapoor exhibition at the Hayward Gallery.

Sport takes centre stage this year and many events are within easy reach of our ports once you cross the Solent.

England and Wales host the Women’s T20 World Cup from 12 June to 5 July, bringing the world’s best cricketers to venues nationwide – including several at the Utilita Bowl in Hampshire.

The European Athletics Championships arrive in Birmingham in August – the first time they’ve been held in Britain – followed closely by the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Closer to home, the Six Nations returns to Twickenham, Cardiff and Murrayfield, while electric excitement fills London’s ExCeL Centre for the Formula E Final on 15–16 August 2026.

From grandstands to city streets, it’s the perfect year to sail across for world-class sport.

If you prefer adventures in the great outdoors, the mainland’s landscapes will take your breath away in 2026.

The final stretches of the King Charles III England Coast Path are set for completion in 2026, forming the world’s longest continuous coastal route. Explore windswept Yorkshire cliffs, or the south-west’s cinematic shores made famous by The Salt Path. And of course, you can finish off at home by following it all around the Isle of Wight.

The Walk Scilly Festival (10–19 April) celebrates the Isles of Scilly’s wild beauty with guided walks and local stories; a brilliant option for a longer break combined with a stay in Cornwall.

New hotels across the UK mean there are even more ways to relax in style.

In Manchester, The Medlock opens at the Etihad Campus with sleek rooms and panoramic penthouses – perfect for football fans or concert-goers heading to the city.

In Scotland, The Kithmore reopens in St Andrews after an elegant refurbishment, and in Bristol, Hotel Gotham brings Art Deco glamour to the city’s Guildhall.

Overlooking the beaches of north Wales, Ty Gwyn offers minimalist seaside luxury with a spa and terrace bar.

From the Scottish Highlands to Yorkshire moors, Britain is set to star on screen many times in 2026 so you can make it a year of visiting cinematic landscapes.

Fans can revisit Hogwarts at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, which continues to enchant ahead of the 2027 Harry Potter TV series. Outlander returns to Doune Castle and Fort William; Bridgerton Season 4 shines once more in Bath; and Emerald Fennell’s new Wuthering Heights adaptation brings the Yorkshire Dales to life.

The cobbled streets of Digbeth in Birmingham feature in Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, while Marvel’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day swings through Glasgow.

Even though the Island is one of the best places in the UK for events and festivals, the mainland’s 2026  calendar is bursting with creativity, culture and flavour too.

In January, Celtic Connections in Glasgow sets the tone with world-class folk and roots music. Spring brings mindfulness and yoga at Pembrokeshire’s Big Retreat (22–25 May) and Feel Good Festival (5–7 June) in Cumbria.

Summer sees Roundhay Festival in Leeds (4 July) headlined by Lewis Capaldi, alongside Pride celebrations in Nottingham, Brighton and Birmingham. For foodies, there’s the Abergavenny Food Festival in September and Feis Ile whisky festival on Islay in May – both perfect reasons to take a scenic mainland trip.

New distilleries, restaurants and experiences are making waves on the mainland.

In Scotland, Eden Mill and the Isle of Barra Distillery welcome visitors for whisky and gin tastings, while the Spirit of Speyside Festival (29 April–4 May) offers masterclasses and tours.

In England, film director Guy Ritchie’s Rosemaund Farm in Herefordshire opens with whisky tastings and a Wild Kitchen dining experience, while Northumberland’s new Freyja restaurant brings Scandi-inspired dining to the countryside.

THE PIG at Groombridge in Tunbridge Wells serves up seasonal, farm-to-table menus making it a perfect gourmet stop just a couple of hours from Portsmouth.

With major events, museum openings, foodie festivals and spectacular scenery all within easy reach, 2026 is shaping up to be a standout year for mainland adventures. Whether it’s a weekend of sport, a short cultural escape, or a new scenic trail to explore, it’s all waiting just across the Solent.

Start planning your journey and make 2026 the year of new experiences.