Bestival was founded in 2004 by English DJ and record producer Rob da Bank and his wife Josie. His company Sunday Best is primarily a record label, but it also stages club nights and music festivals, including Bestival and its sister festival Camp Bestival.
The first Bestival was held at Robin Hill Country Park on the Isle of Wight. The Isle of Wight was chosen for several reasons, primarily due to its natural beauty and the fact that it holds more carnivals than any other part of the UK. However, in 2017 the festival moved to the Lulworth Estate in Dorset, which also hosts Camp Bestival.
The inaugural event attracted about 10,000 music lovers. Today, Bestival has an annual attendance of over 55,000, drawing visitors from all over the UK and abroad. Over the years, it has won several UK Festival Awards, including Best Medium-Sized Festival, Best Major Festival, Best Innovation, and Fan’s Favorite.
Bestival is a multi-genre music festival whose organizers take pride in it eclectic line-up. It encompasses various genres and styles and welcomes notable performers from around the world. Past headliners have included The Chemical Brothers, Duran Duran, Missy Elliott, Outkast, Fatboy Slim, Elton John, Snoop Dogg, Florence and the Machine, Stevie Wonder, The Cure, Björk, The Prodigy, Massive Attack, My Bloody Valentine, Amy Winehouse, Beastie Boys, and others.
Concerts take place on several open-air stages, including The Castle Stage, The Box, Temple, Bollywood, Reggae Roots, HMS Festival, Invaders of the Future, The Frozen Mole, Stacey’s, Club Dada, Caravanserai, and Ambient Forest. Stages and performance venues might change from year to year.
Along with concerts, Bestival features plenty of events, activities and attractions for attendees of all ages. The festival site is divided into several areas that offer various experiences. Bestival is known for piloting innovative and sometimes plain odd ideas, hosting fancy dress themed days and supporting environmental and social causes.
Photo: Caitlin Mogridge
