Fèis Île – The Islay Festival of Music and Malt is one of the most important whisky festivals in the world, held every year on the Isle of Islay in Scotland. In 2026 the festival will celebrate its 40th anniversary.

Date – 2026

• 22 May – 31 May 2026
• duration: 10 days
• it always takes place in the last week of May

Where the festival takes place

• island: Isle of Islay
• region: Argyll and Bute, Scotland
• the island is home to many famous whisky distilleries (e.g. Laphroaig, Ardbeg, Lagavulin) The festival attracts thousands of whisky fans from around the world.

Festival programme 2026 (main distillery days)

Each day a different distillery hosts its Open Day.

Best festival days (most popular distilleries)

During the festival every distillery on the island hosts its own Open Day, but some days are much busier than others.

Most popular days

1. Ardbeg Distillery Day

• one of the biggest days of the festival
• concerts, BBQs and DJs
• releases of highly sought-after bottles
• up to 4,000–5,000 visitors

2. Laphroaig Distillery Day

• large whisky tastings
• events for Friends of Laphroaig members
• limited whiskies available only at the distillery

3. Lagavulin Distillery Day

• very prestigious tastings
• older vintage whiskies often appear

Quieter days (better for collectors)

Bunnahabhain Distillery Day

• great atmosphere
• fewer crowds
• wide range of tastings

Kilchoman Distillery Day

• smaller distillery
• more intimate atmosphere

What happens during the festival

During Fèis Île many different events take place.

Whisky

• whisky tastings
• releases of limited festival bottles
• masterclasses with experts
• distillery tours
• meetings with whisky producers

Culture and entertainment

• Scottish music concerts
• ceilidh (traditional Scottish dance parties)
• street parades
• lectures about the island's history
• walks around the island and nature tours
• food markets and local product fairs

Tickets

• You do not need a ticket to attend the festival itself – you simply come to the island.
• Tickets are only required for specific events and tastings.

Ticket sales 2026

• event details: around 20 March 2026
• ticket sales start: 28 March 2026

How to get there

Plane

• Glasgow → Islay (about 40 minutes)

Ferry

• port: Kennacraig → Port Ellen / Port Askaig on Islay

How many people attend

• around 10,000–15,000 visitors
• population of the island: only about 3,000 residents

Because of this, the island becomes completely full during the festival.

What is special about 2026

• 40th anniversary of the festival
• more special events and limited whiskies
• an additional festival day (a new second Sunday finale)

10 Most Legendary Bottles from the Fèis Île Festival

Some festival releases from Islay have become true collector icons. Many of them are now worth several to more than ten times their original release price.

Most sought-after bottles

Ardbeg Provenance 1974

• distillery: Ardbeg Distillery
• release year: 1997
• age: 24 years

Initial price: about £150

Current value: £10,000–£15,000

Reason:

• one of the first iconic Ardbeg bottles after the distillery was revived.

2 Ardbeg Supernova 2008 Committee Release

• extremely peaty whisky
• very limited number of bottles

Release price: about £120

Current value: £1,200–£2,000

3 Lagavulin 37 Year Old Feis Ile 2016

• distillery: Lagavulin Distillery Release price: about £3,500 Current value: £6,000–£9,000 One of the oldest official Lagavulin releases.

4

Bowmore 1985 Feis Ile Bottling

• distillery: Bowmore Distillery Release price: about £120 Current value: £2,000–£3,000

5

Laphroaig 30 Year Old Feis Ile 2008

• distillery: Laphroaig Distillery Release price: about £300 Current value: £2,500–£4,000

6 Port Ellen 32 Year Old Feis Ile 2018

• distillery: Port Ellen Distillery Release price: about £2,500 Current value: £7,000–£12,000 Port Ellen is a legendary closed distillery that has only recently been reopened.

7 Bruichladdich Black Art Feis Ile Edition

• distillery: Bruichladdich Distillery Release price: about £250 Current value: £900–£1,500

8 Kilchoman Single Cask Feis Ile 2012

• distillery: Kilchoman Distillery Release price: about £80 Current value: £200–£300

Bunnahabhain 40 Year Old Feis Ile 2003

• distillery: Bunnahabhain Distillery Release price: about £1,500 Current value: £3,000–£5,000

10

Caol Ila 22 Year Old Feis Ile 2019

• distillery: Caol Ila Distillery Release price: about £200 Current value: £1,000–£1,500

Bottles that will almost certainly appear in 2026

Ardbeg – special Ardbeg Day release

The distillery releases a limited whisky every year for the festival.

Typically:

• 8,000–15,000 bottles
• often cask strength
• starting price around £120–£180

This is usually the most hyped bottle of the festival.

Laphroaig – Cairdeas 2026

The best-known festival series.

Series: Laphroaig Cairdeas

Typical features:

• limited edition
• available at the festival and later globally
• price around £90–£120

BY APPOINTMENT TO HIS MAJESTY THE KING, DISTILLER AND SUPPLIER OF SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY, D. JOHNSTON & CO., (LAPHROAIG) ISLE OF ISLAY

LAPHROAIG®

(Pronounced “La-Froyg”)

ISLAY SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY

CÁIRDEAS

MADE FOR THE FRIENDS OF LAPHROAIG

FRENCH OAK

FLAVOUR PROFILE COFFEE • CHERRIES • SEA SALT

700 mL | A New Flavour Dimension | 52.8% ALC./VOL. (10% Z. Proof)

DISTILLED AND BOTTLED IN SCOTLAND D. JOHNSTON & CO., LAPHROAIG DISTILLERY, ISLE OF ISLAY.

Bruichladdich – experimental editions

The distillery often releases unusual versions such as:

• Octomore single cask
• Port Charlotte special cask
• Bruichladdich micro-provenance

Usually:

• 300–1,500 bottles

Lagavulin – older whisky releases

Lagavulin often releases:

• 12–20-year-old editions
• sometimes very old ones (25+ years)

Prices:

• £200–£1,500

Kilchoman – single cask

Typical festival release:

• single cask
• 200–300 bottles
• cask strength

These are among the most collectible bottles.

Very possible premieres

NEW First festival whisky from Port Ellen Distillery

The distillery was recently reopened and many people expect a special 40th anniversary festival edition.

When we will know the full list

Typical timeline:

• March–April – first announcements
• April – bottle details
• May – full list of releases.