Southsea's Victorious Festival: Music, Fun, and Seaside Vibes Await!

Victorious Festival is making its return to Southsea Common in Portsmouth this weekend, drawing thousands of music fans from all over. The festival will run from Friday to Sunday, with gates opening each day at 11 in the morning and closing at 11 at night. The festival site will be closed on Thursday so organizers can finish setting everything up. Each day, up to 80,000 people are expected to attend, so it will be very busy. If you plan to go, remember that you must enter before 8 in the evening, and you cannot come back in if you leave after that time.

While the festival is happening, most of the seafront will still be open to the public. Attractions like South Parade Pier, The Pyramids, Exploria, Blue Reef Aquarium, Southsea Beach Cafe, and Clarence Pier will remain open. However, Southsea Castle, The D-Day Story, and Southsea Splashpark will be closed from Thursday until Monday, August 31. Veterans who want to visit The D-Day Story can make special arrangements.

The festival has a fantastic lineup this year. Richard Ashcroft will headline on Friday night, The Black Keys will take the stage on Saturday, and Kasabian will close out the festival on Sunday. Other acts include Scissor Sisters, Faithless, Bastille, Nile Rogers and CHIC, The Streets, Pixie Lott, Basement Jaxx, Jessie J, The Vaccines, Kate Nash, and Kelis. The Southsea Common Bandstand will offer beautiful views of the Solent and host performances, including the 100th band to play there in 2026. Besides music, there will be a roller disco, a skate park show, a kids stage, and professional wrestling, making it a fun event for all ages.

Getting to the festival is easy if you plan ahead. Walking, cycling, or using public transport is recommended. Buses will run from the Hard Interchange to Clarence Pier, and all three train stations are within walking distance of the festival site. If you are driving, there is no parking at the festival itself. Instead, you must pre-book a spot at Lakeside Car Park and take a shuttle bus to the festival. Ferry services are available from the Isle of Wight, Gosport, and Hayling, with the hovercraft from Ryde being the closest crossing. All ferry tickets must be booked in advance. To help everyone leave safely, some roads near Southsea Common will be closed to vehicles between 10:30 at night and just before midnight each night. Clarence Esplanade will reopen at 8 in the morning on Bank Holiday Monday, and Avenue De Caen will open later in the week.

The weather forecast for the festival weekend predicts breezy conditions with light rain on Friday and Saturday. Sunday may bring thundery showers and a fresh breeze, with temperatures in the low 20s. It is important to check the latest weather updates and take steps to stay safe, such as bringing rain gear and staying hydrated.

There are a few important rules to remember. All bars and food stalls will only accept card payments, so do not bring cash. Some items are not allowed at the festival, including chairs, large umbrellas, flags with poles, drones, and laser pens. You can only bring an empty water bottle and food for babies, but no glass containers are allowed. For more information, check the festival website or contact the organizers. Victorious Festival promises a weekend full of music, fun, and excitement for everyone attending.