Kite Festival: Portsmouth Set to Soar with Colour and Creativity This Weekend
The skies over Southsea Common are getting ready to burst into a riot of colour and motion as the 33rd Portsmouth International Kite Festival prepares to take off this weekend, 26–27 July 2025.
Running from 10am to 5pm both Saturday and Sunday, this much-loved UK event will showcase an awe-inspiring collection of kites in all imaginable shapes and sizes. Elite kite flyers from across the globe are set to gather in Portsmouth, bringing their unique skills and artistry to the South Coast skies.
Expect giant octopuses, intricate single-line designs, and choreographed stunt displays dancing to music. This year’s theme, “The Sea”, will bring a splash of maritime magic to the sky, including, potentially, an Octopile, a stunning simultaneous flight of octopus-shaped kites.
And it’s not just about what’s in the air.
Down on the ground, the energy will continue. Visitors can soak up live music at the ‘Live at the Bandstand’ stage, hop on fairground rides, and browse a buzzing array of food vendors and local craft traders.
Councillor Steve Pitt, Leader of Portsmouth City Council, said: “Our International Kite Festival is one of the best-loved events of the year. We bring in high-quality kite flyers who show off their tricks and skills, and there’s so much else to entertain families and people of all ages.”
The Portsmouth International Kite Festival, run by Portsmouth City Council, pulls in crowds of around 10,000 people each year. It’s a staple of the city’s summer calendar, and this year promises to be no different.
Festival organiser Gill Bloom added: “We are planning another wonderful festival with kite fliers from all parts of the U.K. and the world. We continue to thank Portsmouth City Council for their support.”
Due to ongoing sea defence works, organisers have made a few adjustments. The kite-flying area has been slightly reduced, with two main arenas instead of the usual three. But there’s an exciting new feature, a model balloon arena, offering something fresh for returning enthusiasts.
There’s more:
- Giant puppets by 432 Nomads
- A community arts installation from Seekers Creates
- Family-friendly workshops hosted by Aspex Portsmouth
Local support continues strong. Snows BMW & MINI Portsmouth will be showcasing their latest electric vehicles at the event.
It’s free to attend. Family-friendly. And full of surprises.
With the weather forecast looking fair, all signs point to a sky-high celebration in true Portsmouth style.
