IT was one of the best parties of the summer- and now the countdown begins for the next Isle of Wight Festival.

Organisers have announced the 2016 event will take place from June 9 -12, and early bird tickets are on sale for a discount until the end of September.

This year’s festival saw more than 50,000 revellers enjoy sets from massive names including Fleetwood Mac, The Prodigy, Blur and the Black Keys.

And it also marked the 45th anniversary of Jimi Hendrix’s final UK performance at the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival, with a world record attempt at the most people wearing the same mask in the same place at the same time.

For full details and tickets for the 2016 festival, visit isleofwightfestival.com.