The 2026 🐝 IWBKA Program of Events is as follows. Please check back for futher details of events being released as the season progresses:

🐝 January 8th IWBKA Winter Cluster, 10.00am, Quarr Abbey Tea Room. All welcome.

🐝 January 17th IWBKA Beginner's Beekeeping Theory Course (1 day).

🐝 January 31st IWBKA Annual Dinner 2026 19:00-22:00 The Blacksmiths, Newport, PO30 5SS Booking & pre-order required by 30th January 2026

February 21st The Beekeeping Show 2026 at The Telford International Center, TF3 4JH.

🐝 February 28th IWBKA Annual Seminar 2026 at Arreton Community Hall, PO30 5ET. 09:30-16:00, £10 entry fee, open to non-members, refreshments & lunch provided.

February 28th West Sussex Beekeepers' Annual Convention 2026 at Lodge Hill, Pulborough, West Sussex RH20 1LZ. Bookings via the WSBKA

March 1st   Hampshire Beekeepers Association Honey Bee Health & Beekeeper Education Day at Sparsholt College, near Winchester 09:00-16:00 £15 Bookings here

🐝 March 7th IWBKA Beginner's Beekeeping Theory Course (1 day).

🐝 April 11th IWBKA Annual Auction 2026 at Quarr Abbey Teaching Apiary, PO33 4ES Setup:9:00,Viewing:12:00, Auction:13:00

April 17-19th BBKA Spring Convention 2026 at Harper Adams University, Shropshire, TF10 8NB. Bookings via the BBKA.

🐝 May 9th IWBKA Teaching Apiary Meeting 10:30-12:30 at Quarr Abbey Teaching Apiary, PO33 4ES (Booking required)

🐝 May TBA Members' Apiary Visit details to follow

🐝 May 16th IWBKA Annual Pizza & Mead Tasting 2026 near Whitwell, all welcome.

🐝 June 6th IWBKA Teaching Apiary Meeting 10:30-12:30 at Quarr Abbey Teaching Apiary, PO33 4ES (Booking required)

🐝 June 13th Members' Apiary Visit (Guy Mattinson) details to follow

🐝 June 27th Candle Making Workshop (Christine McClellan & Guy Mattinson) Arreton Community Hall, PO30 5ET details to follow

🐝 July 4th IWBKA Teaching Apiary Meeting 10:30-12:30 at Quarr Abbey Teaching Apiary, PO33 4ES (Booking required)

July 11-12th The Royal IoW County Show 2026  10:00-17:00, County Showground, Northwood, PO30 5TP

🐝 July 19th Members Apiary Visit (Mary Case) details to follow

August 1st ???TBC   IWBKA Teaching Apiary Meeting 10:30-12:30 at Quarr Abbey Teaching Apiary, PO33 4ES (Booking required)

August 1st-2nd   The Chale Show 10:00-17:00 Chale Recreation Ground, PO38 2JE

October 22-24th   National Honey Show 2026 at Sandown Park, Esher, Surrey, UK.

🐝 November 21st   IWBKA Honey Show 2026 14:00-16:45 Cowes Community Club, PO31 7NP. Open to non-members.

🐝 November 28th IWBKA Annual General Meeting 2026 13:00 Arreton Community Hall, PO30 5ET. Refreshments provided

Please note the following :

IWBKA TEACHING APIARY at Quarr Abbey. The bee manipulations held during the year at the Teaching Apiary will be dependent on the weather and the current situation of the bee colonies at the time of the apiary meeting.
During the year it is anticipated the subjects covered will include: shook swarming, splitting colonies, queen marking and bee health monitoring.
The subjects of each meeting will be publicised in the IWBKA website and IWBKA Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/2125993507621711/), as well as in the periodical news updates.
MEMBERS' APIARY VISITS. In order to assist the Beekeepers hosting private apiary meetings to ease any parking issues please notify them that you will be attending. Details will be in the IWBKA website and IWBKA Facebook page, as well as in the monthly news updates.

ALL APIARY VISITS - ETIQUETTE

SAFETY. The correct footwear must be worn, e.g. boots that cover the ankles.
ALLERGIES. If you need to carry an EpiPen, please always bring it with you to apiary meetings and always inform the beekeeper in charge.
BEEKEEPING HYGIENE Kindly observe basic bee-keeping hygiene avoid transmitting disease during visits, by ensuring that:
Bee suits are cleaned both before and after apiary visits.
If bees or frames are to be handled, clean disposable gloves must be worn. If leather gloves are worn, please do not handle bees, frames or equipment. However disposable gloves may be worn over leather gloves
Tools must be washed and disinfected before and after use at each apiary. Please check with the apiary beekeeper to ensure personal hive tools may be used at their site.
Please do not be offended if the beekeeper in charge of the meeting asks you not to participate if you fail to observe these requirements.

2025 IWBKA PROGRAM OF EVENTS

The PDF version of the programme can be found and downloaded from the Members' area or by clicking here.