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Tynwald Day is the Manx National Day traditionally held on 5 July. The ceremony goes back 1,000 years to the time when the Vikings settled on the Isle of Man. This makes the Tynwald the longest unbroken Parliament in the World.
What Happens on Tynwald Day?
The Isle of Man festival starts with a religious ceremony in the Royal Chapel in St John’s. Following this, members of the Tynwald Parliament walk in a procession to Tynwald Hill, which is one of the traditional open-air sites of the original Viking Parliament.
The Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man presides over the ceremony, which is conducted both in Manx, the language of the Isle of Man, and English. Sir John Lorimer is the current Lieutenant Governor, representing King Charles III.
Members then return to At John’s Chapel for a sitting of the Tynwald.
If you wish to watch the ceremony there is a grandstand to make things more comfortable.
How to Get There
You can get to the ceremony via the local Isle of Man bus service. Just ask the driver to get off at the St John’s stop. Details are at: https://www.iombusandrail.im/.
Tynwald Day 2023
Did You Know?
Not only is the Tynwald the longest unbroken Parliament in the world, but also the Isle of Man was the first nation to give women the vote, in 1881 through the House of Keys’ Election Act. New Zealand gave women the vote in 1893. The Isle of Man is not a sovereign nation, but a Crown Dependency under King Charles III.
When Is Tynwald Day 2024?
The festival is held on 5 July, unless this date occurs on a weekend. In which case it is held on the following Monday. In 2024, it will be held on 5 July.
Where Is Tynwald Day Isle of Man?
A service is held in the Royal Chapel St John’s, followed by a procession to Tynwald Hall. To get into the mood read the poem Tynwald Day by Michael Manning, the 8th Manx Bard.
Other Festivals on the Isle of Man
Renowned for the Isle of Man TT, the nation has a number of festivals throughout the year, including Hop Tu Naa. Read our round-up of 5 Isle of Man Festivals for further information.
Things To Do on the Isle of Man
For more inspiration on what to do on the Isle of Man, go to the official Visit Isle of Man website. This also has details of Isle of Man accommodation.
More information
For any further information on the Isle of Man festival, please click here.
All photos provided by Visit Isle of Man.
