Hay Festival
From 21st May until 31st May
About This Event
The world's leading festival of ideas is back!
Hay Festival returns 21–31 May 2026 in Hay-on-Wye, Wales, with more than 500 events over 11 days. Join us for conversation, music, comedy and more on the edge of the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park.
This year’s world-class line-up features Emma Thompson, Dawn French, Malala Yousafzai, Michael McIntyre, Fredrik Backman, Miriam Margolyes, Manic Street Preachers, Bear Grylls, Hugh Bonneville, Mary Berry, Aled Jones, Bernardine Evaristo, Ian McEwan, Maggie O'Farrell, Ocean Vuong, David Olusoga, Simon Schama, and hundreds more.
Enjoy family activities, late-night entertainment, and free pop-up performances across the site. Explore the Family Garden, Make & Take Tent, BBC Marquee, MUBI Cinema, bookshop, cafés and market stalls. The Festival is free to enter with events ticketed individually. Book your tickets at https://www.hayfestival.com/hay-on-wye/home
Event Images
Admission / Ticket Info:
The site is free to enter and all events are priced individually with ticketed event prices starting from £5.
Disabled Access:
Hay Festival is committed to removing barriers for all, regardless of disability. The Festival is located in a field but our site is comprised of hard under-cover boardwalks, allowing easy access to all of our venues.
Disabled Facilities:
We have disabled parking, accessible toilets and you can access all venues, food outlets, cafés, bar, bookshop and gift shop in a wheelchair. We offer Assistive Listening System (ALS) is available in our main venues. For more information visit https://www.hayfestival.com/hay-on-wye/accessibility
