The C&TH Guide To Hay Festival

Book lovers, the time is near: the free-to-visit Hay Festival will be returning to its dedicated site near Hay-on-Wye this spring – and there’s plenty to get excited about. Championing storytelling in all of its forms as well as big thinking and little threads of curiosity, here’s our comprehensive Hay Festival guide for 2026.

Hay Festival 2026: Line-Up, Dates & More

What Is The Hay Festival?

Since its humble beginnings in 1988, Wales’ Hay Festival has grown into one of the nation’s best known (and best loved) festivals. As CEO Julie Finch puts it, ‘It’s part Glastonbury, part Davos.’ Set to return from Thursday 21 to Sunday 31 May 2026, this flagship event is the linchpin in a global offering that reaches from Kenya to Mexico, Ukraine to Peru.

Originally taking place across a smattering of venues in Hay-on-Wye, since 2005 there has been a unified site just south of the the Town of Books – and this, Julie says, is what sets Hay apart. ‘Hay-on-Wye is a book-lovers paradise and our location feeds into the programme,’ the CEO says. ‘Half our events offer classic book talk, conversations and debate, while the other half offers music, comedy, performance and immersive experiences that make the most of our green field site. And the site is free to enter so you can come by and enjoy our pop-up sessions without spending a penny!’

The History Of Hay Festival

The first Hay Festival took place in 1988, founded by Peter Florence along with his parents, Norman and Rhoda, spanning various venues across the town of Hay – which had, by the 1970s, gained the nickname, ‘The Town of Books’. It is said that Peter funded the first festival with his winnings from a poker game. By 2005, Hay Festival had moved to a dedicated site just south of the town, where it still takes place every year.

© Mary Perez

Who Will Be At The Hay Festival In 2026?

And though it is approaching its 40th anniversary, the Hay Festival is far from tired. ‘This year’s line-up is one of our best yet,’ Julie promises, describing the roster of speakers as a gaggle of ‘writers, readers, thinkers and dreamers’.

‘Where else would you find Emma Thompson, Malala Yousafzai, Gisèle Pelicot, Mariana Mazzucato, Maggie O’Farrell, David Miliband, Dawn French, Tom Allen, Aled Jones, Bear Grylls, Emerald Fennell, Jamie Laing, and Prue Leith all in the same tent?’ Julie asks.

With more than 500 events on the bill, more key names to know in 2026 include: Miriam Margolyes, Simon Armitage, Ian McEwan, Mary Berry, Michael McIntyre, Sandi Toksvig and many, many more. See the full line-up here.

What Else?

Between talks, the CEO recommends a perusal through the on-site bookshop, which sells titles from the programme plus a curated selection of must-reads, with signings taking place across the 11 days to boot. Never visited before? ‘Leave space in your day to book something random and new in the moment,’ Julie suggests. ‘Often it’s these sessions – the debut novelist, the thrilling new poet, the just-added space scientist – that stick with you the most.’

© Chris Athanasiou

When & Where?

This year, Hay Festival takes place from 21–31 May. Most of the Hay Festival takes place at the dedicated festival site, Dairy Meadows, located between Hereford and Brecon, just off the A438 (postcode HR3 5PJ) – just a 10 minute walk from the centre of Hay.

Some events also take place in and around Hay-on-Wye, especially at St Mary’s Church where there will be performances all week, in collaboration with the likes of Hay Castle, Hay Writers’ Circle, Hay Community Choir, Hay Shantymen, Hay Music, Rural Media and Hereford College of Arts.

If you can’t make it in person, a selection of sessions will be streamed live.

Sam Hardwick

Is Hay Festival Free Entry?

The main Hay Festival site at Dairy Meadows is free to enter, and there are plenty of activities and free performances to keep you entertained.

How To Get Tickets

Tickets are not required to attend Hay Festival, however talks, debates and signings take place on specific stages, and you’ll need to buy a ticket to attend those.

If you’re keen, simply visit hayfestival.com, pick the event that piques your interest, and purchase your ticket.

Where To Stay Nearby

The Felin Fach Griffin was the first of Edmund and Charles Inkin’s three wonderfully unpretentious establishments. Set amid magnificent scenery between the Black Mountains and the Brecon Beacons, this old inn has become a sanctuary for food lovers, walkers and bookish visitors to Hay-on-Wye, with the Hay Festival site less than a 20 minute drive away. felinfachgriffin.co.uk