Hay Festival Winter Weekend 2026 Announces Festive Programme and Outreach Initiatives

The Hay Festival Global has officially unveiled the programme for its upcoming Winter Weekend, scheduled to take place from November 26 to 29, 2026. This annual gathering in Hay-on-Wye, Wales, invites writers, artists, and thinkers to explore new ideas as the season changes. The event serves as a precursor to the organization's 40th anniversary celebrations next year. A highlight of the festival will be the traditional Christmas lights switch-on, which is set for Friday, November 27. Radio 1 DJ Greg James and author Chris Smith will lead the ceremony. The pair will also participate in a festival event to discuss their new children's book, Secret Santa. The festival lineup features a wide array of contributors from various creative fields. Confirmed guests include novelist Kate Mosse, historian David Olusoga, and singer-songwriter David Gray. Poets Simon Armitage, Owen Sheers, and Alex Wharton are also scheduled to perform throughout the weekend. Education remains a central pillar of the festival's mission this year. Organizers have announced a dedicated programme for primary school pupils from state schools in Wales. These students will receive free access to festival events over two days as part of a broader outreach project. Julie Finch, the CEO of Hay Festival Global, emphasized the importance of the event as a space for reflection. She noted that the changing seasons provide a natural opportunity for the public to pause and engage with new perspectives. The festival aims to maintain its impact as a charitable organization while fostering community connections. In addition to author talks, the weekend will host a variety of interactive sessions. Comedians Lucy Porter and Kiri Pritchard-McLean are scheduled to present a workshop titled Get Sh*t Done. Other discussions will cover topics ranging from faith and history to seasonal traditions. The festival will also continue its tradition of recognizing literary excellence through public participation. Attendees and the wider public are invited to nominate titles for the Hay Festival Book of the Year award. This honor follows previous winners such as Barbara Kingsolver and Bonnie Garmus. Accessibility and inclusivity are key themes for the 2026 edition. The festival organizers have worked to ensure that the event remains welcoming to a diverse audience. This includes specific outreach efforts in areas like Merthyr Tydfil to support local students. Beyond the main stage events, the festival will feature smaller, intimate conversations. These sessions are designed to encourage deeper dialogue between authors and their readers. The organizers hope these interactions will provide a meaningful experience for all participants. Tickets for the Winter Weekend are currently available through the official festival website. The event is expected to draw visitors from across the region to the historic town of Hay-on-Wye. Organizers encourage early booking to secure spots for the most popular sessions. As the festival approaches its fourth decade, the Winter Weekend highlights the organization's ongoing commitment to literature and public discourse. By blending festive celebrations with serious intellectual inquiry, the event continues to serve as a significant cultural fixture. The upcoming weekend marks a milestone in the festival's long-standing history of promoting the written word.