Festivals & Shows
WALES is packed with year‑round festivals celebrating music, arts, ideas, film, comedy and culture. Dates shift annually – always check with official sites for the latest.
Flagship Welsh Culture
National Eisteddfod of Wales (Eisteddfod Genedlaethol) — A travelling celebration of Welsh language and culture with competitions, pavilions, music and literature – Europe’s largest festival of its kind. Early August; location rotates annually.
Urdd National Eisteddfod — Youth‑focused Eisteddfod showcasing young performers and creators from across Wales. Late May half‑term; location rotates.
Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod (Denbighshire) — World choirs, dance and global music by day and headline concerts by night. July; Llangollen.
Music & Arts
Green Man (Glanusk Estate, Bannau Brycheiniog) — Independent music, arts & science across a breathtaking site. Mid–late August.
Sŵn (Cardiff) — Award‑winning multi‑venue new‑music weekender. October.
FOCUS Wales (Wrexham) — International showcase festival with 200+ artists and industry conference. May.
Brecon Jazz (Powys) — Historic town‑wide jazz festival. August.
Gottwood (Anglesey) — Boutique electronic/left‑field in woodland on the Carreglwyd Estate. Early summer; check cycle.
Between the Trees (Merthyr Mawr, Bridgend) — Nature‑themed indie/folk in coastal woodland with science & storytelling. Late August.
Llais (Cardiff) — Festival of the voice curated by Wales Millennium Centre. Autumn.
In It Together (Margam) / Inside Out (Cardiff) — Large‑scale contemporary music festivals. Late spring / late summer.
Tafwyl (Cardiff) — Free Welsh‑language arts & music celebration. Summer.
Sesiwn Fawr (Dolgellau) — Much‑loved folk/world festival filling the streets. July.
Ideas, Books & Conversation
Hay Festival (Hay‑on‑Wye) — World‑famous literature and ideas. Late May–early June.
HowTheLightGetsIn (Hay‑on‑Wye) — The world’s largest philosophy & music festival. Late May bank holiday.
The Laugharne Weekend (Carmarthenshire) — Intimate lit‑meets‑music in Dylan Thomas’s seaside town. Spring.
Comedy
Machynlleth Comedy Festival (Powys) — Alternative comedy across tiny venues in the Dyfi Valley. Early May bank holiday.
Film & Screen
Iris Prize (Cardiff) — One of the world’s leading LGBTQ+ film festivals with major short‑film awards. October.
Abertoir: The International Horror Festival of Wales (Aberystwyth) — Premieres, guest talks and cult classics. November.
Cardiff Animation Festival (Chapter, Cardiff) — BAFTA‑qualifying celebration of animation with screenings and workshops. Spring (biennial cycle; see below).
Wellbeing & Lifestyle
The Big Retreat (Lawrenny, Pembrokeshire) — A feel‑good blend of wellbeing, adventure and live music on the Cleddau estuary. Late May/early June.
Love Trails (Gower, Swansea) — Guided trail runs by day, live music & DJs by night; the original running‑and‑music festival. July.
Themed & Niche Gems
Porthcawl Elvis Festival (Bridgend) — Europe’s largest Elvis gathering takes over the seaside town. September.
Pride Cymru (Cardiff) — Wales’s biggest LGBTQ+ celebration with parade and stages. Summer.
Man v Horse (Llanwrtyd Wells) — Iconic 22‑mile human‑vs‑horse race. June.
World Bog Snorkelling Championships (Llanwrtyd Wells) — Joyfully eccentric world title in a peat bog. Late August.
Wales Airshow (Swansea Bay) — Free aerial spectacular over the bay. Early July.
Major National Events
Royal Welsh Show (Llanelwedd, Powys) — One of Europe’s largest agricultural shows with arenas, crafts, displays and livestock. Four days in July.
Royal Welsh Spring Festival / Smallholding & Countryside Festival (Llanelwedd) —Rural life weekender. May.
Royal Welsh Winter Fair (Llanelwedd) — Prime stock show and Christmas shopping. Late November.
Biennials & Alternating
BBC Cardiff Singer of the World (Cardiff) — Prestigious opera competition bringing global voices to Wales. Biennial; usually early summer.
Artes Mundi (Cardiff & Wales‑wide) — Major contemporary art exhibition and prize across multiple venues. Biennial; autumn–winter into spring.
International Ceramics Festival (Aberystwyth) — Demos, kiln firings and talks at Aberystwyth Arts Centre. Biennial; late June/early July.
Cardiff Animation Festival (Cardiff) — Full festival on a biennial cycle with year‑round events. Biennial; spring.
Ffoto Cymru – Wales International Festival of Photography (various) — Wales‑wide photography festival. Biennial; autumn.
Regional Index
North Wales: Llangollen International Eisteddfod • FOCUS Wales (Wrexham) • Gottwood (Anglesey) • Sesiwn Fawr (Dolgellau)
Mid Wales: Royal Welsh events (Llanelwedd) • Machynlleth Comedy • Brecon Jazz • Green Man (near Crickhowell) • Hay Festival
South Wales: Sŵn • Llais • Inside Out • Tafwyl • Pride Cymru • Porthcawl Elvis • Wales Airshow (Swansea)
West Wales: The Big Retreat (Pembrokeshire) • Abertoir & International Ceramics Festival (Aberystwyth) • Love Trails (Gower)
Practical Tips
- Seasonality: Spring = literature/comedy; Summer = big outdoor music & Eisteddfodau; Autumn = city multi‑venue & film; Winter = quieter, mostly indoor.
- Language: Expect Welsh and English – great for learning a few Cymraeg phrases.
- Tickets & travel: Town‑based festivals are often multi‑venue; book accommodation early and check rail/bus links.
- Sustainability: Use public transport where possible, make use of reusable bottles/cups and camp responsibly.