Hay Festival Winter Weekend 2021
Welcome to the Hay Festival Winter Weekend 2021 programme.
You will need to purchase tickets whether you attend in person or watch online.
If you wish to attend in person, please see the individual listings below for ticket prices.
If you intend to watch online, the best value option is the Online Festival Pass for £25, which will allow you to watch all streamed events either live or on replay for the duration of the Festival. Individual online event tickets cost £5 each. Please note that the Online Festival Pass is for viewing events online only.
There are also five Winter Warmer events, free for everyone to watch and enjoy online featuring Matt Haig, Siri Hustvedt, Bill McKibben, Steven Pinker, and the 2021 Booker Prize winner, Damon Galgut.
Anyone attending in person must adhere to current Welsh Government Covid-19 guidelines and the entry requirements of the Festival, which can be found here.
Event HD1
Lauren Child talks to Gemma Cairney
Clarice Bean: Think Like an Elf
Baillie Gifford Stage
From Charlie and Lola and Ruby Redfort to Hubert Horatio, Child has created some of the best known characters in children’s books today. This year, Clarice Bean, the irrepressible star of books that have sold more than six million copies worldwide, returns in a brand new tale. The author discusses her themes and inspiration with radio and TV presenter Gemma Cairney.
In partnership with The Reading Agency's Winter Mini Challenge
Event HD2
Clare Balding
Fall Off, Get Back On, Keep Going: 10 Ways to Be at the top of Your Game!
Llwyfan Cymru – Wales Stage
The TV presenter, sportswoman and author presents her new book for children: a handbook about resilience, with funny and reassuring personal insights into what it means to make mistakes and be unafraid of failure.
Sponsored by Shepherds Ice Cream
Event HD3
Yuval Zommer
The Lights That Dance in the Night
Baillie Gifford Stage
During long, dark winters, the Northern Lights dazzle in the Arctic skies. In this festive gift of a picture book, the author imagines their fleeting journey from Space to Earth and how they weave a special magic for the animals and people living in the frozen North. A talk will be followed by an illustration session, where you can create your own Arctic characters with Zommer’s help. Children can then take their artwork home.
There are also five Winter Warmer events, free for everyone to watch and enjoy online featuring Matt Haig, Siri Hustvedt, Bill McKibben, Steven Pinker, and the 2021 Booker Prize winner, Damon Galgut.