Families

Are you ready to follow Mikey Please back into the woods, to discover more hungry goblins and bath-tubs of bogey broth? The BAFTA-award-winning and Oscar-nominated animation director and writer will conjure up brilliantly disgusting scenes from his new picture book The Cave Downwind of the Café, where owner Rene is in peril and unusual waiter Glumfoot must once again save the day…

Mikey was named overall winner of the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize and the Waterstones Children’s Book of the Year 2025 for his funny and immersive picture book The Café at the Edge of the Woods.

Join author and poet Mererid Hopwood and Theatr Cymru on a magical adventure at this interactive bilingual workshop. Inspired by Mererid’s Dosbarth Miss Prydderch book series and upcoming touring theatre production, children will enjoy an opportunity to build confidence and devise a magical story. An informal showing of the children’s work will be held at 11.45am. Led by Mererid Hopwood, Welsh author, poet and Archdruid, and Gwawr Pritchard – Theatr Cymru’s Participation Co-ordinator.

Ymunwch â’r awdur a’r bardd Mererid Hopwood a Theatr Cymru ar antur hudolus yn y gweithdy dwyieithog rhyngweithiol hwn. Wedi’i ysbrydoli gan y gyfres llyfrau Dosbarth Miss Prydderch gan Mererid a’r cynhyrchiad theatr sy’n teithio cyn hir, bydd plant yn mwynhau cyfle i feithrin hyder a dyfeisio stori hudolus. Bydd dangosiad anffurfiol o waith y plant yn digwydd am 11.45am. Arweinir gan Mererid Hopwood, awdur, bardd ac Archdderwydd, a Gwawr Pritchard – Cydlynydd Cyfranogi Theatr Cymru.

An opportunity to get crafting! Activities differ every day, including everything from print-making to junk modelling with recycled materials. Get messy and creative in these interactive sessions delivered by artists and discover that your imagination is the only limit.

Book for the session and you can drop in at any point during the 1.5 hour duration. Accompanying adults: please stay in attendance at all times, but you do not require a ticket.

Calling all aspiring scientists! Don’t miss out on the world-changing scientific theories and concepts in this encounter with some of the most inspiring figures from science. Space scientist and teacher Dr Sheila Kanani MBE, author of This Book Will Make You a Scientist, presents science heroes from aerospace engineer Ritu Karidhal to physicist Isaac Newton.

Whether you want to measure the speed of light like Albert Einstein or communicate with chimpanzees like Jane Goodall, this event will draw out your inner scientist as you explore their big, bold ideas and how they invented, created or discovered remarkable things.

An opportunity to get crafting! Activities differ every day, including everything from print-making to junk modelling with recycled materials. Get messy and creative in these interactive sessions delivered by artists and discover that your imagination is the only limit.

Book for the session and you can drop in at any point during the 1.5 hour duration. Accompanying adults: please stay in attendance at all times, but you do not require a ticket.

Step into the world of the paranormal with Danny Robins, creator of the hit BBC podcast and TV series Uncanny. Find out whether you’re Team Believer or Team Sceptic as Danny shares stories of life as a paranormal detective and introduces some fascinating theories behind what ghosts really are.

There’ll be scientific explanations, thrilling historic happenings and truly jaw-dropping discoveries on this adventure into some of the greatest ghost stories ever! With a ‘live investigation’ reading of a real-life ghost story, a chance to ask Danny your questions, and live drawing along with illustrator Ellen Walker, it’s a ghoul’s paradise.

Are Shakespeare’s words still relevant to young people in Wales today? Join actor Owain Gwynn and Theatr Cymru to explore Shakespeare’s words through movement at this interactive bilingual workshop for young people. An informal showing of the participants’ work will be held at 2.45pm. Led by actor Owain Gwynn and Gwawr Pritchard, Theatr Cymru’s Participation Co-ordinator.

Ydy geiriau Shakespeare yn dal yn berthnasol i bobl ifanc yng Nghymru heddiw? Ymunwch â’r actor Owain Gwynn a Theatr Cymru i archwilio geiriau Shakespeare drwy gwaith symud mewn gweithdy dwyieithog rhyngweithiol i bobl ifanc 12 oed a hŷn. Bydd dangosiad anffurfiol o waith y plant yn digwydd am 2.45pm. Arweinir gan yr actor Owain Gwynn a Gwawr Pritchard, Cydlynydd Cyfranogi Theatr Cymru.

Hugh Bonneville, known for his acclaimed acting in roles from Downton Abbey to Paddington, discusses his hilarious first children’s book with comedian Iszi Lawrence. His hero Rory Sparkes is at primary school in South East London – just as Hugh himself was.

Rory is a boy with a head full of dreams. He might become a strongman and travel the world with the circus. Or he might try to make it as a cowboy – that would be a fan-tas-tic second best. But as Rory plots to make his dreams come true, everything spirals out of control. Will his plans ever work out?

The Five is a YA novel with a difference. It follows a year in the interconnected lives of five very diverse teenagers who forge a singular bond at their secondary school in north-west Wales. As they navigate the joys and tribulations of what makes them different as individuals, their newfound community is both tested and strengthened.

The Welsh language edition, Y Pump, has won multiple awards. English language editor Elgan Rhys and translator Mared Roberts discuss the book’s innovative authorship process, which paired established authors with emerging young writers who brought lived experience to the characters, creating a distinctive and relatable depiction of young adult life in Wales today.

Danny Robins is an award-winning writer, broadcaster and journalist. He created hit BBC podcasts The Battersea Poltergeist, Uncanny and The Witch Farm, as well as the Olivier Award-nominated West End play 2:22 – A Ghost Story​. He has written various shows for TV and radio, including the BAFTA-nominated series Young Dracula for BBC1​ and the TV series of Uncanny ​for BBC2.

Danny will draw on his extensive experience to offer invaluable insights and advice for anyone interested in writing for radio, TV and stage – and about the paranormal. He talks to historian Janina Ramirez.

This event is one of a Hay Festival series of sessions delivered by inspiring producers and practitioners from the creative industries, giving their insights, experience and advice on progression in their field.

Come and celebrate 100 years since the birth of legendary author Michael Bond, creator of Paddington Bear, in this exceptional family event.

We’ll welcome special guests, including reminiscences of growing up with Paddington from Michael Bond’s daughter Karen Jankel; readings and anecdotes from children’s author Michael Morpurgo; and on-set stories from Hugh Bonneville (Mr Brown in the Paddington films), who will share the importance of Paddington’s message of tolerance and inclusivity. Jessica Swale, writer of the recent runaway success Paddington: The Musical, will host this unique celebration.

There’ll be songs, special appearances and marmalade. Come ready for a party – Wellington boots, red hats and duffle coats are optional!

A map is a tool for finding your way, but it doesn’t have to look like a page in an atlas. A map could show where you fit in your world and what is most important to you. It could show how you will find a route from today to tomorrow.

In this workshop we’ll be exploring all the things a map can be and making personalised maps of space, of time, and thinking about how maps can help imagine a better future.

Prepare to suspend reality as the Reverend Richard Coles entertains the whole family with fantastical true stories of scrapes, escapes and close shaves from his first book for children. Hear about the theft of Albert Einstein’s brain, pick apart the sticky maple syrup mystery, and find out how McDonald’s was involved in a million-dollar heist! Uproarious tales brilliantly told will leave all with a curiosity for cracking crime… before bedtime.

Author and illustrator duo Alex and Paula deliver a fun-filled session for all budding superheroes. They’ll get you involved with their interactive quiz and a Pixel draw-along, as well as a chance to design your own super-suit – exploring what makes you unique and what your special superpowers are!

Rising star Alex’s Marv series was chosen for the Summer Reading challenge, and was a 2024 World Book Day book. Alex has also partnered with Marcus Rashford on the hit Breakfast Club Adventures. Illustrator Paula Bowles is known for her vibrant, expressive artwork, which captures both the everyday charm and the thrilling action of Marv’s adventures.

Meet the unexpected inhabitants of the houses on Weird Street in this high-energy, brilliantly silly event with much-loved actor Stephen Mangan and talented artist Anita Mangan. Weird Street appears to be a very ordinary place, filled with very ordinary houses and very ordinary people… but wait until you knock on each door!

The best-selling silblings, creators of The Fart That Changed the World and The Day I Fell Down the Toilet bring their incredibly funny and wildly imaginative storytelling to this unmissable event about their new collection of bite-size tales.

Kiri Pritchard-McLean is a multi-award-winning comedian, writer, broadcaster and local authority foster carer. She’s a regular on TV shows such as Live at the Apollo, QI, HIGNFY and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown. Kiri will draw on her extensive experience to offer invaluable insights and advice for anyone interested in comedy writing, stand-up and broadcast media.

A map is a tool for finding your way, but it doesn’t have to look like a page in an atlas. A map could show where you fit in your world and what is most important to you. It could show how you will find a route from today to tomorrow.

In this workshop we’ll be exploring all the things a map can be and making personalised maps of space, of time, and thinking about how maps can help imagine a better future.

This word-perfect event will enchant anyone and everyone who loves words. Broadcaster and word expert Susie Dent is on a mission to spread uplifting and unifying words to bring people together. She has searched far and wide to unearth words and phrases – old, new and long-forgotten – that celebrate harmony, unity and the universal languages that connect people across the world. So come on a coddiwomple (a journey with no destination) to learn more about the language that unites us rather than divides us. Susie recently celebrated 25 years as the resident word expert on C4’s Countdown. She talks to MG Leonard, author of the Time Keys series.

Sing for your life! Join best-selling novelist and Stonewall role model Juno Dawson as she introduces Survival Show, her gripping new YA thriller set in the dark and exploitative world of the music industry and reality TV, where contestants have to literally sing for their lives.

Juno talks to Boo La Croux (Miss Drag UK 2021), a farmer/drag queen based in Herefordshire. They’ll discuss everything from Juno’s pop super-fandom and the real K-Pop band who helped inspire her new story, to why she’s thrilled to be back in dystopia and the full-circle moment that brings her back to writing about music.

Superstar author and illustrator Rob Biddulph introduces The Moonhaven Chronicles: The Last Wolf – the first in a thrilling new fiction duology. Fast-paced and fully illustrated throughout by Rob, this gripping series will dazzle all fans of Peanut Jones.

Rob will share his inspirations for this spine-tingling new story, brimming with mystery, full moons and werewolves. He’ll also talk about his other books and his own creative origin story. And have your pencils ready for a live version of Rob’s famous ‘Draw with Rob’ episodes. This will be a fun-filled howlfest that the whole pack can sink their claws into.

Are you sitting comfortably? Petr Horáček, a storyteller loved by both children and adults, brings a laugh-out-loud story with a big surprise. Blue Monster wants to play with Rabbit – but Rabbit is sleeping and doesn’t want to play. So... what should Blue Monster do? Blue Monster does something you should never do and then... he does it again and again! Now he definitely has no one to play with! He feels sad, lonely and very guilty. But when Blue Monster opens his mouth and yawns... What a surprise! Things may get better after all! This comforting tale of friendship and forgiveness will get all the family giggling.

Step into the weird and wonderful world of Kitsch & Sync Collective. This high-energy comedy dance theatre workshop whirls through eccentric characters, time-travelling moves and toe-tapping tunes. Expect laughter, silliness and joyful movement for all. Led by Kim Noble, co-founder of the company.

Prepare for a raucous, high-energy Hay Festival event as multi-award winning comedian, Russell Kane, brings his love of pets – and his brand-new picture book – to life on stage. Brace yourself for the chaotic introduction of Brian, an adorable chihuahua, to Terry, the family’s loyal Burmese cat. Packed with jokes, games, fun facts and outrageous stories of pet rivalry, this show promises laughter for all ages. No pets were harmed in the making of this unforgettable comedy adventure.

MG Leonard returns to Hay Festival to tell us all about the latest adventure in her thrilling Time Keys series. Fans of Sim, Jeopardy and Nelson’s adventures in Hunt for the Golden Scarab and The Legend of Viking Thunder will love their new foray in The Impossible Gladiator.

The brave trio are enjoying a holiday in Rome when they’re swept up in the mysterious disappearance of world-famous illusionist Kinetic. Their search leads them through secret time doors to the spectacular Colosseum in Ancient Rome – can they survive long enough to find Kinetic?

MG Leonard will give special insight into the inspiration behind the book, and answer some of your burning questions. If you’re a fan of MG Leonard’s Adventures on Trains series and haven’t yet discovered the Time Keys, now’s the chance!

Come along to the Family Garden to meet Hay Festival 2026 Illustrator in Residence Charlotte Hepburn and join in this fun family activity. Charlotte’s illustration style is full of bright colours, bold shapes and lots of fun. She’ll guide families in the collective creation of a really big bug mural, featuring all your favourite creepy-crawlies! All materials are provided, just bring your imagination.

Meet Hilda and Twig! Hilda is everyone’s favourite blue-haired heroine, and her best friend, deer-fox Twig, is the perfect companion as they explore the wilderness together. Come and develop your design skills with their Emmy and BAFTA award-winning creator Luke Pearson, who’ll show how to draw your favourite characters.

This is a brilliant and fun introduction to comics, and after sketching up a storm, you’ll get the chance to ask Luke your burning Hilda questions. Netflix have made a critically-acclaimed animated series based on the books, Hilda, and the mischievous duo continue their adventures in Hilda and Twig: Wake the Ice Man.

Wouldn’t it be great if we could share our thoughts with animals, and hear theirs in return? Trace what those thoughts might be with Nicola Davies as she introduces Skrimsli, her new fantasy adventure about the early life of the tiger sea captain who stole our hearts in The Song That Sings Us.

Skrimsli and his friends must escape the clutches of a tyrannical circus owner and his twin assassin-acrobats, then stop a war and save an ancient forest, helped along the way by a series of unusual characters. It’s a story full of excitement and danger, exploring friendship, loyalty, identity and love, in the context of some of humanity’s toughest problems. Nicola is Children’s Laureate for Wales 2025–27.

Step into the weird and wonderful world of Kitsch & Sync Collective. This high-energy comedy dance theatre workshop whirls through eccentric characters, time-travelling moves and toe-tapping tunes. Expect laughter, silliness and joyful movement for all. Led by Kim Noble, co-founder of the company.

Author Sir Michael Morpurgo and broadcaster Clare Balding discuss the children’s classic Black Beauty, Anna Sewell’s story about the kind-spirited horse and the compassion and cruelty he witnesses, and its parallels with Michael’s best-selling novel War Horse.

Michael has recently retold this unforgettable story set in Victorian Britain for today’s readers. He has often said it was Black Beauty that showed him how he might tell the story of War Horse, through the eyes of a horse that witnesses the horror of war from both sides. War Horse, which was published over 40 years ago, has been adapted into a hugely successful stage play by the National Theatre.

Do you love art and want to know more but don’t know where to start? Using their Art School (in a Book) as a starting point, actor Russell Tovey and gallerist Robert Diament​ introduce us to the world of contemporary art, from Frida Kahlo to David Hockney.

Whether you have a passion for pictures, or are just keen to dip your brush into the world of art history, this interactive event will leave you feeling enriched and inspired by some of our greatest and most exciting contemporary artists.

With Russell and Robert as your guides, you’ll also discover the artist within you, as they share tips on new ways of seeing and reacting to the world around you and guidance on how you can develop your own creativity. They talk to illustrator Rob Biddulph.

It’s hard to be resilient in our ever-changing world. From dealing with the aftermath of lockdowns to navigating the online environment, life seems more complicated than ever. But Dr Hannah Critchlow is here to show us how we can stay on top of these changes, develop stronger resilience and switch our mindset from can don’t to can do.

Drawing on her new book Brainwave, the internationally acclaimed neuroscientist gives positive and practical guidance on improving our concentration and developing our decision-making. With a sound understanding of children’s behaviours and emotions, she’ll lead us from easily distracted to fully focused.

In this laugh-out-loud session with energetic live illustration, author Anders Sparring and illustrator Per Gustavsson join us – all the way from Sweden – to show you how to craft a hilariously gripping heist story.

Their popular book series The Pinchers features a proud family of villains, going back three generations. Son Theo loves his family, but he just doesn’t fit in; he can’t lie or cheat to save his life! Anders and Per bring to life their tale about one very law-abiding child born to a family of robbers, combining adventure, silliness and the familiar day-to-day of family life with hilarious results.

Do you want to try writing your own detective story? Have you got some ideas but no idea where to start? A good mystery is filled with questions… At this writing workshop with author Jenny Valentine, you can start developing your own thriller. An experienced writing tutor and mentor, she can help you form your plot and develop your characters. Embrace the unexpected and learn how a story leaves its own clues along the way. This is a creative session, with a chance to share your secrets at the end.

Jenny Valentine is an award-winning writer whose novels include Finding Violet Park, the Carnegie-shortlisted Fire Colour One, and Us in the Before and After.

Please bring your own notebook and pen to this event.

What would your World Record be, and how would you go about setting it? Find out all about the challenge of record-breaking, and discover what incredible looks like in 2026, in this fascinating deep dive into the Guinness Book of Records.

Join Guinness World Records Editor-in-Chief Craig Glenday as he brings the book to life, with the help of special guests – some actual record holders! Expect an action-packed, involving hour full of jaw-dropping records, remarkable feats and fun facts for the whole family, as you learn how record breaking has changed over the years. There’ll also be an exciting opportunity to take part, and set a Guinness World Records title! Please bring a book, which we’ll use to set a new record and then donate to Oxfam afterwards.

Can you solve the mystery? Join our storyteller in a gentle Mr Men Little Miss quest. An interactive event complete with live music, sensory participation, action and movement – and classic characters from the much-loved Mr Men and Little Miss universe. All mini-sleuths are cordially invited to get involved in this mystery – there’ll be solving, singing and storytelling. Can you solve the puzzle?

Wonderland has come to a standstill! When Tick the clock is knocked over, time freezes, leaving everything paused. Now, the two culprits must set off on a magical quest to find the key that will wind Tick up again. Along the way, familiar faces and new friends join the adventure, bringing fun rhymes, lively music and enchanting physical theatre.

Performed by degree students from the School of Performance at Hereford College of Arts, this playful, family-friendly show invites everyone to sing, laugh and move along. Can you help restore the rhythm of Wonderland so Tick can tock again?

Join the BBC’s Dr Punam Krishan for an action-packed family session all about ailments, treatments and medical methods. Using inspiring examples from her books You and Your Body and The Superhero’s First Aid Manual, Dr Punam will explore what it’s like to be a real-life doctor. She’ll share life-saving tips, stay-calm tricks, and you’ll be able to test your skills in a medical quiz!

Jack Thorne is a ​groundbreaking playwright and BAFTA-winning screenwriter. His work is widely acclaimed and includes stage plays Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and The Motive and the Cue, television series Adolescence, His Dark Materials and This is England ’86/’88/’90, and films The Swimmers, The Aeronauts and Wonder. Jack will draw on his extensive experience to offer invaluable insights and advice on writing for stage and screen. He talks to BBC broadcaster Kirsty Lang.

This event is one of a Hay Festival series of sessions delivered by inspiring producers and practitioners from the creative industries, giving their insights, experience and advice on progression in their field.

Do you want to try writing your own detective story? Have you got some ideas but no idea where to start? A good mystery is filled with questions… At this writing workshop with author Jenny Valentine, you can start developing your own thriller. An experienced writing tutor and mentor, she can help you form your plot and develop your characters. Embrace the unexpected and learn how a story leaves its own clues along the way. This is a creative session, with a chance to share your secrets at the end.

Jenny Valentine is an award-winning writer whose novels include Finding Violet Park, the Carnegie-shortlisted Fire Colour One, and Us in the Before and After.

Please bring your own notebook and pen to this event.

Sort your clues from your red herrings! Holly Jackson discusses her breakout YA mystery novel, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, adapted into an acclaimed six-part television series for BBC/Netflix, with writer and podcaster Andrew Hunter Murray.

A compelling murder mystery, the novel features a likeable teenage sleuth out to crack a cold case as part of her homework assignment. The twists, shocks and red herrings are many, but never allowed to overshadow the core relationships. Holly will discuss adapting the story into six episodes – the series won praise for its fast pacing and for honouring the source material – and how the characters of Pip and Ravi were brought to life by stars Emma Myers and Zain Iqbal. A second series, focusing on the next book Good Girl, Bad Blood, is scheduled for late 2025, co-written by Holly herself.

The name’s Mayhem… The author of My Brother is a Superhero unsheaths his new hilarious, action-packed adventure in this fast-paced event. Fans of spy thrills and spills will love Spyglass, and David will introduce us to Adam and his friends, who, when they accidentally reveal the secret location of an ex-spy, trigger a supervillain to turn up on their doorstep.

Contending with a dastardly plot, an evil doctor and a full complement of henchmen, it’s going to take Adam buckets of bravery, a truckload of gadgets and a lot of luck to defeat the bad guys and stop them from taking over the world.

David’s debut bestseller My Brother is a Superhero won the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize and the British Book Awards Children’s Book of the Year.

Ride a rollercoaster of twists and turns, encountering secrets, lies, murder and money, in this discussion about The Heirs, an utterly addictive murder mystery.

Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé is author of the award-winning YA novel Ace of Spades, an unputdownable high-octane thriller which takes a powerful look at institutionalised racism. Ace of Spades won the Books Are My Bag Reader’s Award for Young Adult Fiction, was a Carnegie Medal nominee, and a shortlisted British Book of the Year.

Faridah will talk to Louie Stowell, author of the Loki: A Bad God’s Guide to Being Good series, about her journey as a writer, and the themes and characters within her novels, including the Button heirs, the five genius children of infamous (and now murdered) billionaire Leontes Button, adopted and trained under the ‘Button Method’ so that they’ve had no choice but to be brilliant.

Come armed with pencils and paper as cartoonist Neill Cameron leads the spectacular Phoenix Comic Book Draw-Off. Expect hilarity and lots of fun in this interactive show that’s perfect for the whole family. Cameron, the creator of the bestselling Donut Squad series, will be joined on stage by Thiago de Moraes and Laura Ellen Anderson from the world of The Phoenix comic for a show-down worthy of any comic book battle.

And if you’re inspired to create your own comic book, visit the on-site Phoenix Comic Books take-over with appearances from Bunny Vs Monkey and Donut Squad, as well as Phoenix Comic Club drop-in sessions so you can learn how to draw your own characters across the Phoenix Comic Books.

Join award-winning picture book author/illustrator Sophy Henn for a double storytime following the exploits of a ghostly pair of friends. Sophy will read I Hate Everything!, her irresistible tale about finding the positives when your day seems completely rubbish, as well as the new sequel I Want Everything! This celebration of the things in life that really matter is guaranteed to turn your frown upside down. Then Sophy will help you to draw some ghosts, and make your very own pet one to take home!

Sophy is creator of the much-loved Bad Nana fiction series, the Pom Pom series and the Ted board book series. She was World Book Day Illustrator in 2015 and 2016.

Join award-winning comedian and writer Melanie Owen for a fun, interactive comedy workshop. Like getting laughs? Got an idea that an audience would love? From the chaotic to the ridiculous, this session will bring those ideas to life! Write stand-up, sketches or sitcom scenes, get loud and find your funny bones.

Please bring your own notebook and pen to this event.

Watch out for chaos as Louie Stowell reveals the hilarious new doodle-packed instalment in her best-selling series about a diminutive Norse god. Loki, the mighty trickster god, has been banished by Odin for bad behaviour to live on Earth as an eleven-year-old boy. Things he cannot do on Earth: reveal his awesome godly powers. Things he must do on Earth if he wants to get back home: go to school, do good deeds, write a diary. He’ll also have to sort out the chaos that erupts after the goddess Freyja arrives in town – or face terrible consequences… Louie will share the inspiration behind Loki’s escapades and demonstrate some doodles!

Calling all keen detectives in the making! We have a murder mystery to solve – and we’re going to have a lot of fun while we do it. Alasdair Beckett-King, creator of the world’s finest detective Montgomery Bonbon, is asking for your help to crack the case in his new book. In Scandal on the Stage, a playwright collapses on stage, whispering “Murder!” – but the cast all have rock-solid alibis…

Alasdair – a stand-up comedian seen on Mock the Week and Comedy Central Live, as well as the author of the Bonbon series – will show you how to walk, talk and detect like a sleuth. One with a great sense of humour.

Join award-winning comedian and writer Melanie Owen for a fun, interactive comedy workshop. Like getting laughs? Got an idea that an audience would love? From the chaotic to the ridiculous, this session will bring those ideas to life! Write stand-up, sketches or sitcom scenes, get loud and find your funny bones.

Please bring your own notebook and pen to this event.