Hay Festival 2026

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 illustrators and creators 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.

Chef, writer, Great British Bake Off presenter and fashion icon, Dame Prue Leith opens up about her extraordinary life via the pages of her favourite books. In this revealing conversation, Leith talks about the books which have held a particular resonance for her at different times in her life – from childhood treasures and unforgettable novels, to life-changing stories and the authors she returns to time and time again. Expect straight-talking and strong opinions, wit and warmth, and of course, a fabulous pair of glasses.

The year ahead is a gift that has been given to you. What might you do with it?

In a world of unwanted distraction, where AI is attempting to replace the human imagination, how can we ensure we continue to look, read, and think for ourselves? Who can remind us of the joys of creativity? What can we do to bring the necessity of artful living to our day?

Dive into the year with the wisdom of artists and writers. Gathered from interviews and personal conversations, How to Live an Artful Life collects thoughts, reflections and creative insights for every day of the year. Featuring Marina Abramović, Nan Goldin, Lubaina Himid, Louise Bourgeois, Tracey Emin and more, each entry offers wisdom from some of the greatest artists of all time.

Katy Hessel is an art historian and the author of The Story of Art without Men, the international bestseller and Waterstones Book of the Year 2022. She talks to historian and broadcaster David Olusoga.

Hold on to your stomachs, as comedian Alan Davies presents a night of reflections and revelations about middle age.

Think Ahead is Davies’ first stand up show in more than a decade, and combines laugh-out-loud comedy on topics including London’s efforts to reduce air pollution with moving, frank and sensitively handled observations about the childhood sexual abuse he suffered at the hands of father, detailed in his 2020 memoir Just Ignore Him.

Davies is a critically acclaimed stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and TV personality. He is best known for his performance as Jonathan Creek and as a permanent panellist on QI, and has performed stand up shows across the country.