Hay Festival Winter Weekend 2026

Kairos  

Pop-up Music

Thursday 26 November 2026, 5.35pm – 5.55pm –  Hay Castle – Great Hall

Enjoy an uplifting performance by local musical duo Kairos – musicians Anna Lockett and Jill Horner – as they take over Hay Castle’s Great Hall. Expect beautiful harp, flute and recorders together with romantic, folk, baroque and contemporary musical arrangements. Be sure not to miss this warm and heartening musical interlude!

Kairos  

Pop-up Music

Thursday 26 November 2026, 7.05pm – 7.25pm –  Hay Castle – Great Hall

Enjoy an uplifting performance by local musical duo Kairos – musicians Anna Lockett and Jill Horner – as they take over Hay Castle’s Great Hall. Expect beautiful harp, flute and recorders together with romantic, folk, baroque and contemporary musical arrangements. Be sure not to miss this warm and heartening musical interlude!

David Gray and Mary Colwell  

Music and Conversation Connecting us to Nature

Thursday 26 November 2026, 7.30pm – 9pm –  Castle Marquee

Best-selling singer-songwriter David Gray and conservationist Mary Colwell come together in a unique collaboration celebrating our emotional connection with nature.

They’ll mix conversation with live music from Gray, focusing in particular on their shared passion for the protection and conservation of the curlew. David Gray’s album White Ladder remains one of the bestselling British albums of the 21st century. He’ll perform his own songs, including some well-known favourites, in this very special evening to celebrate the natural world.

Silent Film with Live Organ Accompaniment  

The Phantom of the Opera

Thursday 26 November 2026, 7.30pm – 9.30pm –  St Mary’s Church

Experience the spine-tingling chills of the silent horror classic heightened by an electrifying live organ score, and thrill with suspense just as audiences did a hundred years ago.

The historic St Mary’s Church in Hay-on-Wye provides the atmospheric setting for this unique and immersive screening of The Phantom of the Opera, while organist and composer Father Richard Williams, former vicar of the church, provides a soaring live accompaniment on the Bevington Organ.

The film was first released in 1925, starring Lon Chaney as the phantom who haunts the Paris Opera House, causing murder and mayhem in an attempt to make the woman he loves a star.

Will Millard  

Mapping Britain: Opening up the Ordnance Survey Archives

Friday 27 November 2026, 10am –  St Mary’s Church

Discover Britain as you’ve never seen it before, through the extraordinary archive of Ordnance Survey. It’s been the home of British mapmaking since 1745, and its trusted and treasured maps have borne witness to a phenomenal transformation, from the British Empire to the Industrial Revolution, from World War I to the digital era.

Bestselling writer, explorer and broadcaster Will Millard brings the archive to life, revealing disappearing villages, hidden smuggling paths, top-secret military plans and even the detailed maps of Buckingham Palace gifted to Queen Victoria on her 50th jubilee. An absolute must for anyone who’s spent endless hours plotting their own route through Britain with the aid of a trusty OS map.

Nick Harkaway talks to Gary Raymond  

The Taper Man: The Latest Spy Thriller from John le Carré’s Son

Friday 27 November 2026, 11.30am –  St Mary’s Church

Welcome back to the world of legendary spy George Smiley. Nick Harkaway presents his eagerly-awaited new thriller, set in the shadowy world of Cold War espionage, in a story that takes Smiley from Europe to the heart of American intelligence.

A fascinating opportunity to hear Nick discuss the joys and challenges of continuing the legacy of his father, John le Carré, as well as the enduring appeal of George Smiley in today’s unsettled world. He talks to broadcaster Gary Raymond.

Thomasina Miers talks to Oliver Bullough  

Mexican Table: 100 Recipes, 12 Everyday Ingredients

Friday 27 November 2026, 1pm –  St Mary’s Church

Plunge into the sunny, smoky scents of Mexico with acclaimed chef Thomasina Miers – co-founder of restaurant chain Wahaca – as she shares 100 recipes based on 12 star ingredients. From staples such as citrus, tomatoes, chillies, beans, cinnamon and chocolate, she conjures to life bold, bright recipes that will bring the sunshine to your plate through the winter months.

Discover her sumptuous roast chicken stuffed with tomato rice and smoky oregano butter or the deep flavours of sticky onion, blue cheese and bitter leaf salad with chipotle honey. There are even drinks to get the party started – including Thomasina’s iconic blood orange mezcal spritz. Perfect for home cooks who want to make stand-out Mexican flavours without the fuss. She talks to author and journalist Oliver Bullough.

Stephen Sackur talks to Bethan Rhys Roberts  

Hard Truth: Investigations that Shook the World

Friday 27 November 2026, 2.30pm –  Castle Marquee

Former BBC Foreign Correspondent Stephen Sackur presents ten dramatic cases where journalists and whistleblowers have exposed the truth, despite the powerful doing everything they can to hide it. From the leaked Pentagon Papers revealing US government lies about the scope of the Vietnam War to Alexei Navalny’s fatal role in challenging Putin’s Russia, Sackur puts forward a passionate case for the vital role of investigative journalism in holding the powerful to account in today’s troubled world.

Sackur talks to journalist and presenter Bethan Rhys Roberts, who herself has covered some of the biggest world events of the past 30 years.

Kate Bottley talks to Cole Moreton  

A Spiritual Guide Through The Seasons

Friday 27 November 2026, 4pm –  Castle Marquee

Find inspiration to celebrate and connect with seasonal and spiritual traditions with the Reverend Kate Bottley.

On this fascinating journey through the year in The Faith Almanac, Kate leads us from chalking the door post on Twelfth Night (even the dog can get involved!) and baking King Cake on 6th January, to crafting harvest decorations, preparing for Advent, and all the high days and holy days in between. She talks to writer and broadcaster Cole Morton about how to introduce simple, meaningful rituals into our everyday lives.

Kate rose to fame on Channel 4’s Gogglebox. She now presents Good Morning Sunday on BBC Radio 2 and BBC One’s Songs of Praise.

The Brothers Gillespie  

Pop-up Music

Friday 27 November 2026, 5.05pm – 5.25pm –  Hay Castle – Great Hall

In this 20-minute interlude between events, Northumbrian folk duo The Brothers Gillespie share their soaring harmonies, playing songs from their new record Kingfisher alongside others featured in the documentary film The Solway (showing at Hay Festival Winter Weekend on Friday 27 November, 7.30pm).

The alt-folk troubadours (siblings James and Sam) are still something of a secret on the UK music scene and yet have a dedicated following all over the land.

Olivia Harrison  

George Harrison’s Personal Photo Collection

Friday 27 November 2026, 5.30pm –  Castle Marquee

Take an unprecedented look inside the world of The Beatles through The Third Eye, as Olivia Harrison discusses the extraordinary collection of more than 200 behind-the-scenes photos taken by her late husband, George.

George Harrison travelled the world with his bandmates, Pentax in hand, chronicling the intimate moments behind their incredible rise to global fame. These unguarded images of Paul, John, Ringo, George and the band’s entourage as they rocketed to stardom brim with wit, experimentation and the joyful madness that came to be known as Beatlemania.

Kiri Pritchard-McLean with Greg Wise and Guests  

A Festive Celebration of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Friday 27 November 2026, 7pm –  Castle Marquee

Dickens fan, broadcaster and comedian Kiri Pritchard-McLean presents an atmospheric and entertaining evening celebrating the lasting appeal of the classic Christmas novel. She’ll be joined on stage by acclaimed actor Greg Wise, combining dramatic readings with an exploration of each ghostly visitation and Dickens’ inspiration for the story. And if that wasn’t enough, a foley artist will build a true Dickensian atmosphere, creating sound effects live on stage during the performance.

The perfect event to follow the switching on of the town’s Christmas lights – guaranteed to get you into the Christmas spirit.

Alex Wharton  

Bright Lives: Poetry and Performance

Friday 27 November 2026, 7pm –  Hay Castle – The Gallery

A lively and moving evening with award-winning poet Alex Wharton, celebrating the influential Black figures who helped shape Welsh history. Alex will perform readings from his new book Bright Lives, shining a light on incredible people and the extraordinary connections that link them to the story of Wales.

Enjoy a glimpse into history as he brings vividly to life stories such as ‘The Gardener’, a poem about John Ystumllyn, which Sir Lewis Hamilton had stitched into his jacket for the Met Gala, and ‘Diolch Mr Robeson’, which explores the special connection between American singer and activist Paul Robeson and the Welsh miners.

Andrew Zolinsky  

Hay Music: Piano Concert

Friday 27 November 2026, 7.30pm – 9.15pm –  St Mary’s Church

Experience an unforgettable evening of virtuoso piano music in the austere Gothic setting of St Mary’s Church. Internationally-acclaimed pianist Andrew Zolinsky has performed at prestigious venues across the world – and now brings his unique style and interpretations to Hay-on-Wye. Here he presents a concert showcasing pieces for all tastes, with a programme ranging from Copeland’s ‘Piano Blues’ through Beethoven and Debussy to Michael Tippet’s final piano sonata. This is an unmissable chance to witness one of the most distinctive musicians of a generation.

Programme:

Maurice Ravel Sonatine

Ludwig van Beethoven Sonata No 30 in E major Op 109

Claude Debussy Étude Pour les Arpèges Composés

Claude Debussy L’isle joyeuse

Aaron Copeland Nos 3 and 4 from Four Piano Blues

Michael Tippett Sonata No 4.

Eamon Bourke talks to Julia Samuel  

Screening & Conversation: The Solway

Friday 27 November 2026, 7.30pm – 9.30pm –  Richard Booth’s Bookshop Cinema

Don’t miss this exceptional opportunity to watch The Solway, a profoundly moving feature documentary, followed by a conversation with its producer and director, Eamon Bourke.

Eamon has lived his whole life unable to remember his mother, who died when he was three. When his father decided to sell the remote cottage where Eamon grew up, he returned to help, and came across an extraordinary archive of tapes recorded by his mother – bringing her back to life in luminous detail. Rediscovering her voice, Eamon attempts to make sense of a tragedy now forty years in the past.

After the screening, Eamon will talk to psychotherapist and author Julia Samuel about this deeply personal meditation on love, memory and grief.

Nicholas Jubber  

Monsterland: A Journey Around the World’s Dark Imagination

Friday 27 November 2026, 8.30pm –  Hay Castle – The Gallery

Monsters, in all their terrifying glory, have preoccupied humans since we began telling stories. But where did the stories come from? As night closes in, join author Nicholas Jubber on a chilling journey across the world to discover more about the monsters we’ve invented – giants, dragons, ogres, zombies, ghosts and demons – all with one thing in common: their ability to terrify. Sit on the thrones of giants in Cornwall, visit the shrine of a beheaded ogre near Kyoto, travel to a Balkan vampire’s forest dwelling, and paddle among the shapeshifters of the Louisiana bayous… all from the comfort and safety of Hay Castle.

Llareggub Brass Band  

In Concert

Friday 27 November 2026, 9pm – 10.15pm –  Castle Marquee

Round off your evening with a joyful and lively helping of funky brass music, mixing up influences from New Orleans marching bands through to Bronx-inspired Hip Hop and closer-to-home Welsh language pop.

Paying their debt to the age-old tradition of brass bands from the slate mining villages of North Wales, Llareggub Brass Band rise from the ashes of the past to deliver an energetic performance and enough hwyl to get you dancing!

Formed by band leader Owain Roberts in 2015, the band has released several studio albums and EPs. They have toured internationally, and won a BAFTA Cymru award for their documentary Cyrn ar y Mississippi (‘Horns on the Mississippi’).

Greg James & Chris Smith  

Secret Santa

Saturday 28 November 2026, 10am –  Castle Marquee

Greg James and Chris Smith need your help with an incredibly important mission. Ever heard of Santa Claus – a kindly old man who delivers presents to kids each Christmas Eve? Or is he actually a cool, suave super-spy? In this hilarious, high-energy, interactive event, find out how Santa gets recruited by the Secret Service as their newest secret agent, Treble-Ho Seven. Armed with exploding sprouts and smoke-grenade crackers, will he be able to rescue the super-spies and save Christmas? Perfect for families, or anyone who fancies kicking off their Saturday morning with an entertaining hour in the company of Greg and Chris.

Dan Ashby & Lucy Taylor talk to Bethan Rhys Roberts  

Toxic Chemicals Scandal in Wales: Inside the Investigation

Saturday 28 November 2026, 10am –  St Mary’s Church

Hear the eye-opening account of one of the world’s first ever whistleblowers on toxic chemicals – and a scandal that leads from a Welsh farm to the heart of corporate America.

Husband-and-wife duo Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor are award-winning investigative journalists and the force behind the BBC’s Buried podcasts. When they come across confidential evidence from a crucial witness to the scandal, it leads them to an unlikely friendship with actor Michael Sheen… but they soon find themselves knee-deep in toxic chemicals and chasing down gangs, going all-out in pursuit of a question: could the chemicals be killing people today?

Hosted by veteran Welsh journalist Bethan Rhys Roberts.

Sam Yo talks to Cole Moreton  

The Monk’s Mindset: Finding Stillness in a Busy World

Saturday 28 November 2026, 10am –  Hay Castle – The Gallery

Is your mind always racing? Do you struggle to slow down when your days are so busy? Join fitness instructor and former Buddhist monk Sam Yo for an interactive session that offers both emotional insight and practical tools to guide you back to calm, focus and purpose.

Sam talks to writer and broadcaster Cole Morton, sharing the transformative lessons that have helped him move from chaos to clarity. Drawing on his monastic training, he leads a short breathwork practice as well as a gratitude exercise, promoting mindfulness, self-discovery, resilience and spiritual growth. Come along to discover that the stillness you seek has been within you all along.

Got 2 Sing Choir  

Pop-up Music

Saturday 28 November 2026, 11.05am – 11.25am –  Hay Castle – Great Hall

Enjoy an exhilarating performance by Got 2 Sing Choir as they sing uplifting numbers from top of the charts to golden oldies and festive classics, with plenty of fun and laughter.

Our pop-up music sessions offer magical interludes between events in the atmospheric Great Hall at Hay Castle.

Humza Yousaf talks to Nicola Cutcher  

Under Fire: My Family’s Escape from Gaza and the Cost of Leadership

Saturday 28 November 2026, 11.30am –  Castle Marquee

A truly remarkable account from Scotland’s former First Minister of how to lead a country when international events have thrown your own family into crisis. When Humza Yousaf got a call from Gaza on the morning of 7th October 2023, he feared the worst. His wife’s parents had travelled there from their home in Dundee to visit a sick relative. Now, after the Hamas terrorist attack, they were caught in Israel’s fierce response.

Yousaf reveals his desperate attempts to get his in-laws out of Gaza and safely back home. While supporting his wife and children as they waited for news, Yousaf also had to lead the whole of Scotland – as well as reassure the nation’s traumatised Jewish community. An honest and timely conversation about how to cope when the personal and the political become inextricably linked.He talks to journalist, Nicola Cutcher, about how to cope when the personal and the political become inextricably linked.

Lucy Foley and Cathy Rentzenbrink talk to Kiri Pritchard-McLean  

The Power of Agatha Christie and Writing Miss Marple

Saturday 28 November 2026, 11.30am –  St Mary’s Church

What can we learn about life from the Queen of Crime? The enduring appeal of the most successful writer of the 20th century is no accident – Agatha Christie combines escapist glamour with psychological insight that still resonates. Why do we find it so fascinating?

Lucy Foley has written the first authorised Miss Marple novel since Christie’s last – Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel sees the unassuming sleuth tackle a suspicious death high in the Swiss Alps. Cathy Rentzenbrink delves into Christie’s own life in The Agatha Christie Cure, unearthing an adventurer and innovator who hid, in the pages of her own books, the secrets of how she survived a personal crisis. They talk to writer and comedian Kiri Pritchard-McLean.

Matthew Myerscough  

In Search of Sea Dragons: A Fossil Hunter’s Odyssey

Saturday 28 November 2026, 11.30am –  Hay Castle – The Gallery

Come on a delightfully obsessive search for marine dinosaur fossils… and reimagine what really matters in life along the way. Matthew Myerscough was a keen mountaineer until he was caught up in a terrifying avalanche on Yr Wyddfa as a young man. Searching for a less extreme hobby as he healed, he returned to his childhood passion of fossil-hunting on the beaches near his home in South Wales. Here he charts his journey from novice to expert, taking in some jaw-dropping discoveries on the way. He’s still searching for his dream find – a complete ichthyosaur. But what’s more rewarding – the grand discovery, or the unexpected treasures you come across as you search?

Got 2 Sing Choir  

Pop-up Music

Saturday 28 November 2026, 12.35pm – 12.55pm –  Hay Castle – Great Hall

Enjoy an exhilarating performance by Got 2 Sing Choir as they sing uplifting numbers from top of the charts to golden oldies and festive classics, with plenty of fun and laughter.

Our pop-up music sessions offer magical interludes between events in the atmospheric Great Hall at Hay Castle.

Jim Al-Khalili  

On Time: The Physics That Makes the Universe Tick

Saturday 28 November 2026, 1pm –  Castle Marquee

Does time have a beginning or an end? Is it even a real thing? Spend what we call an hour unravelling one of the greatest unsolved mysteries of science with quantum physicist and BBC science presenter Jim Al-Khalili.

He shares fresh insights into some of the most complex and profound questions in science, changing the way you think not just about the passage of time, but your place within it.

Claire Mitchell and Zoe Venditozzi talk to Kate Lister  

Witch Trials: Ancient History or Modern Menace?

Saturday 28 November 2026, 1pm –  St Mary’s Church

We think of the witch hunts of the 1500s as ancient history – but could they ever happen again? Join campaigners Claire Mitchell and Zoe Venditozzi with feminist writer Kate Lister to find out why the trials ripped through the country as they did, sealing the fate of many women with brutal execution.

Drawing on their Sunday Times bestseller How to Kill a Witch, they break down the horrifying process followed to identify, accuse, torture and convict. Attempting to inhabit the minds of the persecutors, often men, they reveal the inner workings of exactly why the Patriarchy went to such outrageous lengths to silence women.

Susan Stokes-Chapman talks to Kate Bliss  

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Saturday 28 November 2026, 1pm –  Hay Castle – The Gallery

Get into the Christmas spirit with this beautiful collection of seasonal stories inspired by the well-known carol. Bestselling author Susan Stokes-Chapman talks to antiques expert and presenter Kate Bliss about how she’s reimagined each of the gifts of the twelve days of Christmas, weaving them skilfully into a series of festive tales depicting life and love in the early 19th century.

We meet three sisters vying for the hand of a dastardly duke, two servants hiding a dangerous secret, and a soldier making his way home from war. Everything culminates at the village’s annual Twelfth Night Ball... The perfect way to spend a cosy Saturday afternoon at the Winter Weekend.

Greg Wise talks to Julia Samuel  

Tales of Loss and Learning

Saturday 28 November 2026, 2.30pm –  Castle Marquee

Spend an intimate afternoon with acclaimed actor and screenwriter Greg Wise, sharing his personal experiences of loss as a way of helping us all to be more open about the pain of losing loved ones. In this strikingly thoughtful and moving session, he’ll set out the importance of honesty, vulnerability and ritual to navigate the chaotic, messy journey of death. And he calls for us to reject the behind-closed-doors culture of mourning, in favour of a more open processing of grief, as a direct path to being able to be happy again. “I don’t think I ever really felt joy until I faced into my grief,” he says. Greg talks to psychotherapist and author Julia Samuel.

Maryam Aslany talks to David Olusoga  

Peasants: Makers of the Modern World

Saturday 28 November 2026, 2.30pm –  St Mary’s Church

Our most vital workforce is under threat – but are we failing to see it? A fascinating discussion debunking the myth that peasants are backward and archaic, and showing instead how reliant the world economy still is on their labour.

Talking to author and historian David Olusoga, Maryam Aslany shares her rigorous research demonstrating that this two-billion-strong workforce grows a third of our food and sustains our landscapes, producing everything from supermarket staples to the most exclusive luxuries. It’s a story taking in food insecurity, migration crises, climate change and global inequality that challenges us all to open our eyes to a hidden world we all depend on for our survival.

Supported by Open Society Foundations

Justin Anderson  

Wilderness Songs: Nature’s Hidden Sounds

Saturday 28 November 2026, 2.30pm –  Hay Castle – The Gallery

Embark on a fascinating journey through the rare sounds of the wilderness, with award-winning documentary filmmaker Justin Anderson. Drawing on his real-life experiences as the producer and director of hugely successful natural history documentaries – including Planet Earth – Justin demonstrates the unique ways that animals communicate, the incredible advances in the field of bioacoustics, and the innovative ways in which sound recordings are being used to make advances in conservation and ecology.

From blue whales that can converse between hemispheres to the elusive whistling of the Northern Lights, discover some of the most unusual and impressive natural sounds on the planet.

Hay Shantymen  

Saturday 28 November 2026, 3.35pm – 3.55pm –  Hay Castle – Great Hall

Feel the Hay Shantymen’s soaring voices all around as they fill Hay Castle’s 13th century Great Hall with their renditions of foot-stomping seafaring songs and traditional shanties. Relax beside the Hall’s roaring fireplace between events, soak up the castle’s historic atmosphere and immerse yourself in music and the moment.

Sue Brunning and Lloyd de Beer talk to Kate Bliss  

The Bayeux Tapestry

Saturday 28 November 2026, 4pm –  Castle Marquee

A fantastic opportunity to hear first-hand from two of the curators at the British Museum responsible for the exhibition of the Bayeux Tapestry. It’s currently on loan there – the first time it’s been displayed outside France in almost a thousand years. Talking to antiques expert and presenter Kate Bliss, Sue Brunning and Lloyd de Beer take us behind the scenes at the museum to reveal the work that went into bringing this iconic masterpiece to Britain, and unpick the historical significance of its 58 scenes, revealing an account of 11th-century life like no other.

The Maclean Brothers talk to Tori James  

Three Brothers in a Boat: A True Story of Adventure and Purpose Rowing the Pacific

Saturday 28 November 2026, 4pm –  St Mary’s Church

How do ordinary people achieve the extraordinary? In 2025, the Maclean brothers – Ewan, Jamie and Lachlan – set the fastest known time for rowing across the Pacific Ocean, raising £1 million for charity in the process. But how did they grow from complete novices into record-breaking pros?

Find out how the journey – nail-biting, uplifting and inspiring – tested their resolve, their relationships and their belief in one another.

The brothers are founders of the Maclean Foundation, with a mission to raise funds for clean water projects. They talk to Tori James, a record-breaking adventurer who herself has taken on some of the most extreme challenges on our planet.

Heather Hurley  

Railways of Herefordshire and the Southern Marches

Saturday 28 November 2026, 4pm –  Hay Castle – The Gallery

Revisit the excitement of steam travel and dig deep into every detail of the early railways across our region. Local historian Heather Hurley offers a fascinating and richly-illustrated account of the historical network in Herefordshire and the Marches. Unpicking the often haphazard web of the early railways, she traces the lines and infrastructure, the investors, engineers and navvies, the stations, bridges and tunnels, and the charismatic steam locomotives that criss-crossed the region up until the 1960s. Recalling the chuff-chuff of the pistons and the toooooot! of the whistle, this event will transport you back to the golden age of steam travel.

Hay Shantymen  

Saturday 28 November 2026, 5.05pm – 5.25pm –  Hay Castle – Great Hall

Feel the Hay Shantymen’s soaring voices all around as they fill Hay Castle’s 13th century Great Hall with their renditions of foot-stomping seafaring songs and traditional shanties. Relax beside the Hall’s roaring fireplace between events, soak up the castle’s historic atmosphere and immerse yourself in music and the moment.

Simon Armitage  

Gilgamesh

Saturday 28 November 2026, 5.30pm –  Castle Marquee

Spend an exhilarating evening with the Poet Laureate as he brings to life the ancient, epic poem Gilgamesh, sharing his own dynamic new version. Armitage transports us back to the very origins of civilisation and storytelling, as the eponymous demigod battles for dominance and undertakes an impossible quest…

Gilgamesh originated in Ancient Mesopotamia nearly 4,000 years ago, yet its themes of power, loyalty, love and loss are as relevant as ever today. An unmissable opportunity to hear verse performed by a master poet at his very best.

Olly Smith talks to Francine Stock  

Death By Noir: The New Novel from the TV Wine Expert

Saturday 28 November 2026, 5.30pm –  St Mary’s Church

With mince pie and mulled wine in hand, join Olly Smith for this sparkling introduction to his debut noir thriller – a great winter read and possibly the perfect stocking-filler for book-loving friends.

The Saturday Kitchen wine expert serves up a dark blend of resentment, rivalry and murder, all nestled in a picturesque Sussex town renowned for its vineyards and its anarchic Bonfire Night celebrations. The wine shop proprietor finds himself both detective and suspect, the community crackles with anticipation, and the fireworks might not be the only things to explode.

Join Olly in conversation with journalist, Francine Stock to uncork the most exuberant and irresistible mystery of the year!

The Hebridean Baker talks to Kitty Corrigan  

A Scottish Christmas

Saturday 28 November 2026, 5.30pm –  Hay Castle – The Gallery

Dive into Christmas festivities in an evening with Scotland’s favourite, the Hebridean Baker. Coinneach MacLeod reveals irresistible recipes to bring a flavour of Scotland to your Christmas, from Chicken Braemar with Whisky Sauce to Gingerbread Tiramisu and Clementine Margaritas.

Discover hearty comfort food to gather friends and family close, wee sweet treats to enjoy with a cuppa, bakes to gift and desserts to carry you through to the bells of Hogmanay. Sip a winter drink and taste some delicious home-made shortbread as Coinneach shares his top tips with writer and editor Kitty Corrigan.

Lucy Porter talks to Kiri Pritchard-McLean  

Brilliant, Knackered & Getting Sh*t Done

Saturday 28 November 2026, 7pm –  Castle Marquee

Are you Super Woman, effortlessly holding work, kids, ageing parents and home together? Or are you just quite tired, actually? Put down your to-do list and gather all your friends, as Radio 4 regular Lucy Porter introduces Middle-Aged Women Get Sh*t Done in conversation with Welsh comedian Kiri Pritchard-McLean.

This event is the antidote to weariness – an evening full of wit, warmth and a hefty dose of righteous rage to steer you through the trials of being the exhausted meat in the middle of the sandwich generation.