Kells 2014

For lovers of the craft of fiction, this is an unmissable discussion on how the modern Western novel became a global form, with three great writers. Hisham Matar and Kamila Shamsie talk to Pankaj Mishra about the challenges and opportunities of representing a complex world and global identities in fiction.

Matar’s debut novel In the Country of Men was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, and his memoir of the search for his father, The Return, won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography. Shamsie’s Home Fire won the Women’s Prize for Fiction and her novels have been shortlisted for multiple awards. Mishra’s latest book is The World After Gaza.

The session is hosted by Equator, a political and cultural magazine founded to tell stories traditionally neglected by Western narratives.

Comedian Suzi Ruffell presents a funny and moving evening about love, anxiety and whether our school days really were the best of our life. In conversation with Welsh comedian Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Ruffell introduces her memoir Am I Having Fun Now?, which contains life advice from experts including Elizabeth Day, Dolly Alderton and Laura Bates about the tricky questions we all face.

Ruffell is an award-winning stand-up comedian, writer and presenter. Her podcasts include Out, on which she has interviewed LGBTQ+ luminaries including Dame Kelly Holmes, Hannah Gadsby, and the Reverend Richard Coles. Pritchard-McLean is a multi-award-winning comedian, satirist and writer.

Kick off your evening at Hay Festival with an adventure in cocktail artistry. In this session designed to pique your palate, botanicals experts from Hay Distillery will guide you through a tasting session, sharing some of the secrets of the craft and offering samples of delicious cocktails made from their exquisite small-batch spirits. Can you tell your quince from your apple and pear? Your rose from your rosemary, or your lemon balm from your lavender? Put your tastebuds to the test and bring your curiosity!

Hay Distillery is an award-winning micro distillery based in the heart of Hay-on-Wye. They distill, bottle and hand-label tiny batches of spirits, including their ‘fantastically feral’ Wild Knapp Gin and Dr Beaky’s London Dry gin, capturing the outstanding natural fragrances of the local landscape.

Join us for a surprise screening of an acclaimed book-to-screen adaptation, hand-picked by MUBI’s team of curators. Encounter a celebrated work of literature through its cinematic transformation – without prior knowledge, expectation or title. What unfolds is a rare opportunity to experience adaptation as discovery, where language gives way to image and narrative is met afresh. Come curious. Leave surprised.

Join Danny Robins for a special live recording of Britain's biggest paranormal podcast. He'll be joined by his regular sidekicks Dr Ciarán O'Keeffe and Evelyn Hollow to take a deep dive into some brand-new supernatural cases, from unearthly encounters to things that go bump in the night.

The virtuosic GBSR Duo, along with Taylor MacLennan on flute, play ‘Crippled Symmetry’ by American composer Morton Feldman. ‘Crippled Symmetry’ takes the form of a quiet, slowly moving, hypnotic sound world – this evening event in the great acoustic of St Mary’s Church in Hay will take you to another dimension!

The GBSR Duo are Siwan Rhys (piano and celeste) and George Barton (percussion), two of the UK’s finest young contemporary chamber instrumentalists. They have built their reputation on a combination of exceptional interpretations of the existing piano-percussion repertoire, committed performances of ambitious new commissions, and inventive collaborations. Taylor MacLennan is one of the leading flautists of his generation, renowned for his control, creativity and versatility.

This conversation between two icons makes for an unmissable evening of vivid reflections on the 1990s rock scene and what it means to be a woman in music. Melissa Auf der Maur, former bassist of rock bands Hole and the Smashing Pumpkins, and Skunk Anansie’s lead singer Skin come together for a frank and fascinating discussion that is a must-see for music fans. The pair discuss their memoirs, the cost of fame and influence, and their groundbreaking successes, with Tiffany Murray, author of My Family and Other Rock Stars.

Auf der Maur’s Even the Good Girls Will Cry: My 90s Rock Memoir recounts her story, including how she joined Hole, fronted by Courtney Love, shortly after the deaths of Kurt Cobain and Hole’s previous bassist. Skin, author of It Takes Blood and Guts, is one of the most influential women in British rock, has headlined Glastonbury and was championing LGBTQ+ rights at a time when few artists were out and gay.

An evening showcasing the best in contemporary poetry with award-winning poets Tishani Doshi and Len Pennie. Doshi performs a new piece combining poetry and moving image. Her most recent collection Egrets, While War is a lyric guide to grief and resilience, examining environmental loss, ancestral memory and more, with birds appearing throughout as subjects, symbols and messengers.

Pennie, who writes in both Scots and English, brings her charismatic presence and powerful Scots language delivery. She presents work from poyums annaw, a defiant and trailblazing collection of work that tackles ideas of patriarchy, gender-based violence and injustice.

Kick off your evening at Hay Festival with an adventure in cocktail artistry. In this session designed to pique your palate, botanicals experts from Hay Distillery will guide you through a tasting session, sharing some of the secrets of the craft and offering samples of delicious cocktails made from their exquisite small-batch spirits. Can you tell your quince from your apple and pear? Your rose from your rosemary, or your lemon balm from your lavender? Put your tastebuds to the test and bring your curiosity!

Hay Distillery is an award-winning micro distillery based in the heart of Hay-on-Wye. They distill, bottle and hand-label tiny batches of spirits, including their ‘fantastically feral’ Wild Knapp Gin and Dr Beaky’s London Dry gin, capturing the outstanding natural fragrances of the local landscape.

Sign up here for a masterclass in the art of burgers, BBQ and backyard culture with Anthony Murphy, Burger Chef of the Year 2023 and co-founder of the ultimate meat boutique, The Beefy Boys. While ‘Murf’ shares his barbecue skill and inducts you into the knack of the grill, you’ll devour a two-course tasting menu starting with an exclusive version of The Beefy Boys’ famous BBQ sharing platter.

This meaty medley will include the chef’s beef cheek, burnt ends, 12-hour smoked pork belly, 12-hour smoked brisket, hot link sausage and a slider version of the Butty Bach Burger, topped up with portions of BBQ beans, mac & cheese and creamy coleslaw. To round off the feast, sample a decadent, homemade brownie. A must for all griddled food fans and cookout converts!

A night of fast, funny and fabulous improvisation with Paul Merton and Suki Webster. Expect games, stories, songs and laugh-out-loud surrealism, all deftly conjured up on the spot and based on suggestions from you: the audience! These masters of comedy improvisation are joined by special guests, and guarantee a night of raucous entertainment.

Two voices, one upbringing and songs that feel like home. A fabulous opportunity to experience a unique evening of music from brother and sister Johnny and Lillie Flynn. Both are actors and musicians in their own right, but here perform together with harmonies shaped by a shared childhood filled with the same family records spinning in the background.

As they put it themselves: “We’ve always sung together. And we want to celebrate that in a simple way – with songs we love and the way our voices come from the same place and the same memories.” What they bring to the stage is gentle, unfussy and full of heart – a harmony that is grown, lived-in and deeply personal.

An hour of movement and breathwork, led by a highly-skilled Hay-on-Wye practitioner, to start your day at Hay Festival with open heart and mind. Whether you need grounding and recharging before a busy day at the Festival, an opportunity to stretch and move your body, or simply an hour to focus on your breathing, this yoga class is open and accessible to all. The class leader will adapt to different levels of experience, so that each student takes what they need from the practice.

Please bring your own yoga mat and wear loose, comfortable clothing. Booking is essential. Contact Clare Fry at hello@larchwoodstudio.com with questions relating to these classes. Alert your practitioner at the start of class if you have any injuries.

Begin the day with a guided tour of Hay Castle led by its director, art historian Tom True. Explore the castle’s layered history, meet some of the characters who once shaped it and hear how it is being reimagined today as a place for ideas, art and thoughtful encounters. The tour includes time to experience the castle’s new interactive interpretation on the second floor, followed by coffee and pastries.

Coffee and pastry included in the ticket price. Meet in the Great Hall.

Is Europe becoming irrelevant on the world stage? The US and China are battling it out for technological dominance, economic influence, military might and global governance. So where does it leave European nations? This panel puts this profoundly changing world order under the microscope. David Miliband, former UK foreign secretary and now President of the International Rescue Committee, philosopher Susan Neiman, and international law expert Philippe Sands join Misha Glenny, host of the BBC’s In Our Time. Combining political, philosophical and legal perspectives, they discuss the challenges – and opportunities – that lie ahead on the world stage.

When endless to-do lists, constant notifications and mounting expectations compete for our attention, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed in our modern world. Claudia Hammond, with her practical and evidence-based toolkit, can help.

The author and BBC Radio 4 presenter speaks to journalist Catrin Nye, offering practical strategies for managing procrastination, regret, imposter syndrome, perfectionism and more. Arrive feeling like your problems can’t be solved, and leave this event with science-backed solutions to help you feel calmer.

Hammond is a writer and broadcaster, visiting professor of the public understanding of psychology at the University of Sussex, and presenter of BBC Radio 4’s All in the Mind.

Home Fire author Kamila Shamsie chairs a discussion on violence, female power and freedom, through the lens of Tahmima Anam’s fiercely moving novel, Uprising.

Inspired by the real women of Banishanta, Bangladesh, the book follows the lives of a group of enslaved women on a desolate, sinking island, where their children witness the lives of cruelty and servitude that await them. But when a new woman arrives and refuses to accept this destiny, she opens up a horizon of justice and resistance. The children begin to imagine a life of freedom, and collective complacency soon turns into ferocious defiance.

Watch a selection of short films, curated by MUBI, throughout the morning. The day’s schedule will be listed each morning at the venue – pop along and take a look.

Step into the magical world of Bird & Blend Tea Co., discover the secrets of tea mixology and create your own perfect blend in an immersive and interactive Tea Mixology Experience led by an expert mixologist. This hands-on workshop invites you to taste up to six unique blends and test your tea knowledge with an engaging and fun tea matching game.

With expert guidance, you’ll get to craft two custom tea blends to take home and pair with your next fave book! You’ll also learn about different tea types and brewing tips to enhance your tea-making ritual at home. There’ll be an opportunity to ask questions, plus you’ll get a goody bag with free samples. Visit the Bird & Blend Tea Co. stand afterwards for a free gift with purchase (find a special token in your goody bag). Book now – it’s going to be TEArrific!

Come on a walk through the beautiful surrounds of Hay-on-Wye, led by guides from the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. Learn about the historic buildings of the town and its surroundings.

Hay-on-Wye is located within 520 square miles of beautiful countryside that makes up the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. The National Park is driving change to bring about a sustainable future, meeting our needs within planetary boundaries. Their Hay Festival series of walks take you into the town’s local environment while offering the opportunity to learn more about the Park’s work and its treasured landscape.

Music, mindfulness and science come together in this uniquely soothing session from BBC Radio 3 Unwind. Join musician, mindfulness teacher and Radio 3 Unwind presenter Niall Breslin, with BBC science presenter Caroline Steel, for an immersive experience harnessing the power of live music and mindfulness alongside essential tips and scientific evidence to help you unwind, relax and embrace your inner calm.

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 you’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 with Nicola, Children’s Laureate for Wales 2025–27.

Nicola has written over 80 books for children and young people, some of which been translated into 12 different languages and won awards around the world.

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 inside Hay Castle – a border stronghold shaped by myth, power and reinvention. Visit the current BorderLands exhibition delivered in partnership with Meadow Arts, and enjoy full access to the castle, from cellar to rooftop. Explore rooms layered with stories, including Matilda’s room, the Richard Booth space, historic costumes and the castle cellar.

Experience the new, interactive exhibit on the second floor, then climb to the viewing platform for wide views across the Wye Valley. Your ticket also includes unlimited return visits for a full year, so you can come back as the seasons – and the castle – change.

This ticket allows you to visit the castle at a time of your choice on the day selected, and also gives you entry into the Meadow Arts BorderLands exhibition.

Come along on a relaxed and engaging guided walk exploring around the edges of Hay-on-Wye and enjoying its beautiful rural setting. Guided by Sarah Price, a professional walking guide who lives in Hay and knows its landscape intimately, this gentle walk of around three miles leads you out of the town and into scenic fields, peaceful woodland and along the historic River Wye.

Sarah will share stories of Hay’s past and present, and there will be space for pause and reflection, as well as a good chance of spotting some local wildlife. This walk is ideal for Festival-goers looking to stretch their legs, enjoy the countryside and experience a deeper sense of place.

Step inside Hay Castle during Hay Festival 2026 and explore a place shaped by power, survival and reinvention. Led by an expert volunteer guide, this tour traces 800 years of life inside the castle – from medieval plots and royal whispers to its rescue, restoration and reimagining as a place for ideas today. You’ll move through rooms, stairways and towers, hearing stories of the people who lived, schemed, dreamed and partied here. Along the way, take in sweeping views across the Wye Valley – a reminder that this is a border castle, built to watch and be watched.

Guided tours run daily at 11am and 2pm. Tour price includes entry into the Castle for a year including the current exhibition: BorderLands.

Enjoy this 20-minute open-air performance between events. Abergavenny’s friendly Synergy choir has evolved a barbershop-style male, close-harmony a cappella. They sing material from across the 20th century, from the melancholic tones of ballad standards to their own take on upbeat numbers with questionable choreography!

Synergy has a winning track record at the prestigious Cornwall International Choral Festival (winning UK Best Small Choir three times) and the Bangor International Choral Competition, coming away with several first and second prizes, Best Visiting Choir and Best Musical Piece.

Alex Jones (The One Show) is joined by writers from across the Festival in a celebration of their favourite books. They’ll each come armed with a list of recommendations they think you’ll love. Jones will also reveal the Hay Festival Pleasure List – the ultimate list of joyful reading as suggested by you, our audience. This event is perfect for book clubs, or anyone looking for new ideas of what to read next.

Two and a half centuries after the Declaration of Independence, what can historians teach us about the past, present and future of the United States? Who’s really benefitted from the core promises enshrined in the Declaration of equality, liberty and happiness? Writer and professor of American literature Sarah Churchwell and British-Nigerian historian and BAFTA-winning film-maker David Olusoga are joined by author Sarah Pearsall.

Churchwell explores the myths used as origin stories for the United States, and how they still permeate the way the country’s self-image is sold to the rest of the world. Olusoga highlights the persistent legacy of Empire, obstructing the founding ideals and still stubbornly structuring the present. And Pearsall introduces her new book Freedom Round the Globe: How the World Made the American Revolution, revealing how the fires of change that sparked the American Revolution were igniting all around the world.

Mythmaking at Hay Festival: from Medea to Rasputin. Tom Sutcliffe explores the power of mythmaking with three writers who challenge the stories we think we know. Historian Antony Beevor examines the invention and reinvention of the ‘mad monk’ Rasputin. Philosopher Susan Neiman questions the way politics is hijacking fundamental stories for its own ends. And classicist and comedian Natalie Haynes reimagines what Medea really thought of the two-timing Jason. Together they reveal how myths – old, new, personal and political – shape our understanding of the past and frame the battles of the present.

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.

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.

Enjoy this 20-minute open-air performance between events. Abergavenny’s friendly Synergy choir has evolved a barbershop-style male, close-harmony a cappella. They sing material from across the 20th century, from the melancholic tones of ballad standards to their own take on upbeat numbers with questionable choreography!

Synergy has a winning track record at the prestigious Cornwall International Choral Festival (winning UK Best Small Choir three times) and the Bangor International Choral Competition, coming away with several first and second prizes, Best Visiting Choir and Best Musical Piece.

Enjoy an enchanting afternoon at Hay Festival as author and playwright Michael Morpurgo is joined by actress Jenny Agutter and the world-renowned Brodsky Quartet in a unique celebration of music, poetry and the natural world.

In this one-off performance, Morpurgo brings us poetry inspired by the seasons, and blends it with lyrical narration alongside Agutter and a stunning interpretation of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. This is perfect for those who appreciate the meeting of story, music, and landscape – a performance that celebrates the harmony between art and nature.

Hay Festival’s annual lecture celebrates the issues central to the late George Alagiah’s work: migration, the power of the global majority and questions of representation. This year, British-Nigerian historian, author, presenter and BAFTA-winning film-maker David Olusoga discusses the history and legacy of the British Empire and how colonial nostalgia is shaping contemporary geopolitics, with journalist Kirsty Lang.

Join Mike Muncer, host of The Evolution of Horror podcast, and special guests as they explore the journey from page to scream! In this special live edition of the award-winning horror movie podcast, Muncer and his panel, including Empire journalist Becky Darke, will discuss and debate some of the best (and worst) horror literary adaptations. What makes a successful book-to-screen adaptation? And what has the power to terrify us more: a book or a film?

The Evolution of Horror explores the history of horror movies, from the birth of cinema through to modern masterpieces. Host and creator Mike Muncer is joined by experts, critics, filmmakers and horror superfans to examine everything from slasher movies to ghost stories to folk horror and beyond. His first book, The Evolution of Horror, a companion to the podcast, is out in July.

Jenny Evans shares how she took on the establishment to fight for justice in this compelling conversation with BBC broadcaster Samira Ahmed. Cast in a cult film at the age of 18, Evans was on the cusp of something extraordinary; a future of promise. But the new world she was exploring crumbled around her when she was assaulted at a party by a high-profile figure.

Evans reported this crime to the police, but shortly after, details of her report were printed in a tabloid. To find out how this happened, she trained as a journalist herself, fighting back against the systems that caused her harm, and helping expose the phone-hacking scandal. Evans, now training as a lawyer, speaks about her fight for justice in a system that so horrifically fails its victims. Her book Don’t Let it Break You, Honey is an engrossing account of power – who holds it, who wields it, who is silenced in the process.

Be in the audience for the BBC's daily news podcast – diving into the day's biggest news stories so you're never out of your depth.

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 you’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 with Nicola, Children’s Laureate for Wales 2025–27.

Nicola has written over 80 books for children and young people, some of which been translated into 12 different languages and won awards around the world.

Come on a walk through the beautiful surrounds of Hay-on-Wye, led by guides from the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. Learn about the historic buildings of the town and its surroundings.

Hay-on-Wye is located within 520 square miles of beautiful countryside that makes up the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. The National Park is driving change to bring about a sustainable future, meeting our needs within planetary boundaries. Their Hay Festival series of walks take you into the town’s local environment while offering the opportunity to learn more about the Park’s work and its treasured landscape.

Step inside Hay Castle during Hay Festival 2026 and explore a place shaped by power, survival and reinvention. Led by an expert volunteer guide, this tour traces 800 years of life inside the castle – from medieval plots and royal whispers to its rescue, restoration and reimagining as a place for ideas today. You’ll move through rooms, stairways and towers, hearing stories of the people who lived, schemed, dreamed and partied here. Along the way, take in sweeping views across the Wye Valley – a reminder that this is a border castle, built to watch and be watched.

Guided tours run daily at 11am and 2pm. Tour price includes entry into the Castle for a year including the current exhibition: BorderLands.

Enjoy a 20-minute open-air performance between events and listen to some traditional and modern songs from the sea, full of wit, warmth and gusto. Hay-on-Wye’s very own sea shanty crew, Hay Shantymen, have been performing since 2018 at international shanty festivals such as Falmouth and Port Isaac, and have raised over £20,000 for their chosen charity, the RNLI. Their arrangements and harmonies are stronger than ever – always sung with a sense of lively, engaging friendship.

Acclaimed historian Antony Beevor weaves a tale as seductive as Rasputin himself as he presents his unmissable new book. Beevor combines forensic research with gripping storytelling to unpick how Rasputin – a barely literate Siberian peasant – wove an intricate web of seduction and superstition through the Imperial household, resulting in the downfall of a dynasty.

Beevor challenges us to question whether Rasputin was an impressive visionary, an accomplished fraudster or in fact a victim of history. His previous masterful best-sellers Stalingrad and D-Day: The Battle for Normandy position Beevor as one of the great military historians of our times. This is a must for anyone fascinated by Russian history, the forces that shape great empires, and lovers of compelling true stories.

Join the chairs of the 2026 Women’s Prizes for Fiction and Non-Fiction as they discuss the remarkable books recognised by this year’s prizes. Thangam Debbonaire is a politician, cultural strategist and CEO of UK Opera Association. Julia Gillard is the former Prime Minister of Australia, and a women’s rights campaigner. Claire Shanahan, executive director of the Women’s Prize Trust, will introduce the discussion.

The Women’s Prize Trust is the charity behind the Women’s Prize for Fiction, the largest celebration of female creativity in the world, and the Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction, which recognises brilliant writing by female thought-leaders, changemakers and experts.