Hay Festival Members – Terms & Conditions

    Last updated: September 2026

    1. About These Terms

    These terms and conditions ("Terms") apply to all Hay Festival Membership tiers: Priority Booking Membership, Solo Membership, Membership, Membership+, Patrons' Circle, Benefactors' Circle, Chair's Circle, and President's Circle (together, "Membership"), accepting where benefits vary by tier. Please read them carefully before purchasing, renewing or upgrading. By joining, you agree to these Terms.

    Hay Festival is operated by Hay Festival Foundation Limited, a registered charity (1070073). References to "we", "us" or "Hay Festival" mean Hay Festival Foundation Limited.

    2. Membership Tiers and Pricing

    Membership is available at the following annual prices:

    Tier

    Annual Price

    Membership Fee

    Suggested Donation

    Priority Booking Membership

    £40

    £40

    n/a

    Solo Membership

    £60

    £60

    n/a

    Membership

    £80

    £80

    n/a

    Membership+

    £200

    £200

    n/a

    Patrons’ Circle

    £1,250

    £700

    £550

    Benefactors’ Circle

    £2,500

    £1,250

    £1,250

    Chair’s Circle

    £5,000

    £1,700

    £3,300

    President’s Circle

    £10,000

    £2,500

    £7,500

    For Circle Members, the total price includes a membership fee and a suggested charitable donation. The donation element is eligible for Gift Aid if you are a UK taxpayer - you will be asked to confirm this at the point of purchase. The breakdown of fee and donation is shown in the table above.

    The donation element is voluntary. If you wish to join at the membership fee only, without the suggested donation, please contact our Box Office on 01497 822 629 before purchasing.

    3. Duration and Renewal

    All memberships are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase. We will notify you ahead of your renewal date.

    If your membership is set to renew automatically, it is your responsibility to ensure your payment method is up-to-date with us ahead of your renewal in order to maintain uninterrupted access to membership benefits.

    If your membership is not set to renew automatically, it is your responsibility to renew your membership in good time in order to maintain uninterrupted access to membership benefits.

    If you are unsure whether your membership is set to renew automatically or not, please get in touch with our Box Office team and they will be happy to help.

    4. Benefits

    The benefits associated with each membership tier are as set out on our membership page at www.hayfestival.com/members.

    Please note:

    • Benefits are subject to availability and may be changed or withdrawn at any time, though we will always aim to give reasonable notice of significant changes.
    • Unless otherwise stated, all benefits relate to Hay Festival, Hay-on-Wye, and Winter Weekend only, and do not extend to other Hay Festival events in the UK or internationally, except where explicitly included for your tier (see Complimentary Tickets to UK and Non-UK Hay Festival Events below).
    • Where benefits are described as subject to availability (for example, reserved seating and complimentary tickets) these are offered on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot be guaranteed.
    • Complimentary tickets and discount vouchers are non-transferable and may not be exchanged for cash.

    Priority Booking

    All members receive early access to book Festival tickets ahead of the general public sale.

    • Priority Booking Membership, Solo Membership and Membership receive 3 days of priority access.
    • Membership+ and all Circle Members receive 5 days of priority access.
    • You must hold an active membership at the time of booking to use this benefit.
    • Priority booking opens at a date or dates announced by Hay Festival each year and tickets remain subject to availability.
    • We reserve the right to amend priority booking windows with reasonable notice.

    Members' Newsletter

    All members receive the Hay Festival members' newsletter, keeping you informed of Festival news, programming announcements, and member-relevant updates throughout the year.

    • The newsletter is delivered by email. It is your responsibility to ensure your email address and contact preferences are kept up to date with us.
    • We will not be held responsible for newsletters that are undelivered due to outdated contact details, preferences, or spam filtering.

    Priority Queuing Access for Venues

    Members with a Hay Festival lanyard may use priority queues at Hay Festival UK, Hay-on-Wye venues, allowing faster entry ahead of the general public queue.

    • Solo Members receive one lanyard. Members and above receive two lanyards. Priority Booking Members do not receive a lanyard.
    • Lanyards are named, must be worn visibly on site at all times, and presented on request.
    • Lanyards remain the property of Hay Festival and are strictly non-transferable - they may not be lent to or used by any person other than the named member.
    • Misuse of a lanyard may result in it being withdrawn.
    • Lost or damaged lanyards will not automatically be replaced and an administration fee may apply. Please contact us as soon as possible if this occurs.
    • Priority queuing is not available at Winter Weekend or other UK or non-UK Hay Festival events.

    Hay Festival Spring Programme Delivered by Post

    Solo Members and above receive a printed copy of the Hay Festival, Hay-on-Wye, Spring Programme delivered to their registered address ahead of the Festival.

    • Delivery applies to UK addresses only. Members with an overseas address may collect their copy at the Festival, or contact us at members@hayfestival.org to arrange international postage, for which an additional charge will apply.
    • We cannot be held responsible for programmes that are delayed or undelivered due to postal service issues. If you have not received your programme within a reasonable time of the announced despatch date, please contact us.

    Wild Card Tickets

    Each morning of Hay Festival Hay-on-Wye and Winter Weekend, Member+ and above have the opportunity to claim two complimentary Wild Card tickets These tickets are designed to enrich your Festival experience by giving you the chance to discover an extra event you might not otherwise have planned to attend - they are not intended as a substitute for booking tickets in the normal way.

    • Each day, the Hay Festival team curates a selection of Wild Card events from across the programme. Tickets may only be claimed for those events and the selection will vary daily.
    • Tickets are available to claim between 9am and 10am each morning on a first-come, first-served basis. Once an event is fully claimed it will no longer be available that day.
    • Details of how to claim Wild Card tickets will be communicated to eligible members ahead of the Festival.
    • Wild Card tickets are for your personal use and are non-transferable. They cannot be exchanged for cash or for tickets to other events, and unclaimed tickets cannot be carried over.
    • Holding a Wild Card ticket does not constitute grounds for a refund or exchange of a ticket for a clashing event.
    • Wild Card tickets are not valid as a replacement for any paid ticket you hold for another event in the same time slot.
    • Wild Card tickets may not be used as a substitute for a previously purchased ticket for the same event, including where that ticket has been cancelled or exchanged prior to the Wild Card claim.
    • We reserve the right to monitor Wild Card usage and to withdraw this benefit from any member found to be misusing the scheme, and to reinstate the original ticket charge where misuse is identified.
    • In the event that an event is cancelled or significantly changed, our standard cancellation policy will apply.

    Invitations to Festival Lounge Drinks Receptions

    Member+ and above will receive invitations to members' drinks receptions held in the Festival Lounge during Hay Festival Hay-on-Wye.

    • Receptions are hosted events and attendance is subject to capacity.
    • Invitations will be issued ahead of the Festival. Places cannot be guaranteed if you have not confirmed your attendance by the date specified on your invitation.
    • Invitations are personal to the named member and are not transferable.
    • The number of receptions held each year and their scheduling is at Hay Festival's discretion.

    Opportunities to Meet the Hay Festival Team

    Member+ and above will have opportunities to meet members of the Hay Festival team during the Festival. These opportunities may take place at drinks receptions or other members' events.

    • Specific arrangements will be communicated ahead of the Festival.
    • These interactions are informal and do not confer any right of access to the Festival team, Festival artists, speakers, or other third parties.

    Hay Festival Book of the Year Delivered by Post

    Member+ and above receive a copy of the Hay Festival Book of the Year delivered to their registered address.

    • Delivery applies to UK addresses only. Members with an overseas address may collect their copy at the Festival, or contact us at members@hayfestival.org to arrange international postage, for which an additional charge will apply.
    • The Book of the Year is selected at Hay Festival's discretion and announced each year.
    • We cannot be held responsible for copies that are delayed or undelivered due to postal service issues.

    Ticket, Merchandise and Partner Discount Vouchers

    Member+ and above receive access to a set of discount vouchers applicable to Festival ticket purchases, Hay Festival merchandise, and offers from selected Festival partners.

    • Vouchers are issued at Hay Festival's discretion, are valid only during the periods stated on each voucher, and are non-transferable and non-exchangeable for cash.
    • Partner offers are subject to the individual partner's own terms and conditions and may be withdrawn or varied by the partner at any time without notice. Hay Festival accepts no liability in connection with partner offers.

    Access to Circle Suite, Including Complimentary Refreshments

    Patrons' Circle members and above have access to the Circle Suite during Hay Festival Hay-on-Wye.

    • Access includes complimentary refreshments provided within the Suite.
    • Admission is via named lanyard, which must be worn and presented on request at all times.
    • We reserve the right to manage entry to protect the quality of the experience for all Circle Members.
    • Complimentary refreshments are for the personal use of the member and their permitted guests as set out in clause 5. The selection and volume of refreshments available may vary across the Festival.

    Daily Complimentary Car Park Pass

    Patrons' Circle members and above receive a complimentary car park pass for each day of Hay Festival Hay-on-Wye, together with a Hay Festival car sticker denoting access to complimentary parking in the designated area.

    • Car stickers are issued in advance of the Festival and are non-transferable. They are valid for one vehicle only and must be displayed as directed.
    • Daily passes will be delivered to the named member by email QR code each morning of the Festival and must be presented to car park attendants on request.
    • We reserve the right to vary parking arrangements where circumstances require, including in response to site or logistical constraints outside our control.

    Free Ticket Exchange and Refunds

    Patrons' Circle members and above may exchange or obtain a refund on tickets purchased through the Hay Festival Box Office, free of any administration charge.

    • This benefit applies to tickets purchased directly from Hay Festival during your active membership year and does not extend to tickets purchased through third-party sellers.
    • Requests must be made by the end of the day before the relevant event takes place. Requests made on the day of an event cannot be guaranteed.
    • Patrons' Circle and Benefactors' Circle members should make requests directly with the Box Office. Chair's Circle and President's Circle members may make requests through their Development team contact.
    • This benefit does not affect your statutory rights as a consumer.

    Acknowledgement of Support

    Circle Members are acknowledged for their support as follows, subject to their consent:

    • Patrons' Circle: acknowledgement on the Hay Festival website.
    • Benefactors' Circle: acknowledgement on the website and in the printed Festival Programme.
    • Chair's Circle and President's Circle: acknowledgement on the website, in the printed Programme, and at the Festival itself.

    If you would prefer not to be acknowledged publicly, please notify the Development team as early as possible. We can update the website promptly, but please note that print deadlines mean late requests may not be reflected in the Programme until the following year.

    Acknowledgements will reflect the name or designation provided by you at the time of joining or renewal. If you would like to amend the name used, please notify the Development team.

    Complimentary Tickets to UK Hay Festival Events

    Benefactors' Circle members receive up to 12 complimentary tickets to UK Hay Festival events per membership year, to a combined maximum face value of £200. Chair's Circle and President's Circle members receive up to 20 complimentary tickets per membership year, to a combined maximum face value of £500.

    • Complimentary tickets can be used for both Hay Festival, Hay-on-Wye, and Winter Weekend events.
    • To claim complimentary tickets, members must complete the online claim form, made available prior to booking opening. Claims cannot be made by phone or email, though queries may be made at any time.
    • Where the face value of a ticket exceeds the remaining value in your allocation, the difference must be paid at the standard ticket price.
    • Any additional tickets purchased beyond your complimentary allocation must be booked separately, either online at hayfestival.com or by contacting the Box Office on 01497 822 629.
    • Payment for additional tickets is by card only - we are unable to accept payment by bank transfer.
    • Tickets are subject to availability, cannot be carried over between membership years, and may not be exchanged for cash.
    • This benefit applies to Hay Festival-operated UK events and does not include third-party or partner events.

    Complimentary Tickets to Non-UK Hay Festival Events

    Benefactors' Circle members receive up to 6 complimentary tickets to non-UK Hay Festival events per membership year. Chair's Circle and President's Circle members receive up to 10 tickets per membership year.

    • To claim tickets, please contact your Development team point of contact or email members@hayfestival.org. We will provide reasonable advance notice of how to claim tickets for non-UK events.
    • Tickets are subject to availability, cannot be carried over between membership years, and may not be exchanged for cash.
    • Non-UK event tickets are subject to the terms and conditions of those events; local conditions, currency, and availability may affect how and when tickets can be allocated.

    Reserved Seating in Venues

    Benefactors' Circle members and above may reserve seats in Festival venues ahead of the general public at both Hay Festival, Hay-on-Wye, and Winter Weekend:

    • Reserved seating is subject to availability and is not offered at all venues or for all events.
    • Seats are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot be guaranteed for any specific event.
    • Reserved seats must be occupied in good time before an event's stated start time. We reserve the right to release unclaimed reserved seats up to 10 minutes before an event begins.
    • Reserved seating is allocated based on tickets booked by the named member through the Hay Festival Box Office or website. A lanyard alone does not confer reserved seating access and members must have a valid ticket for the event in question to access reserved seating.
    • Guest lanyards do not automatically grant access to reserved seating. As reserved seating is tied to the named member's ticket booking, it cannot extend to guests unless their tickets are included within the members’ booking. Access for guests remains entirely at the discretion of event stewards on the day and cannot be requested or guaranteed.
    • Reserved seating provides access to the best available seats. For a small number of premium events where front row or similarly designated seating is included as part of the premium ticket price, those seats are reserved for premium ticket holders regardless of membership tier.
    • All reserved seating arrangements on the day are managed by event stewards, whose decisions are final.

    Access to Artists' Restaurant

    Benefactors' Circle members and above have access to the Artists' Restaurant during Hay Festival Hay-on-Wye.

    • Access is subject to availability and must be arranged in advance. Details of how to book will be provided ahead of the Festival.
    • We reserve the right to manage capacity at our discretion.
    • Access to the Artists' Restaurant does not confer the right to interact with, or be seated alongside, any specific Festival artist or speaker.

    Invitations to Artists' Parties and Special Receptions

    Benefactors' Circle members and above will receive invitations to Artists' Parties and other special receptions held during Hay Festival Hay-on-Wye.

    • Invitations are personal to the named member and are non-transferable.
    • Attendance is subject to capacity and cannot be guaranteed if you have not confirmed attendance by the RSVP date specified on your invitation.
    • The number and nature of events held each year is at Hay Festival's discretion.
    • Invitations do not confer the right to private or extended access to any specific Festival artist or speaker.

    Personal Invitations to Exclusive Events

    Chair's Circle and President's Circle members will receive personal invitations to a selection of exclusive events during the Festival year, which may include dinners hosted by our Chair of Trustees and other special gatherings.

    • Invitations are personal to the named member, are non-transferable, and are extended at Hay Festival's discretion.
    • Attendance is subject to capacity and cannot be guaranteed if you have not confirmed attendance by the RSVP date specified on your invitation.
    • The number, nature, and scheduling of events may vary from year to year.
    • Receipt of an invitation in one year does not create an entitlement to an invitation to the same or any similar event in a subsequent year.

    Dedicated On-Site Concierge Service

    Chair's Circle and President's Circle members have access to a dedicated concierge service during Hay Festival UK events.

    • The concierge service is there to support your visit and help you make the most of your membership benefits on site. Details of how to reach your concierge will be provided ahead of each event.
    • A key function of the concierge service is ticket management. Chair's Circle and President's Circle members may return tickets for refund or exchange directly to their Development team contact, who will process the request with the Box Office on their behalf. Members do not need to contact the Box Office directly.
    • To guarantee a refund or exchange, ticket returns must be made to your Development team contact by the end of the day before the relevant event. Requests received on the day of an event cannot be guaranteed and will be processed at the discretion of the Box Office.
    • The concierge service is available during event hours only and is subject to staff availability. It does not extend to arranging access to benefits beyond those included in your membership tier.

    Special CEO Invitation to the Green Room

    President's Circle members may, at the personal discretion of the CEO, receive a special invitation to visit the Green Room during Hay Festival Hay-on-Wye.

    • This is not an automatic or guaranteed benefit and confers no general right of access to the Green Room.
    • Entry is only possible when accompanied by the CEO or their designated representative.
    • An invitation in one year does not create an expectation of an invitation in any subsequent year.

    Opportunity to Create Benefits Bespoke to You

    President's Circle members have the opportunity to discuss and agree a set of bespoke benefits tailored to their individual interests and requirements.

    • Any bespoke benefits are subject to agreement with the Hay Festival team and will be confirmed in writing before they take effect.
    • Bespoke benefits do not form part of these Terms and must be separately agreed in writing.
    • Hay Festival reserves the right to decline any request that is not operationally feasible, exceeds the value of the membership, or is inconsistent with our charitable mission and values.

    5. Circle Members - Guests

    We understand that Circle Members may wish to bring family members or friends to enjoy Festival benefits with them. The following arrangements apply.

    Member lanyards
    Circle Members receive two lanyards granting access to priority queuing, the Circle Suite, and where applicable to their tier, reserved seating. These lanyards are for the personal use of the named member only, or where a membership is held jointly, one lanyard per named member.

    Children under 18
    Children under the age of 18 may accompany a Circle Member and access the Circle Suite and priority queuing free of charge, without needing a Festival Lounge day pass. Under-18s will be issued a complimentary lanyard for this purpose. Members are responsible for the behaviour and supervision of any under-18s in their party at all times. We reserve the right to limit the number of under-18 guests admitted to the Circle Suite at any one time in order to manage capacity.

    Adult guests (18 and over)
    Members wishing to bring adult guests to access Circle benefits must purchase a Festival Lounge day pass for each guest, for each day they wish to attend. Upon presentation of a valid day pass, guests will receive a complimentary lanyard granting access to priority queuing and the Circle Suite. The maximum number of adult guests per membership is two per day. Day passes are subject to availability and we cannot guarantee availability for guests if passes are not booked ahead of the relevant Festival day.

    Guest access to reserved seating
    Guest lanyards – whether issued to adult guests or under-18s - do not automatically guarantee access to reserved seating. Access to reserved seating for guests remains at the discretion of event stewards on the day, even when the guest is accompanied by the named member. Please see further information under ‘Reserved seating in venues’ in clause 4.

    Using guest lanyards
    Guest lanyards are issued on the day upon presentation of the member's own lanyard (and a valid day pass for adult guests). Guests must be accompanied by the named member when first accessing the Circle Suite. Once admitted, guests may use the Suite and priority queuing independently for the remainder of that day. Guest lanyards must be returned to the Development team at the end of the day, even if the guests are due to return.

    Families and group arrangements
    We recognise that some members may wish to bring larger family groups, including multiple adults, across several days of the Festival. Where standard guest day pass costs would be disproportionate, we encourage members to contact the Development team ahead of the Festival to discuss whether a discounted arrangement can be agreed. Any such arrangement is at Hay Festival's discretion, is not guaranteed, and will be confirmed in writing before the Festival begins.

    General guest conditions
    The member is responsible for the conduct of all guests and under-18s in their party while on site. Hay Festival reserves the right to withdraw guest access without refund where these conditions are not observed.

    6. Gift Membership

    Gift membership is available for Priority Booking Membership, Solo Membership, Membership, and Membership+ tiers. Gift memberships are valid for 12 months from the date of activation by the recipient. They are non-refundable once activated and cannot be exchanged for cash. Gift memberships are not available for Circle tiers. If you would like to discuss gifting a Circle membership, please contact the Development team.

    7. Cancellation and Refunds

    Cooling-off period
    When you purchase membership, you have the right to cancel within 14 days of purchase for a full refund, provided you have not yet used any membership benefits (including priority booking access). To cancel within this period, contact us at boxoffice@hayfestival.org.

    After the cooling-off period
    Membership fees are non-refundable once the cooling-off period has passed, or once you have used any membership benefits, whichever comes first.

    Exceptional circumstances
    We will consider refund requests made outside the cooling-off period on a case-by-case basis where there are genuine exceptional circumstances, such as serious illness. Please contact us at members@hayfestival.org to discuss.

    8. Festival Cancellation or Significant Changes

    In the unlikely event that Hay Festival, Hay-on-Wye, Winter Weekend, or any other event to which membership benefits apply is cancelled, postponed or significantly curtailed due to circumstances outside our control (including but not limited to extreme weather, force majeure events or matters of public safety) we will notify all affected members as soon as reasonably practicable. In such circumstances, unused ticket entitlements will be handled in accordance with our standard ticketing terms. We will not be liable for any travel, accommodation, or other consequential costs incurred by members. Where a significant portion of the Festival is affected, we will consider requests for partial credit or goodwill gestures at our discretion.

    9. Ticket Purchase Policy

    Members may purchase tickets for Festival events subject to availability. We reserve the right to review any order that appears to involve an unreasonable quantity of tickets or that suggests resale or commercial activity. We may cancel such orders at our discretion; if so, we will notify you and issue a full refund for the cancelled tickets.

    10. Membership Suspension

    Where a concern is raised about a member's conduct, we reserve the right to suspend membership access while the matter is being reviewed. Suspension is a precautionary measure and does not constitute a finding of wrongdoing. We will aim to resolve any review promptly and will notify you of the outcome. If membership is subsequently withdrawn, clause 11 applies. If no action is taken, suspended access will be reinstated without loss to the member.

    11. Changes to Benefits or Terms

    We reserve the right to update these Terms or modify membership benefits from time to time. We will notify current members of any significant changes by email or letter. Continued use of your membership after notification of changes constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

    12. Transferability

    Membership is personal to the named member/s and is non-transferable. Benefits, lanyards, and complimentary tickets may not be sold to or used by another person, except as described in clause 5 (Circle Members - Guests). Misuse of membership benefits may result in membership being withdrawn without refund.

    13. Conduct

    Members and their guests are expected to behave respectfully and in keeping with Hay Festival's values, including connectedness and inclusivity. We reserve the right to suspend or withdraw membership without refund if a member's or guest's behaviour is found to be threatening, abusive, discriminatory, or otherwise inappropriate. Such decisions are made at our discretion and are final.

    14. Data and Privacy

    Your personal data will be held and processed in accordance with our Privacy Policy, available at www.hayfestival.com/legal. We will use your data to administer your membership, send you the members' newsletter and relevant communications, and improve our services. You may update your marketing preferences at any time by contacting us or via your online account.

    15. Liability

    To the fullest extent permitted by law, Hay Festival shall not be liable for any loss or disappointment arising from the unavailability of benefits that are subject to availability, or from changes to the Festival programme. Nothing in these Terms affects your statutory rights as a consumer.

    16. Governing Law

    These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes arising from your membership will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

    17. Contact Us

    Email: members@hayfestival.org
    Phone: 01497 822 629

    For Circle Members, your Development team contact is your first point of call for any membership query.

    Hay Festival Foundation Limited is a registered charity (1070073). Your membership supports our charitable work.