Hay Festival has today released 45 earlybird events for its flagship edition next spring, taking place 21–31 May 2026 in the booktown of Hay-on-Wye, Wales. 

Posted 1 December 2025 Read more

A Room Above a Shop by Anthony Shapland has been named Hay Festival Book of the Year 2025 after hundreds of book lovers nominated their favourite titles of the year online. 

Posted 29 November 2025 Read more

Thousands of school pupils across the UK will benefit from free access to Hay Festival inspiration next year thanks to support from The Moondance Foundation.

Posted 27 November 2025 Read more

Authors Jacqueline Crooks and Vanessa Londoño were announced as the 2026 winners of the Eccles Institute and Hay Festival Global Writer’s Award, in a reception at the British Library last night (Monday 24 November).

Posted 25 November 2025 Read more

Hay Festival has today announced the full programme for its 21st edition in Colombia next year, with events in Jericó (23–25 January), Medellín (27–28 January), Cartagena de Indias (29 January–1 February), and Barranquilla (2–5 February).

Posted 19 November 2025 Read more

The British Library and Hay Festival have today revealed the shortlist for the 2026 Eccles Institute & Hay Festival Global Writer’s Award. Given annually to two writers in the early stages of a new book relating to the Americas, the £20,000 prize is now in its 15th year. 

Posted 13 November 2025 Read more

Gavin & Stacey actress and presenter Joanna Page will switch on Hay-on-Wye’s Christmas lights on Friday 28 November as part of her upcoming Hay Festival Winter Weekend appearance.

Posted 1 November 2025 Read more

Hay Festival Winter Weekend 2025 will offer a world of different experiences, as writers, artists and world-changers mark the changing seasons with new ideas, 26–30 November.

Posted 23 September 2025 Read more

Hay Festival has today announced the full programme for its 11th edition in Arequipa, Peru, taking place 6–9 November 2025.

Posted 10 September 2025 Read more

Hay Festival Education’s Scribblers Cymraeg will bring writers direct to Year 7–9 pupils across Wales this autumn with workshops at Wrexham University, Bangor University, Aberystwyth University, Swansea University and Cardiff University, 3–7 November 2025. 

Posted 9 September 2025 Read more

Ukraine’s Lviv BookForum broadcasts to the world this autumn, 2-5 October, with a stellar programme of headline events run in partnership with Hay Festival Global. 

Posted 29 August 2025 Read more

Hay Festival has announced the line-up for Hay Festival Forum Dallas 2025 in Texas with over 25 artist and 30 events, 17–19 October.

Posted 12 August 2025 Read more

Hay Festival Presenta: Santa Marta will bring together diverse writers and thinkers from Colombia, Latin America and the wider world to inspire audiences, 22–23 July.

Posted 7 July 2025 Read more

Hay Festival is launching a series of new initiatives in response to the growing UK literacy crisis, adding to the charity’s growing list of learning and engagement projects aimed at widening participation in the arts. 

Posted 2 July 2025 Read more

Hay Festival has announced the full programme for its 20th edition in Segovia, Spain, taking place 11–14 September 2025. 

Posted 20 June 2025 Read more

An inspiring mix of writers and thinkers will take to the stage for Hay Festival’s first Birmingham event next month, including poet Bradley Taylor, entrepreneur Margaret Heffernan, journalist Helen Lewis, and science writer Adam Rutherford.

Posted 13 June 2025 Read more

Hay Festival has today announced the full programme for its 10th edition in Querétaro, Mexico, taking place 4–7 September 2025.

Posted 10 June 2025 Read more

In numbers, the Festival saw almost 200K tickets sold, up 8 per cent on last year; more than 52K books were sold, up 10 per cent; and 6,725 school pupils attended the free schools days.

Posted 3 June 2025 Read more

Our monthly 'Meet the Haymaker' series shares stories of the change-makers at the heart of Hay Festival and the impact it has had on their lives. This month, get to know Marianne Wamuyu, Book Bunk and Nairobi Litfest Programmes and Events Manager.

Posted 1 June 2025 Read more

Book Bunk and Hay Festival Global are proud to announce the launch of the Nairobi Literature Festival (Nairobi Litfest) 2025 programme. The festival will take place 26–29 June across three historic public libraries; McMillan Memorial Library, Kaloleni Library and Eastlands Library.

Posted 19 May 2025 Read more