The festival is put together by hundreds of people, from building the site and producing the events to welcoming our guests and spreading the word. We're currently looking for Box Office staff and Site Crew or Hay Festival 2026 and new Trustees to join our Board of Directors. Aged 18-25? The Hay Academy skills development programme is also now open for applications.
Hay Festival Foundation are seeking trustee/s with skills in the following areas:
• International experience within cultural or creative sectors
• Digital production and media expertise
• Fund development and high-net-worth access
• Capital project and infrastructure development
This is a voluntary Board position which is unremunerated, with reasonable expenses for travel and accommodation. Applicants are not geographically restricted.
An application pack can be found here
Closing Date: 31 January 2026
For application enquiries and submissions please contact sian@hayfestival.org
We are currently looking for people to join our Box Office team for Hay Festival 2026.
Applicants will need to be available from early March for paid training and induction, and then work flexible hours according to box office requirements - approx 30 hrs per week - rising to full time plus extra hours during busy periods, plus some Saturdays, until the end of the Festival. It is essential that you are available for the whole duration of the Festival period – 21-31 May 2026.
The role is the first point of contact with customers, assisting with ticket sales on the phone, online and in person. You need to be IT literate and a confident communicator.
Duties include, but are not limited to:
Using the Box Office system to sell tickets and memberships and helping customers navigate the website
Maintaining, editing and updating customer records in accordance with data laws and regulations
Answering queries from the general public, over the phone, via email and face to face
Providing customers with up to date information about travel, accommodation and parking and recommending services available through our official partners.
Assisting customers with problems they may have using the Hay Festival website
Dealing with customer comments and complaints in an appropriate manner
Assisting with Hay Festival brochure distribution
Ensuring that the box office is a friendly, clean and welcoming environment for all customers
Hours of work will vary during the run up to the Festival and some early starts and late finishes will be required. During the Festival the Box office is open from early to late so we would need you to work extended hours during this period.
Pay rate: £12.80 per hour plus meals in crew catering during the Festival (May 21 – 31) included. Applicants will need to have their own accommodation and transport
If you feel that the role may be suitable for you, please send a CV to Linda at linda@hayfestival.org
Come and join the Hay Festival Site Crew!
We are looking for 8 general labourers, plus people with additional skills such as carpentry & fork lift operation. Positions start on 27 April 2026 and run full time through to 7 June 2026, including 2/3 weekends. The Festival is 21 –31 May/
Applicants must be reliable, fit and prepared to work as part of a team to undertake a diverse range of tasks, including:
Candidates must be prepared to work in all weather conditions (PPE provided). A clean driving license and experience of driving a Luton van would be preferable. Good time-keeping necessary.
Pay rate: £12.80 per hour plus meals in crew catering during the Festival (May 21 – 31) included. Applicants will need to have their own accommodation and transport
For further information or to apply please send a current CV to Hannah on hannah@hayfestival.org or call 01497 822 620
Hay Festival Academy is a skills development and practical apprenticeship programme for young people aged 18-25. It gives young people the opportunity to learn, train and practically experience how festivals and live events are created and produced from some of the industry’s most experienced events practitioners. All participants are located at the heart of the Festival and not only have access to the core staff team but also benefit from events and meetings with visiting speakers and artists drawn from the Festival’s programme.
The Academy places an emphasis on practical training and development, ensuring that each participant develops a deep knowledge and understanding of their chosen specialism. All participants gain invaluable experience of working on an internationally renowned Festival over 11 days and are given an unequalled opportunity to put their skills into practice in a live and public setting.
Young people who’ve taken part in Hay Festival Academy have gone on to work in the events industry, write books, secure jobs in publishing and broadcasting and to enjoy careers in the wider creative and media industries. Some have even come back to work with us! If you would like to join us we would love to hear from you.
Support
Hay Festival Academy placements are unpaid but participants are provided with free accommodation (rooms in houses) in Hay-on-Wye, three meals a day during the Festival and travel expenses to and from Hay on Wye.
All participants are supported throughout their placement and encouraged to develop and extend their skills.
EVENTS MANAGEMENT
Each year Hay Festival attracts some of the world’s leading writers, artists and thinkers, to talk, share their thoughts and ideas and meet audiences. Ensuring guests are warmly received and well looked after during their stay has always been a crucial mission and one of the Festival’s key jobs.
All events management volunteers need to be attentive and helpful. In return, they get the chance to meet some amazing, creative people, and experience the daily running of a fast-moving international festival, where time-keeping is important and, above all, performers and audience leave having had a thoroughly enjoyable, stimulating and thought-provoking day.
Events management volunteers help out with a wide range of duties including meeting and greeting authors, assisting with book signings, hospitality in the green room, accompanying artists to events, stage management assistance, assisting illustrators and workshop leaders in the setting up and running of workshops and manning reception desks.
Who can apply?
We are looking for 23 young people between the ages of 18 and 25, who can demonstrate a passion for the arts and interest in events management. In return we can promise you an exhilarating 11 days, where you will not only get to meet some of the world’s leading writers and thinkers, but also make lifelong friendships.
All successful applicants are required to stay for the duration of the Festival: 21 May – 31 May 2026
How to apply
Please send a copy of your CV and a short letter detailing your experience to summer@hayfestival.org
Deadline for applications is 17 February 2026 and we will let applicants know whether they've been successful as early as possible. If shortlisted, you'll need to be available for a short Zoom interview.
If you have any questions or queries please do get in touch via the email above.
PRESS OFFICE
Over the 11 days of the Festival we welcome a range of media eager to share their stories with a global audience. Our Hay Festival Academy press officers are based in the Press Office on the Festival site, and work with our media team to help meet the needs of the world’s press. You will help with tasks such managing press accreditation, greeting and assisting accredited press, collating daily press reports, and facilitating interviews with authors and performers.
The Press Office is a hub of activity and provides invaluable experience for anyone interested in pursuing a career in press and publicity. You must be an excellent communicator, highly motivated and organised.
Who can apply?
We are looking for three graduate students, up to the age of 25, who are eager to gain experience in publicity and arts events.
Applicants will need to be available from 19 May– 1 June 2026 (this year’s Festival dates are 21 May–31 May).
How to apply
Please send a CV, a short covering letter and example of your work to christopher@hayfestival.org.
Deadline for applications is 17 February 2026 and we will let applicants know whether they've been successful as early as possible. If shortlisted, you'll need to be available for a short Zoom interview.
If you have any questions or queries please do get in touch via the email above.