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Salman Rushdie joins Hay Festival 2025 programme to preview new work

Salman Rushdie joins Hay Festival 2025 programme to preview new work
Renowned writer, free speech advocate and Booker Prize winner Salman Rushdie will appear at Hay Festival 2025 this spring in a new event announced today. 

Hay Festival Book Club partners Charleston Festival and Vintage Classics for centenary celebration of Mrs Dalloway

Hay Festival Book Club partners Charleston Festival and Vintage Classics for centenary celebration of Mrs Dalloway

Hay Festival Book Club is partnering Charleston Festival and Vintage Classics this month to celebrate 100 years since Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf was published.

Hay Festival unveils The Platform artists: emerging stars to debut new work

Hay Festival unveils The Platform artists: emerging stars to debut new work
Hay Festival has today unveiled the selection for The Platform, an opportunity for creatives aged 21–28 to showcase new work at the world-famous event in Wales.

Writers at Work announced for Hay Festival 2025 – Welsh talent takes centre stage

Writers at Work announced for Hay Festival 2025 – Welsh talent takes centre stage

Hay Festival has announced the participants of Writers at Work 2025, a creative development programme for Welsh writers at Hay Festival this spring (22 May–1 June) with the support of Literature Wales and Folding Rock, funded by Arts Council of Wales. 

Free BBC events announced for Hay Festival 2025

Free BBC events announced for Hay Festival 2025

An exciting mixture of free BBC events have been added to Hay Festival 2025 including debut appearances from The Archers Podcast, What’s Up Docs?, Lady Killers, Unspeakable, Human Intelligence, Take Four Books, and more. 

James Corden and Ruth Jones join Hay Festival 2025 programme

James Corden and Ruth Jones join Hay Festival 2025 programme
Gavin and Stacey creators James Corden and Ruth Jones will discuss their anticipated new book and share the backstage story of their award-winning show at Hay Festival 2025 this spring.

Hay Festival announces return of The News Review

Hay Festival announces return of The News Review


Hay Festival will partner with The Independent once again to reprise The News Review, a series of morning panels at Hay Festival 2025 with renowned guests. 

Where great minds meet – Hay Festival 2025 programme revealed

Where great minds meet – Hay Festival 2025 programme revealed

Hay Festival has unveiled the full programme for its 38th spring edition in Hay-on-Wye, Wales, with more than 600 events over 11 days, 22 May–1 June 2025.  

Hay Festival unveils inaugural George Alagiah Lecture for 2025 programme

Hay Festival unveils inaugural George Alagiah Lecture for 2025 programme

Journalist George Alagiah’s impact and legacy will be commemorated through a new lecture to be hosted each spring at Hay Festival Hay-on-Wye. 

Hay Festival to debut in Birmingham with new After Hours event

Hay Festival to debut in Birmingham with new After Hours event

One of the world’s biggest cultural events is making its Birmingham debut this year as Hay Festival hosts a new After Hours edition in the city. 

MUBI to spotlight visionary filmmaking with first-ever Hay Festival cinema

MUBI to spotlight visionary filmmaking with first-ever Hay Festival cinema

Film distributor, streamer and production company MUBI will partner with arts charity Hay Festival to spotlight visionary filmmaking and the best of world cinema in 2025. 

The Platform is back

The Platform is back

Hay Festival has today announced the return of The Platform, an open call for creatives aged 21–28 to submit their new work to be showcased in Hay-on-Wye, 22 May–1 June.

Hay Festival unveils free Schools Programme, 22–23 May 2025

Hay Festival unveils free Schools Programme, 22–23 May 2025

Hay Festival has announced the free Schools Programme to open the spring edition in Hay-on-Wye, which takes place 22 May–1 June 2025.


Firman colaboración para la décima edición del Hay Festival Querétaro, con más sedes y grandes invitados

Firman colaboración para la décima edición del Hay Festival Querétaro, con más sedes y grandes invitados

Se confirma la celebración del Hay Festival Querétaro 2025, entre el 4 y el 7 de septiembre. Entre las primeras confirmaciones de participantes se encuentran la escritora británica Deborah Levy, el escritor colombiano Juan Gabriel Vásquez y el periodista canadiense John Vaillant. Constelaciones Hay Festival, será el proyecto que guiará las conversaciones culturales de esta décima edición.

Hay Festival 2025 programme cover revealed by new Illustrator in Residence

Hay Festival 2025 programme cover revealed by new Illustrator in Residence

Artists Lizzie Lomax has been announced as this year’s Hay Festival Illustrator in Residence with her cover, out today, designed to mark 100 days until the Festival. 

Hay Festival and Folding Rock join forces for Writers at Work

Hay Festival and Folding Rock join forces for Writers at Work

Hay Festival will partner Folding Rock to spotlight emerging Welsh creatives on its Writers at Work programme in Hay-on-Wye, 22 May–1 June 2025.

Hay Festival unveils line-up for new After Hours event in Bristol

Hay Festival unveils line-up for new After Hours event in Bristol

An inspiring mix of writers and thinkers will take to the stage for Hay Festival’s first Bristol event next month, including academic Fara Dabhoiwala, slam poet Vanessa Kisuule, historian David Olusoga and story guru Will Storr. 

The light of Arequipa

The light of Arequipa
As part of the Literary Pairs project by the Hay Festival and the British Council, several participating writers have contributed texts about it. Here we share the piece by Hari Kunzru, who participated in the 2024 Hay Festival Arequipa.

Caroline Michel awarded Hay Festival Medal for Leadership to mark decade of impact

Caroline Michel awarded Hay Festival Medal for Leadership to mark decade of impact
Outgoing chair of Hay Festival Global Caroline Michel has been awarded a special Hay Festival Medal for Leadership to celebrate her decade of impact at the charity.

Hay Festival to debut in Bristol with new After Hours event

Hay Festival to debut in Bristol with new After Hours event

Hay Festival will debut in Bristol next year, hosting a new After Hours edition at Bristol Beacon on Thursday 27 March 2025, offering a world of different experiences in a single night.