Hay Festival announces eclectic Winter Weekend line-up
The Hay Festival has revealed its full schedule for Winter Weekend 2026, a four-day gathering from 26 to 29 November in Hay-on-Wye, the town known as the “world’s first booktown.” More than 60 writers, artists, and performers will meet at Hay Castle to debate literature, politics, history, science, and the arts.
Literature, history, and science dominate the program
New book releases and in-depth conversations will anchor the event. Novelist Kate Mosse will discuss Autumn: The Story of a Season, while physicist Jim Al-Khalili presents On Time. Historian David Olusoga and journalist Charlotte Higgins will assess the year’s defining news alongside former Scotland First Minister Humza Yousaf, who will recount his family’s evacuation from Gaza.
Welsh history takes a prominent place, with a 60th-anniversary tribute to the victims of the Aberfan Disaster, featuring graphic novelist Jack Lewis and poet Owen Sheers. Meanwhile, curators Sue Brunning and Lloyd de Beer will analyze the Bayeux Mix’s return to Britain after a millennium.
Music and comedy will run parallel to the literary events. Singer-songwriter David Gray will perform alongside conservationist Mary Colwell during an evening focused on nature. Comedians Lucy Porter and Kiri Pritchard-McLean will host Middle-Aged Women Get Sh*t Done, while Radio 1 DJ Greg James will co-present a children’s book event with author Chris Smith.
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A focus on women’s experiences and environmental concerns
Women’s voices will shape multiple discussions, including historical witch trials, female desire, and artistic responses to conflict. Founders of the Witches of Scotland campaign, Claire Mitchell and Zoe Venditozzi, will explore the legacy of the Scottish Witch Trials through their book How to Kill a Witch. Meanwhile, Emma-Louise Boynton, Kate Lister, and Erika Lust will examine Lust, Flick, Pleasure: Female Desire.
Environmental themes appear across several sessions. Actor Caroline Quentin will discuss her new book Drawn to Nature with broadcaster Kate Humble, while journalists Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor will investigate environmental harm. The festival will also screen The Phantom of the Opera (1925) with live organ accompaniment by Father Richard Williams.
Family, loss, and memory will be explored through personal accounts. Olivia Harrison, widow of George Harrison, will share photographs from her posthumous collection Third Eye. Actor Greg Wise will launch Grief Talking, and documentary-maker Eamon Bourke will premiere The Solway, a film about rediscovering his late mother’s family archives.
Early tickets go on sale to Hay Festival Members on 26 September, with general sales opening the same day. The full program is now available online. A free KS1 Programme for Schools, funded by The Moondance Foundation, will offer workshops for primary pupils from state schools in Wales.
The festival’s Book of the Year award will be chosen by public nomination, with past winners including Anthony Shapland, Chloe Dalton, and Dara McAnulty. Hay-on-Wye’s independent shops, cafés, and markets will stay open throughout, ending with the town’s Christmas lights switch-on on 27 November.
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Some events will be live-streamed for international audiences. The festival follows a spring edition scheduled for May 2027, marking its 40th anniversary.
New literary works and authors will feature prominently. Liv Little will discuss Bitter Melon, while Olly Smith presents Death by Noir. Cathy Rentzenbrink explores themes of healing in The Agatha Christie Cure, and Matthew Sweet examines the life of Barbara Cartland in The Great Dictator: A Life of Barbara Cartland. Nick Harkaway brings his speculative fiction to the stage with The Taper Man, and poet-novelist Simon Armitage shares readings from his recent collection. Wales’ Children’s Laureate, Alex Wharton, will highlight poetry celebrating historic Black figures in Wales. Maxine Peake joins the My Life in Books conversation, revealing the titles that shaped her career. Lucian Msamati adds a theatrical perspective, discussing contemporary playwrights’ influence.
Current affairs discussions will include journalists and commentators. Luke Harding analyzes the influence of two global leaders on international politics. Stephen Sackur examines landmark investigations that altered public perception. Symeon Brown joins a panel reviewing the year’s most significant news. Historian Heather Hurley revisits the legacy of regional steam trains, linking past transport to modern sustainability. A session on the history of ceramics, led by potter Keith Brymer Jones, traces developments from early craft to modern design.
Investigative journalism and artistic responses to conflict
Journalist Stephen Sackur will examine investigations that had global repercussions, while Charlotte Higgins will analyze how artists have responded to war through the project Ukrainian Lessons. The discussions will focus on the intersection of media, politics, and creative expression during periods of crisis.
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Poetry and theatrical legacy from British and Irish playwrights
Poet Laureate Simon Armitage will perform readings from the ancient epic Gilgamesh, translating its themes into modern context. Wales’ Children’s Laureate Alex Wharton will present Bright Lives, a collection of poetry honoring historical Black figures in Wales. Meanwhile, actors Lucian Msamati and Greg Wise, alongside theatre director Dominic Dromgoole, will spotlight British and Irish playwrights from the past century, including Samuel Beckett.
Cultural and culinary highlights
Heritage and craft sessions will showcase traditional skills and seasonal customs. The Hebridean Baker explores the components of a Scottish Christmas, while chef Thomasina Miers shares insights into Mexican culinary traditions. The Maclean Brothers recount their transatlantic rowing adventure, emphasizing endurance and teamwork. Local historian Heather Hurley returns to discuss Herefordshire railways, connecting industrial heritage to present-day tourism.
Food and music will intertwine throughout the weekend. Ukrainian chef Olia Hercules discusses generational culinary stories with Charlotte Higgins, illustrating how recipes preserve family histories. Pianist Andrew Zolinsky delivers performances in the castle courtyard, accompanied by the brass ensemble Llareggub Brass Brand. A silent-film screening of a 1925 horror classic will feature live organ accompaniment by Father Richard Williams, creating an immersive experience.
The Moondance Foundation funds a free KS1 Programme, delivering two days of workshops for Merthyr Tydfil schools. Sessions led by Laura Dockrill, Petr Horáček, Alex Wharton, and Sophy Henn provide interactive literary activities. The weekend will conclude with a candlelit storytelling session at St Mary’s Church, offering a reflective finale.
