Wales International Harp Festival 

Galeri Arts Centre, Caernarfon, North Wales, 26 - 27 March 2024

Elegant, ear-pricking and mesmerising, the harp is one of Wales' national instruments. At Wales International Harp Festival you can see performances from world class harpists, witness competitions open to players from around the world or take part in a two-day hands-on harpist course for  all ages and abilities.

FOCUS Wales

Wrexham, 09 - 11 May 2024

When FOCUS Wales is on in Wrexham, North Wales, the town is transformed into a multi-venue showcase of Wales' emerging musical talent and some of the best acts from across the globe. Over 10,000 people come to check out 200 bands scheduled across 20 stages. There’s also a full schedule of interactive industry sessions, stand-up comedy, arts events, and film screenings, throughout the festival. 

Band on stage at a live music performance bathed in green light
dyn yn canu ar y llwyfan, gyda menyw yn dawnsio o'i flaen.
cantores ar y llwyfan, gyda dyn gyda gliniadur yn y cefndir.

FOCUS Wales, Wrexham, North Wales

Balter Festival

Chepstow, 23 - 26 May 2024

Balter is a huge annual party held at Chepstow Racecourse for those who appreciate dancing and alternative beats: ska, gypsy, drum’n’bass, garage, disco, dub, and everything in between. Balter started off small and has got bigger: with more stages, more dancing and more madness.

Fire in the Mountain

Near Aberystwyth, festival 30 May - 03 June 2024

For those seeking a spiritual experience, the Fire in the Mountain festival near Aberystwyth offers nourishment for your body and soul. It has a small community feel, and has grown into a small annual event from humble beginnings as a gathering of friends, who played and shared a love of folk, old time, and bluegrass music. Highly recommended. 

Westival

Pembrokeshire, 06 - 10 June 2024

Westival is an underground music and arts festival situated in the heart of Wales, deep in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, just minutes from some of the UK's finest coastlines. Performing artists are encouraged to express their musical knowledge and style, opening the path for longer genre-defining sets. Expect an eclectic line-up and wonderful views.

Gottwood Festival

Anglesey,  13 - 16 June 2024

Gottwood is a mystical little party hidden in the middle of the woods. This independent and intimate underground electronic festival takes place at the Carreglwyd Estate, Anglesey. 

The Gower Festival

Gower, 01 - 13 July 2024

When you've got an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and talented musicians within reach of each other, why not combine the two for a spectacular musical experience? That's exactly what the organisers of the Gower Festival do every year, taking acclaimed musicians to a different atmospheric venue each evening for the first two weeks of July. Join them to soak up the acoustics for yourself along the beautiful Gower Peninsular.

The Weekend Rumble 

Usk, 05 - 06 July 2024

The Weekend Rumble is a two day independent music and arts festival, with great food, bands, DJs and spoken word and poetry. This micro festival is held in the beautiful countryside of Usk, join in for some glamourous barn-based fun. It's a good opportunity to see new and emerging talent.

 

 

Tafwyl

Cardiff, 13 and 14 July 2024

Tafwyl is an annual festival in celebration of the Welsh language. The main event is the weekend-long Tafwyl Fair at Cardiff Castle, featuring performances and appearances from some of Wales' biggest names in the arts, culture and sport. Over both days, Welsh language music is centre stage with performances in three on-site areas. The street food area always delivers delicious food from local producers and eatery owners, while stalls from Welsh makers prove a hit. A fringe festival runs alongside it, with events in various museums, libraries, cafés, bars and arts venues across the city.

Little girl dancing at Tafwyl festival, with Cardiff Castle in the background

Tafwyl Festival, Cardiff Castle, South Wales

Big Love Festival

Usk, 18 - 21 July 2024

Proving that party people run the best events, Big Love is a friendly three-day romp held near Gwehelog, Usk, in Monmouthshire. Part festival, part house party, it’s always a great vibe. There's over 130 DJs, plus workshops, comedy and a circus.

Sesiwn Fawr

Dolgellau, 19 - 21 July 2024

Sesiwn Fawr is a well loved folk and world music festival held in the historic Eryri (Snowdonia) town of Dolgellau. It takes place at various venues in the town centre. There's plenty to do for the whole family including free storytelling sessions and a twmpath dawns on the Sgwâr in the centre of the town.

Sesiwn Fawr Dolgellau 2019

Steelhouse

Ebbw Vale, 26 - 28 July 2024

You might be surprised to find out the Wales plays host to one of the world’s most iconic classic rock festivals, but we do! Steelhouse brings 10,000 rock lovers together in the Welsh valleys to headbang and generally make merry.

Crowds in front of the Trooper Stage at Steelhouse Festival.
Three girls in mud at Steelhouse Festival.

Steelhouse Festival, Ebbw Vale, South Wales

Landed Festival

Llandrindod Wells, 26, 27 and 28 July 2024

Landed is an independent festival celebrating music, arts and entertainment on five stages, plus a dance area. Situated by the historic town of Llandrindod Wells, Landed hosts original breakthrough artists and is set in the natural beauty of a Welsh country estate. There’s a lot to do for the kids, including their infamous 'pimp your duck race'.

The Green Gathering

Chepstow, 01 - 04 August 2024.

The Green Gathering is about having the best festival experience with the least impact on the environment - 'a festival beyond hedonism, powered by wind, sun, people & passion'. This not-for-profit festival offers music, comedy and cabaret, influential environmental speakers and wellness activities including laughter yoga and healing arts workshops. There's also a lot of useful information on their website about reducing your environmental impact travelling to festivals, minimal packing and things not to bring! 

three women, one with a bicycle walking.
band on stage.

The Green Gathering, Chepstow, South Wales

National Eisteddfod 

Rhondda Cynon Taf, 03 - 10 August 2024

The National Eisteddfod is a travelling celebration of Welsh music, language and culture, bringing with it thousands of competitors from across the country. They’ll be taking part in Welsh language contests of poetry and song, culminating in the atmospheric Gorsedd of the Bards, a colourful ceremony honouring the achievements of Welsh poets and prose writers. Everyone’s invited, so don’t be put off if you aren’t a Welsh speaker - though you can take part in an onsite Welsh language lesson if you really want to make sense of it all!

Ceremonial musicians with Welsh flags on instruments.

The National Eisteddfod 

Green Man Festival

Crickhowell, 15 - 18 August 2024.

Once a tiny folk event attended by just a few hundred people, Green Man has grown to be one of the can’t-miss fixtures of the summer festival season. Now welcoming more than 15,000 visitors every year, the line-up reflects the attendees’ varied tastes. Whether you’re a fan of twinkly indie, traditional folk, pulsating garage rock or ear-melting electronica, there’s probably something on the bill for you. There's also a comedy tent, pretty gardens, kids' areas and wellbeing zones, so you can chill out before the burning of the Green Man himself on the last night.

Boy using a large bubble maker to make bubbles
Crowds in front of a stage at Green Man festival.

Green Man Festival, Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park, Mid Wales

Inside Out Festival

Cardiff, 24 August 2024

If your idea of a good time is raving in a city park with thousands of your closest friends, then Cardiff’s Inside Out Festival is the one for you. 

Cowbridge Music Festival

Cowbridge, TBC

Enjoy world-renowned artists and musicians playing in the beautiful market town of Cowbridge in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Find out more about the Cowbridge Music Festival

Sŵn Festival 

Cardiff, TBC

This guerrilla music festival takes over just about every available venue in Cardiff, to showcase raw music talent in intimate spaces. It's loosely based on SXSW in Texas, and designed to unearth the next generation of performers. 

Find out more about Sŵn Festival

band playing at Sŵn Festival, Cardiff.

Sŵn Festival, Cardiff, South Wales

Other Voices

 

Cardigan, 31 October 2024 - 02 November 2024

Other Voices, Ireland's internationally acclaimed music festival and live music television programme, returns to Cardigan for the fifth time. With a variety of music genres, it celebrates the diversity and vibrancy of Welsh and Irish music. In addition to over 80 musical performances, Clebran sessions gives a platform for leading speakers and thinkers.

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