About Hay Festival Winter Weekend
The Hay Festival Winter Weekend is an annual, intimate festival held in Hay-on-Wye shortly before Christmas. Events take place at venues throughout the town, featuring a diverse programme of author talks, music, comedy, and performances, alongside children’s workshops and Christmas shopping.
Over the course of four days, more than 70 artists take part in over 60 events at Hay Castle and various locations across our ‘town of books’. They launch the best new fiction and non-fiction, engage with some of the most significant issues of our time, and spread festive cheer through talks, candlelight storytelling, film screenings, comedy, and workshops.>
The town’s atmospheric market square serves as the heart of the celebrations: on Friday, Hay’s Christmas lights are switched on, transforming the town into a winter wonderland brimming with festive spirit—complete with carol singing, readings, and evening entertainment. On Saturday, the Hay Food Festival celebrates everything great about winter cooking, with over 50 stalls showcasing the very best of local produce, ranging from savoury treats to sweets.
On Sunday, Hay Does Vintage transforms the square into a festive open-air flea market, featuring over 50 vintage and retro traders offering a diverse collection of items—from clothing, textiles, and jewellery to furniture, collectables, and kitchenware.
26 - 29 November 2026
