I love autumn, but I always feel nostalgia for the summer, and a little stab of apprehension about the dark days ahead. It feels important to have something to look forward to. And it's hard to imagine a better way to spend a few dark winter days than at the Hay Festival Winter Weekend.
When it’s on
Hay Festival Winter Weekend is a feast of conversations, storytelling, comedy, music, and family workshops. A smaller counterpart to the main Hay Festival, which is held in spring, the winter weekend usually takes place in late November or early December. The 2025 festival runs from 26–30 November, and the full programme of artists is now available. Tickets are now on general sale.
The historic town with its atmospheric market square is a hive of activity during the festival. On the Friday, the Hay Christmas lights are turned on, transforming the town into a winter wonderland brimming with festive cheer.
What to do locally
A few years ago I was given a wonderful opportunity: I was accepted onto the Hay Writers At Work scheme, a workshop which nurtures and supports emerging writers. Here, at the festival, I started writing my first novel, and made friends and memories to last a lifetime. I got a bit lost too, in a good way. I went to events not only to see people I knew I loved, but others who I had never heard of, who talked about things I'd never thought of. All of which taught me something new.
Catrin KeanThe Hay Festival holds a special place in my heart. It's a place where the magical and unexpected happens."
Wander. Get a bit lost. Search for treasure, in the town as well as at the festival. This is a small town with a huge heart, with over twenty bookshops. There's the gorgeous Richard Booth's Bookshop with its rich-red wooden interior, or the labyrinthine Hay Cinema Bookshop, the largest in the UK, or shops that deal in specific genres such as the delightfully named Murder and Mayhem. Search for vintage clothes and vinyl, jewellery and trinkets. Stop for lunch or drinks in the The Old Electric Shop and browse its grotto of curiosities and delights.
A perfect day
The Hay Festival holds a special place in my heart, the place where my dreamed-of novel writing career became a reality. It's a place where the magical and unexpected happens. I remember Amanda Palmer coming to talk to us at Writers At Work. She was warm and generous – and then she said she wanted to sing. She put a call out for a ukulele, and to our surprise and delight a ukulele duly arrived. She sang for us, and then we all sang ‘Perfect Day’ together.
Which seems like the perfect song for this festival.
What to expect at Hay Festival Winter Festival 2025
In 2025, visitors to the five‑day Hay Festival Winter Weekend (26–30 November) will discover inspiration across more than 80 events – with thought‑provoking debates on the issues shaping our world, live performances that stir the heart, and creative workshops designed to ignite the imagination. A festival of ideas and joy, it promises to bring warmth and sparkle to the darkening days of November.
Taking place in the historic grounds of Hay Castle and spilling into the welcoming shops, cafés and markets of Hay‑on‑Wye, the festival hosts a dazzling line‑up of acclaimed writers, performers, and thinkers.
This year’s programme celebrates the power of storytelling in all its forms. Novelists Sebastian Faulks, Mick Herron, Oyinkan Braithwaite, Carlos Fonseca and Natalie Haynes will share their latest works, while actors Joanna Page and Jonathan Pryce bring stage and screen perspectives into the mix. Political activist Maria Alyokhina and journalists including Lyse Doucet, Imran Khan and Jehan Alfarra will explore democracy, technology, and the shifting world order.
As ever, poetry, music and comedy are woven through the weekend. Hollie McNish will perform her new collection, while Fun Lovin’ Criminals frontman Huey Morgan offers a one‑off musical set. Comedians Olga Koch, Mark Watson, Rachel Parris and Marcus Brigstocke add laughter to the winter nights, and artist Charlie Mackesy shares his creative journey.
History, science and big ideas are at the festival’s core. Historians Alison Weir, Sarah Churchwell and David Olusoga revisit the past with fresh insight, while physicists Paul Davies and Vlatko Vedral open windows onto the mysteries of the universe. Chef Raymond Blanc, broadcaster Hamza Yassin, lexicographer Susie Dent and writer Jung Chang bring their own unique expertise to the stage.
Families and schools are at the heart of the celebrations too, with a free Schools Programme opening the festival thanks to new funding, ensuring young audiences across Wales can share in the magic.
Julie Finch, CEO, Hay FestivalHay Festival Winter Weekend marks the season’s change and year’s end with a celebration of community, bold visions and hope."
Many of the speakers will be launching their new books and discussing their inspiring life stories. Expect politicians, journalists and geographers. Expect lots of laughter and seasonal joy as well as discussions about the natural world and live music.
And, to add that final bit of Christmas sparkle, the Hay Festival Book of the Year will be announced.
How to get tickets
Tickets for the next event can be purchased from the Hay Festival website, where you can sign up to the newsletter to find out the latest information about what's on.
If you aren’t able to join in-person, you can watch from the comfort of your own home, as many events will also be streamed online, accessible with an Online Festival Pass for £20. You can also watch past events on Hay Player (currently £20 per year subscription, with a Hay Player gift subscription also available).
