Events and festivals in Wales during May

28 April - 01 May 2023.Talgarth Walking Festival offers great scenery and nature, as well as the opportunity to learn about local history, geology and literature.

29 April - 01 May 2023. Llandudno Victorian Extravaganza takes place each year over the early May Bank Holiday. There's a fun fair, vintage attractions and free entertainment.

Various dates May 2023. There's plenty to keep you entertained with Cadw events across Wales, including The Freeman of Gwent at Harlech Castle (29 April and 01 May), Crown Making at Chepstow Castle (06 - 08 May), Falconry at Tintern Abbey (13 - 14 May plus 17 - 18 June) and Living History in the Castle at Harlech Castle (27 - 29 May).

05 April – 28 May 2023. There’s an art exhibition in Picton Castle. See paintings, prints and photographs of members of Fishguard Arts Society in the Courtyard Galleries.

03 - 07 May 2023.  The Wheelchair Rugby European Championship takes place in the iconic Principality Stadium in Cardiff. Get ready for five days of thrills, spills, and heart-pumping action in the home of Welsh rugby, as Europe’s top eight teams do battle for gold and the chance to qualify for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Tickets are just £10 for adults and £1 for under-16s. There are accessible tickets with courtside viewing for wheelchair users, with a complimentary companion ticket.

04 - 06 May 2023.  Three days of music showcasing 200+ bands using 20 stages. There's no place like Wrexham during FOCUS week. Find out more about FOCUS Wales. They are artists from across the world, including the USA, Canada, Japan and New Zeland. 2023 acts include Billy Nomates, Jodie Marie, Wrexham One Love Choir, Squid, The Coral, A Guy Called Gerald, Cowboyy, The Joy Formidable and Adwaith.

06 - 08 May 2023.  Enjoy three days of great food and entertainment across the Coronation Bank Holiday weekend, with the Foodies Festival in Bute Park. There's music from Scouting for Girls, Toploader, Craig Charles Funk & Soul Club, plus Calum Beatie. Enjoy live cooking demonstrations from top chefs, a drinks theatre, plus younger guests can have fun with cooking too. Dogs welcome on a short lead. 

Various dates May 2023. Enjoy Open-Air Cinema at Cosmeston Lakes, Vale of Glamorgan and Caldicot Castle, Monmouthshire. Book in advance, as these are very popular.

At Cosmeston Lakes there's a choice of Elvis (05 May), Mamma Mia! (06 May) and Top Gun: Maverick (07 May).

Caldicot Castle is the venue for Elvis (12 May), Dirty Dancing (13 May) and Top Gun: Maverick (14 May).

14 May. Dylan Day is celebrated every year on this day, building upon the legacy of the Dylan Thomas 100 Festival. It marks the date Under Milk Wood was first read on stage at The Poetry Centre in New York in 1953. Each year there are performances, online happenings, walking tours and much, much more happening around Wales.

14 May 2023. Eryri Snowdonia Half Marathon is a scenic but tough half marathon, set in the beautiful Eryri Snowdonia National Park, North Wales. It starts and finish in the village of Llanrwst. 2023 is the 11th anniversary for this race.

20 May 2023. The Montgomery Canal Triathlon returns, with a 12 mile cycle from Newtown to Belan, then a five and a half by canoe to Pool Quay, followed by nine and a half mile on foot to finish at Morton.

20 - 21 May 2023. The Royal Welsh Smallholding and Countryside Festival is a celebration of smallholding and rural life. The two day festival has an action-packed programme of entertainment, have-a-go educational activities, talks, workshops, displays and performances.

25 May - 04 June 2023. The Hay Festival takes place for ten days each spring, in the book town of Hay on Wye, Mid Wales. Tickets are now available. There are 30 surprise early-bird events including appearances from Margaret Atwood, Dua Lipa, Fflur Dafydd, Children’s Laureate Wales 2021-23 Connor Allen, The Proclaimers, and many, many more...  

26 - 28 May 2023. Enjoy a variety of music at the In It Together Festival in Margam, including Welsh hip hop group Goldie Looking Chain, James, The Kooks, Dream State, Twin Atlantic, Kelis, Anne-Marie, Ultrabeat, James Bay and Jake Bugg. Dance acts include Groove Armada, Chase and Status with The Shapeshifters, Lovely Laura and Ben Santiago and Bou. There's also DJ Tom Zanetti and Joy Formidable, hugely popular street dance troupe Diversity, with many more to be announced. 

26 - 29 May 2023. HowTheLightGetsIn returns to Hay on Wye. The music and philosophy festival takes place over the bank holiday weekend. There will be 300+ events featuring over 200 musicians, bands and comedians and over 150 of the world’s leading thinkers. Early bird tickets are now available, plus there are student/under 25 tickets.

27 May 2023. Enjoy a ghost hunt in Gwrych Castle, which you may remember from the TV Show I'm A Celebrity ...Get Me Out of Here. There's also one taking place each month throughout the year. 

27 and 28 May 2023. Award winning American rock band Kings of Leon perform at Wrexham AFC's Racecourse ground over the Spring Bank Holiday. Tickets available on Live Nation or Gigs and Tours websites.

28 May 2023. Landscape Challenge Competition at Picton Castle. Bring your own materials. Prize £200 including an annual pass to Picton Garden and a £50 WOW art materials voucher.

29 May - 03 June 2023. The Urdd Eisteddfod is one of Europe's biggest youth festivals. The 2023 festival takes place in Llandovery in Carmarthenshire.

There's loads to see at our seven National Museums, with a variety of permanent displays. Entry to the museums is free. There are charges for some exhibitions.

For a full list of events check the What's On page on the National Museum Wales website.

TBC. The Wye Valley River Festival brings local people, artists and environmentalists together in this area of outstanding natural beauty. There's a varied programme of events, including creative performances, theatre, cinema and workshops, picnics and river walks.