Music and culture festivals in Wales

Galeri, Caernarfon,  05 - 11 April 2023

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.

Wrexham, 04 - 06 May 2023

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. 

Chepstow, 25 - 28 May 2023

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.

Near Aberystwyth, 01 - 05 June 2023, plus camps in August and September

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. 

Anglesey, 08 - 11 June 2023

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. 

Gower, 04 - 15 July 2023

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.

Hay-on-Wye, 14 - 16 July 2023

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

Cardiff, 15 - 16 July 2023

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.

Pembrokeshire, 20 - 24 July 2023

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.

Ebbw Vale, 28 – 30 July 2023

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.

Llandrindod Wells, 28 - 30 July 2023

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'.

Chepstow, 03 - 06 August 2023

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! 

Boduan, Gwynedd, 05 – 12 August 2023.

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!

Crickhowell, 17 - 20 August 2023

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.

Cardiff, 07 September 2023

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. There's an all day line up, including The Streets, Kojey Radica, Zed Bias and Emmeline.

Cowbridge, 15 - 24 September 2023

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

Cardiff, 20 - 22 October 2023

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

Cardiff, dates TBC

If the thought of camping sends you into a cold sweat, then consider Cardiff’s HUB Festival. Held across a number of venues on Womanby Street, HUB will bring you 150 live acts on 13 stage over 3 days, all accessible with just one wristband. Enjoy a variety of music - rock, reggae, folk, blues, funk, hip hop, pop, jazz, electronic, indie, psych, metal - as many genres as they can find, with promoters/musicians/venues working together to show the rest of the country that Cardiff is absolutely buzzing. You can also find comedy, spoken word and poetry, performance art, live graffiti and street dance, carnival acts, silent discos, workshops, street food, DJs, open mic, buskers and lots more! All ages - under 18s allowed in most venues until 9pm.

Hay-on-Wye, TBC

You can’t go wrong with a festival that grew out of a birthday party - Truefest is an independent music and arts festival and epic house party rolled into one and held in Baskerville Hall, Hay-on-Wye. Enjoy a swimming pool, hot showers, camping, hotel rooms, glamping and free parking - reviewed as the 'The friendliest festival in the UK' by Mpora. 

Dolgellau, TBC.

Sesiwn Fawr is a well loved folk and world music festival held in the historic 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.