Hay-on-Wye is preparing to welcome back Hay Festival Winter Weekend this November, with four days of conversations, music, comedy, workshops and festive events across the book town.

Taking place from Thursday 26 to Sunday 29 November 2026, the winter edition offers a chance to experience Hay in a different season, when its independent bookshops, cafés, restaurants and local businesses help give the town its distinctive character.

Programme launch and booking dates

The full programme will be announced on Monday 21 September, giving audiences their first look at the authors, performers, speakers and events planned for this year’s winter gathering.

Hay Festival members will have priority booking from Wednesday 23 September, followed by the general sale on Saturday 26 September. These early dates are useful to add to the diary, particularly for anyone hoping to make a weekend of the festival and stay locally.

The Winter Weekend brings the Hay Festival experience into the heart of Hay-on-Wye, with the town coming alive through ideas, performance and seasonal activity. The programme launch will reveal more about what visitors can expect, while the festival’s established mix of talks, music, comedy and workshops provides plenty of reasons to plan ahead.

Hay-on-Wye sits on the edge of Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park, making the Winter Weekend an opportunity to combine festival events with time spent exploring the town and surrounding landscape. Visitors planning an overnight stay can explore BBT member accommodation in Hay-on-Wye and begin looking at local travel arrangements now, ahead of the programme announcement and ticket sales.

Save the dates: Hay Festival Winter Weekend runs from 26–29 November 2026. For the programme launch, membership and booking information, visit the official Hay Festival Winter Weekend website.