Hay Festival Winter Weekend 2026

The Hay Festival Winter Weekend returns to Hay-on-Wye from Thursday 26 to Sunday 29 November 2026. A more intimate version of the world-famous May festival, the Winter Weekend brings the town’s unique atmosphere — bookshops, good food, and an extraordinary density of ideas — to the darker end of the year, when a log fire and a good conversation feel exactly right.

The programme typically features a mix of literary events, talks, debates and performances, with speakers drawn from the worlds of books, science, politics and the arts. Tickets sell fast for the headline names, but many events are accessible to walk-ins, and the town itself is worth the trip even if you don’t attend a single show — Hay has more second-hand and antiquarian bookshops per square mile than almost anywhere on earth.

Late November in the Wye Valley has a quality all of its own. The valley is golden and misty, the hills are quiet, and the town’s mix of independent cafes, restaurants and bookshops is at its most welcoming. It’s a very different experience from the festival’s busy summer incarnation — slower, more focused, and in many ways more rewarding.

Hay-on-Wye sits on the border between Wales and England in the Brecon Beacons foothills. The town has a range of accommodation including B&Bs and small hotels, though Winter Weekend availability is limited — nearby Brecon (15 miles) and Abergavenny (20 miles) both have more options.