Hay Festival has today announced details for Hay Festival Hay-on-Wye Winter Weekend 2024, taking place in the grounds of Hay Castle, 28 November–1 December.
This year will mark the 25th winter edition, bringing together writers, activists and world changers in an inspiring programme, to be announced in full on Tuesday 24 September.
A 350-seater marquee in the grounds of Hay Castle will host an eclectic mix of conversations, candle-lit storytelling, comedy, music and performances for all ages.
Additional events will take place in the Castle’s Clore workshop space, plus venues around town, including St Mary’s Church.
Become a Hay Festival Member today at hayfestival.org/members for early access to the programme and to enjoy three days' exclusive booking at release.
More than 10,000 tickets were sold to last year’s event, up 133% on the previous year, with triple the volume of footfall.
Hay Festival Global CEO Julie Finch said:
“We’ll mark the changing seasons with a world of different experiences at Hay Festival Hay-on-Wye Winter Weekend 2024, offering a heady dose of entertainment and joy alongside some bold visions for the future. Returning to the centre of Hay-on-Wye in the grounds of Hay Castle, we can build on the success of last year’s sold-out event offering access to more Festivalgoers than ever, live and online. Join us!”
Hay Castle executive director Tom True said:
“We are very proud to be hosting the Hay Festival Hay-on-Wye Winter Weekend again at Hay Castle. The festival goes from strength to strength, and we are looking forward another inspiring programme of great creativity and purpose. Our stunning venue guarantees the magical atmosphere that can only be created at Hay Castle.”
Hay Chamber of Commerce director Chris Kemp said:
“Hay Festival Hay-on-Wye Winter Weekend is a wonderful event that brings people to Hay at an otherwise quiet time of year. It marks the start of the festive season in our booktown and is a real boon to our businesses. It’s our favourite weekend of the year!”
Supported by the Powys Shared Prosperity Fund, the Festival weekend sees the Welsh booktown’s independent shops, cafés and markets offer a warm welcome to Festivalgoers within the stunning surrounds of the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park.
Artists featured over the years have included writers Bernardine Evaristo, Damon Galgut, Jeanette Winterson, Rose Tremain, Katherine Rundell, Paul Murray, Lee Child, Douglas Stuart, Robert Macfarlane, Siri Hustvedt, Chibundu Onuzo and Matt Haig; politician Lisa Nandy; campaigners and journalists James O’Brien, Susie Dent, Elizabeth Day, David Olusoga, Katya Adler, Oliver Bullough and Gina Miller; actors Miriam Margolyes, Hugh Bonneville and Emerald Fennell; musicians Elton John and Skin; poet Hanan Issa; scientist Maggie Aderin-Pocock; comedians Dawn French, Matt Lucas and Shazia Mirza; and Hay Festival President Stephen Fry.
Once again, the Festival will draw on public nominations to crown the Hay Festival Book of the Year following past wins for Barbara Kingsolver’s Demon Copperhead, Bonnie Garmus’ Lessons in Chemistry, Deborah Levy’s Real Estate, Dara McAnulty’s Diary of a Young Naturalist, Hallie Rubenhold’s The Five, Sarah-Jayne Blakemore’s Inventing Ourselves and Jackie Morris and Robert Macfarlane’s The Lost Words.