What to expect from Hay Festival
Ready for a world of different experiences? The booktown of Hay-on-Wye welcomes writers, readers, thinkers and dreamers of all ages for 11 days of events and activities.
There’s something for all ages on site, including dazzling late night performances and a 600+ event line up offering something for everyone. Events include Adam Kay, Amor Towles, Bonnie Tyler, Caitlin Moran, Colm Toibin, Cressida Cowell, Dame Judy Dench, Elizabeth Day, Geri Halliwell-Horner, Greg Jenner, Hamza Yassin, Jacqueline Wilson, Jeanette Winterson, Jeff Kinney, Katherine Rundell, Lenny Henry, Michael Rosen, Merlin Sheldrake, Miriam Margolyes, Rory Stewart, Sara Pascoe, Toby Jones and many, many more.
The Festival Village sits just outside the booktown of Hay-on-Wye, the site is free to enter and open to all to explore at your leisure. Events are individually priced with plenty of free pop-up performances each day.
Set in the tranquil surrounds of the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, it's the perfect holiday adventure for all families.
When is Hay Festival?
This year, Hay Festival will take place from Thursday 23 May to Sunday 2 June 2024.
Where is Hay Festival?
The closest train station can be found at Hereford. This special bus service runs between Worcester, Hereford and Hay-on-Wye throughout the Festival, linking with arrivals at Hereford train station and at Hereford and Worcester Crowngate bus stations. Tickets for all journeys can be bought on the bus.
Ticket prices
- Adults: £10 single, £14 day return, £16 period return
- Children (5 to 15 years): £6 single, £8 day return, £10 period return
- Family of up to four people (max. two adults): £34 return
We’re sorry that concessionary passes cannot be used on this service.
The shuttle operates from Thursday 23 to Monday 3 June. The festival will advertise the shuttle bus timetable closer to the festival dates, so you can make a more detailed plan to get home.