What's going on at Hay Festival?

Discover why over 100,000 people flock to the Herefordshire border every year and find out what's in store for 2026 at one of the world's biggest literary events.

It began in 1988, conceived as an idea around the Florence family table. It now spans two weeks, incorporating hundreds of events across a massive site, which is free to get around (with tickets needed to see the events), based almost in its entirety around the Brecon Road.

Take a tour of the site with CEO Julie Finch and hear how the event got its name from US President Bill Clinton as 'the Woodstock of the mind'.

Kalpana Boodhoo reports.

Image credit: Billie Charitiy/Hay Festival