National Eisteddfod programme
The National Eisteddfod is the largest cultural festival in Europe, held in a different part of Wales each year.
In 2026, the National Eisteddfod reaches a remarkable landmark, marking 850 years since Wales’ very first Eisteddfod.
Join us at Eisteddfod y Garreg Las, Pembrokeshire, from 1 to 8 August 2026 as we celebrate centuries of Welsh culture, creativity, and community.
Saturday 1 August 2026
| Time | Session | Description | Led by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10:00-18:00 | Welsh at Cardiff | Join Sioned for an inspiring, friendly conversation about the exciting Welsh‑language opportunities waiting for you at Cardiff University - from courses and community to culture and campus life. | Yr Academi Gymraeg |
| 10:00-17:00 | Social Science Quiz and Riddle Challenge | Put your social science knowledge to the test with an interactive mix of online quizzes and riddles designed to challenge your thinking and spark your curiosity. You’ll also get a first look at the Esboniadur Gwyddorau Cymdeithasol (Social Science Glossary), a new resource we’re developing to help explain key concepts and theories. Explore the glossary, try out a themed quiz, and see how well you can solve social-science-inspired riddles. | School of Social Sciences |
| 10:00-18:00 | Studying at Cardiff University | Discover what life at Cardiff University is really like - from vibrant student communities to inspiring courses and a city full of energy and opportunity. Come and chat to our Recruitment team to find out more. | Recruitment Team |
Sunday 2 August 2026
| Time | Session | Description | Led by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10:00-18:00 | Welsh at Cardiff | Join Sioned for an inspiring, friendly conversation about the exciting Welsh‑language opportunities waiting for you at Cardiff University - from courses and community to culture and campus life. | Yr Academi Gymraeg |
| 10:00-18:00 | Studying at Cardiff University | Discover what life at Cardiff University is really like - from vibrant student communities to inspiring courses and a city full of energy and opportunity. Come and chat to our Recruitment team to find out more. | Cardiff University Recruitment Team |
| 10:00-17:00 | Dental Careers: Hands-On Exploration | Explore the wide range of career pathways within the dental team and discover the essential role we play in promoting health and managing disease. You’ll also have the chance to test your dexterity on our training equipment - from practising procedures on phantom heads to placing fillings in realistic tooth models. Come and speak with us to learn more about this rewarding and impactful profession. | School of Dentistry |
| 10:00-17:00 | Widening Participation | Come and chat to us about how our targeted programmes and partnerships engage and inspire thousands of learners across Wales, equipping them with the knowledge, skills and sense of belonging needed to progress to higher education. | Widening Participation team |
| 11:30 and 15:00 | Gerald of Wales - Thrice to Rome | A dramatised reading of the play, written by Professor Norman Doe KC FBA, about Gerald's three appeals to the Papal Court in Rome (1200-03) to recognise his election as Bishop of St Davids and the independence of the Welsh Church from the Archbishop of Canterbury. | School of Law and Politics |
| 14:00 | Societies Session | ‘“O! am aros yn ei gariad”: Cofio Ann Griffiths.' An introduction by Professor E. Wyn James to the life and work of the famous hymn-writer Ann Griffiths, to mark the 250th anniversary of her birth. Under the auspices of Bryntirion Press and the Evangelical Movement of Wales. A warm welcome to all. | School of Welsh |
Monday 3 August 2026
| Time | Session | Description | Led by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10:00-18:00 | Welsh at Cardiff | Join Sioned for an inspiring, friendly conversation about the exciting Welsh‑language opportunities waiting for you at Cardiff University - from courses and community to culture and campus life. | Yr Academi Gymraeg |
| 10:00-18:00 | Studying at Cardiff University | Discover what life at Cardiff University is really like - from vibrant student communities to inspiring courses and a city full of energy and opportunity. Come and chat to our Recruitment team to find out more. | Recruitment Team |
| 10:00-17:00 | Widening Participation | Come and chat to us about how our targeted programmes and partnerships engage and inspire thousands of learners across Wales, equipping them with the knowledge, skills and sense of belonging needed to progress to higher education. | Widening Participation team |
| 10:00-16:00 | Blood pressure testing | Join medics from our School of Medicine to have your blood pressure tested. | School of Medicine |
| 15:30 | Q&A with students - Why do you want to be a doctor? | Join Awen Iorwerth, Clinical Reader at Cardiff University and Trauma and Orthopedic Surgeon, Cwm Taf Glamorgan, for an informative session on applying to study Medicine at Cardiff University and learn about the opportunities to study and train through the medium of Welsh. | School of Medicine |
Tuesday 4 August 2026
| Time | Session | Description | Led by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10:00-18:00 | Welsh at Cardiff | Join Sioned for an inspiring, friendly conversation about the exciting Welsh‑language opportunities waiting for you at Cardiff University - from courses and community to culture and campus life. | Yr Academi Gymraeg |
| 10:00-18:00 | Studying at Cardiff University | Discover what life at Cardiff University is really like - from vibrant student communities to inspiring courses and a city full of energy and opportunity. Come and chat to our Recruitment team to find out more. | Recruitment Team |
| 10:00-16:00 | Blood pressure testing | Join medics from our School of Medicine to have your blood pressure tested. | School of Medicine |
| 11:30 | Societies session | The “Demetian” dialect of y Garreg Las and its surrounding area. This panel discussion will provide an opportunity to learn about dialect studies conducted in the area of this year’s Eisteddfod. | Panel: Dr Christine Jones, Dr Gwen Awbery and Ms Fflur James; chair: Dr Iwan Wyn Rees (Cardiff University) |
| 15:30 | Societies session | The Annual Lecture of Wales International by Professor E. Wyn James: ‘“Y byd newydd, ym mha un y preswylia cyfiawnder”?: Morgan John Rhys a Chaethwasiaeth Americanaidd.’ [‘“The new world, wherein dwelleth righteousness’?: Morgan John Rhys and American Slavery.’] A warm welcome to all. | School of Welsh |
Wednesday 5 August 2026
| Time | Session | Description | Led by |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOMEC Cymraeg: Myfyrwyr ar y Maes | JOMEC Cymraeg Students will be learning all about what it takes to create engaging multi-platform content from the Eisteddfod. | School of Journalism, Media and Culture | |
| 10:00-17:00 | Meet our students | Step into the Cardiff University tent and get a real feel for student life as you chat with our current students about their courses, their experiences, and what it’s really like to live and study in Wales’s capital city. | Cardiff University Students’ Union |
| 10:00-17:00 | Play, create and discover with the Wales Cancer Research Centre | Join the Wales Cancer Research Centre for a hands-on, family-friendly experience exploring the future of cancer research. Create your own colourful DNA bracelet or keyring to take home, step into our immersive ‘cancer blast' virtual reality game and add your message to our 'Dragon of Hope' by sharing your hopes for the future of cancer research. | Wales Cancer Research Centre |
| 12:00 | Know a Story | Launch of a new Jomec Cymraeg digital course for the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol to help students and pupils know a gripping news story. | School of Journalism, Media and Culture and Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol |
| 12:30-14:00 | Modern Agricultural Law for Wales | A discussion between Dr Nerys Llewelyn Jones (Law Commission Special Counsel for Wales), Georgina Withers-Boalch (Legal Assistant, the Law Commission) and Keith Bush KC (Fellow in Welsh Law, Wales Governance Centre) Welsh to English simultaneous translation available | School of Law and Politics |
Thursday 6 August 2026
| Time | Session | Description | Led by |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOMEC Cymraeg: Myfyrwyr ar y Maes | JOMEC Cymraeg Students will be learning all about what it takes to create engaging multi-platform content from the Eisteddfod. | School of Journalism, Media and Culture | |
| 10:00-17:00 | Meet our students | Step into the Cardiff University tent and get a real feel for student life as you chat with our current students about their courses, their experiences, and what it’s really like to live and study in Wales’s capital city. | Cardiff University Students’ Union |
| 10:00-18:00 | Ask me about my research | Come and talk to researchers from across the University. Learn about their work, how they got into the field of interest, and ask the questions you'd love an answer to. With a variety of work on offer, there's lots to see and learn. | |
| 15:00-16:00 | Alumni/Students' Union reception | A chance to meet with your fellow Alumni and current student community, socialise and share stories of your time at Cardiff and lives since! Update your details and find out about the ways you can get involved to inspire the next generation of Cardiff University. | Development and Alumni Relations | Cardiff University Students' Union |
| 11:30 | Societies session | Annual Lecture of Cardiff University’s Centre for Welsh American Studies, by Professors E. Wyn James and Bill Jones: ‘Ar daith yng Ngogledd America: llwybrau bywyd Francis Lewis (1713–1802) a William Daniel Davies (1838–1900).’ [‘Travels in North America: the life paths of Francis Lewis (1713–1802) and William Daniel Davies (1838–1900).’] A warm welcome to all. | School of Welsh |
Friday 7 August 2026
| Time | Session | Description | Led by |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOMEC Cymraeg: Myfyrwyr ar y Maes | JOMEC Cymraeg Students will be learning all about what it takes to create engaging multi-platform content from the Eisteddfod. | School of Journalism, Media and Culture | |
| 10:00-17:00 | Meet our students | Step into the Cardiff University tent and get a real feel for student life as you chat with our current students about their courses, their experiences, and what it’s really like to live and study in Wales’s capital city. | Cardiff University Students’ Union |
| 10:00-18:00 | Ask me about my research | Come and talk to researchers from across the University! Learn about their work, how they got into the field of interest, and ask the questions you'd love an answer to. With a variety of work on offer, there's lots to see and learn. | |
| 10:00-16:00 | Media Cymru: Experience media innovation in action | Media Cymru is driving fair, green and global innovation in Wales’ media sector. Meet film and TV industry innovators and discover how R&D into new ideas are shaping the future of media in Wales. Come and experience their live demos, which will use technologies such as virtual reality and AI. | |
| 12:45 | Live Podcast with the First Minister for BBC Radio Cymru Location: Y Babell Lên | Join Professor Richard Wyn Jones (WGC) and Bethan Rhys Roberts (BBC) for a live podcast with Rhun ap Iorwerth, First Minister of Wales, as they discuss the key issues shaping Wales, its future, and the world of Welsh politics. |
Saturday 8 August 2026
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| Time | Session | Description | Led by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10:00-17:00 | Meet our students | Step into the Cardiff University tent and get a real feel for student life as you chat with our current students about their courses, their experiences, and what it’s really like to live and study in Wales’s capital city. | Cardiff University Students’ Union |
| 10:00-15:00 | Ask me about my research | Come and talk to researchers from across the University! Learn about their work, how they got into the field of interest, and ask the questions you'd love an answer to. With a variety of work on offer, there's lots to see and learn. | |
| 15:30-16:30 | Q&A with Dr Aled Eirug and Professor Richard Wyn Jones | Join us as we mark the publication of Dr Aled Eirug’s biography of Dafydd Elis-Thomas with a special question and answer event. | |
| 13:30-14:15 | Societies Session: The 2026 Election | Using data collected by Cardiff University's Wales Governance Centre, its Director, Professor Richard Wyn Jones, will explain the result of the 2026 Senedd Wales Election and explore what the result could mean for the future of Welsh politics. |
The largest cultural festival in Europe, held in a different part of Wales every year.
