What is the Hay Festival Winter Weekend?

Hay Festival Winter Weekend is a smaller version of the main Hay Festival, and takes place 26–30 November 2025. The town’s atmospheric market square is a focus of festivities. On Friday 28 November, the Hay Christmas lights are turned on, transforming the town into a winter wonderland brimming with festive cheer.

What’s on?

The Hay Festival Winter Weekend hosts a number of conversations, performances and activities, the majority of which take place in and around the Hay Castle grounds. For more information about the specific events at this year’s Winter Weekend, please click here (external link to the official Hay Festival website). You can book tickets for individual events directly through the Hay Festival website, and this is the recommended way to guarantee a place. Several events are already sold out, so booking in advance is also recommended.

Which book was chosen for the Hay Festival Book of the Year 2025?

At the time of writing, the Hay Festival Book of the Year 2025 had not yet been announced. However, the Hay Festival website states that the winner will be announced just before the start of the Winter Weekend.

You can find out more information about the choice for this year and previous years by clicking here. If you would like to purchase a copy of the Hay Festival Book of the Year for this year or for any of the previous years, please telephone us between 9.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. any day of the week at 01497 820322. Alternatively, you can email us at books@boothbooks.co.uk.

Some of the text on this page was taken from the official Hay Festival website. For the original text and the most up-to-date information on the Hay Festival Winter Weekend, go to www.hayfestival.com.