Thousands of pupils from across the UK will benefit from free entry and a schools programme for Hay Festival’s flagship event in May.
Pupils will benefit from free access to the literature, arts, and culture celebration through interactive events with writers and creatives, taking place from 21st to 31st May.
Support from the Moondance Foundation, Rothschild Foundation and Old Possum’s Practical Trust enables Hay Festival to continue its free schools programme at the flagship Hay Spring Festival (21st - 31st May) and the Hay Festival Winter Weekend (25th - 29th November).
The Programme for Schools at the 2026 Hay Festival will take place on Thursday 21st May (primary) and Friday 22nd May (secondary). KS2 and KS3/4 pupils from state schools across the UK can attend a series of free events on the opening two days of both Hay Festival and Hay Festival Winter Weekend.
Who’s on for schools in May?
21st May:
- KS1 events will feature Children’s Laureate Wales Nicola Davies with poet and writer Joseph Coelho.
- KS2 events feature writers Katherine Rundell, Emma Carroll, Lee Newbery, Maz Evans, Jeffrey Boakye, C M Lewis and Athena Kugblenu; poet Joseph Coelho; and rap star MC Grammar.
22nd May:
- KS3/4 events will feature writers such as Matt Goodfellow, Yassmin Abdel-Magied, Patience Agbabi, Sarah Crossan, Manjeet Mann, Melanie Owen, Nathaneal Lessore, Bernardine Evaristo, Curtis Jobling, and Iszi Lawrence.
For those who can’t access the free events in person, sessions will also be streamed free online and available free after the event. Tickets for both pupils and teachers are free of charge for state schools and must be booked online, with booking open from 25th February.
The event also features the Hay Festival Bookshop, where visitors of all ages can browse books and attend signings by notable authors.
Hay Festival CEO Julie Finch said: “As a charity we exist to offer accessible platforms of cultural exchange. In the UK’s National Year of Reading, our free Schools Programme offers an open door to the world for young people across the UK.
“Ahead of our main programme launch next month, we are delighted to announce these 22 dynamic sessions offering a world of different ideas and experiences in person and online. Join us!”
About Hay Festival
Hay Festival Global brings together voices from the worlds of art, literature, science, politics, music and comedy to listen, talk, debate and create in locations across the world, including Peru, Wales, Kenya and Spain.
The idea of the festival is to encourage people to share ideas and different perspectives, provoking conversations to create a better world. It has expanded over the years to include musical performances and film previews.
For more information about Hay Festival, visit www.hayfestival.com.
