We are pleased to present our travel price list below. The prices are applicable for journeys originating from the city limits of Hereford and cover direct travel to the Hay Festival (and back) between 6:00 AM and 11:00 PM. An additional charge of 50% will apply for travel outside of these hours.

About Hay Festival May/June at Hay Festival

Hay Festival, a gathering in the staggering beauty of the Brecon Beacons National Park with writers, comedians and musicians that have the capacity to change our lives, to share new visions of the world, and to do that incredible thing – to renew our sense of wonder. Join us and join the thing that makes this Festival so special from 22nd May to 1st June 2025.

Explore our 2025 programme

Discover a world of different...

Over the past twelve months, we’ve seen the speed at which our world can change and the high stakes for our times. Here’s a programme to tackle our shared challenges head on with purpose and hope, celebrating new ideas and the power of storytelling to improve our lives.

Discover our 2025 series, explore by genre or just dive in to the full adventure of a programme...

Browse all events

Look out for 2025 series

Daily News Review

Start your day with analysis and insights on the morning’s top stories, from the people in the know. Join our leading journalists and special guests as they take us behind the headlines.

Debut Discoveries

Emerging writers discuss their work with established authors. This is our selection of future award-winners.

Hay Festival Green

Each day we convene experts in interactive events to propose bold solutions to the climate emergency. Find out more about Hay Festival Green.

South to North Conversations

Co-curated by our international teams, these conversations spotlight the shared issues – and solutions – facing the Global South. Presenting the most innovative Global South voices to share diverse ways of seeing the world.

Lviv BookForum

Support Ukrainian storytelling in our events co-curated with Ukraine’s biggest book festival, part of our global partnership.

George Alagiah Memorial Lecture

One of the BBC’s longest serving journalists, George Alagiah could see the world from the perspective of the Global South. We honour him by exploring themes that were close to his heart.

John Caldon Memorial Lecture

Our inaugural John Caldon Lecture challenges the status quo. The investment banker, TV innovator and entrepreneur, who died in 2021, ignited debate, discussion and reflection on most topics in which he took an interest.

Matters of Taste

Artisan producers, top chefs and foodies in the know lead delectable discussions and tantalising tastings.

Sports Day

Sports Day returns on Wednesday 28 May. Worlds collide as leading creatives join sports stars for a showcase of creative talent both on and off stage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Coming to Hay Festival Hay-on-Wye for the first time? Here's everything you need to know, plus some helpful tips...

• WHAT ARE THE DATES FOR HAY FESTIVAL 2025?

Hay Festival 2025 will take place Thursday 22 May to Sunday 1 June.

• HOW CAN I BUY TICKETS FOR THE FESTIVAL?

You don't need a ticket to enter the festival site, but you will need to book individual tickets for each event you would like to attend. We have events that run from 9am in the morning right through the day. There are usually three or four choices across each time slot and, with each event lasting for approximately an hour, our time slots are designed with enough time so that you can get from one event to the next. To avoid disappointment, it is best to book some events in advance, but there may also be availability for some events during the festival itself, so you can purchase tickets at the Box Office when you arrive.

• HOW ARE TICKETS PRICED?

As a charity we rely on ticketing income to fund our work. Our ticket pricing policy is designed to be accessible and sustainable, offering something for all budgets while helping us cover our costs. Hay Festival sites are free to enter with programmed events either ticketed individually or run as free, drop-in sessions. This is marked on the event listings. Ticket prices vary depending on venue, time of day, and associated event costs.

• WHAT IS THE BOOKING FEE?

A booking fee is added to each online order at checkout. Booking fees are calculated at 5% of your order, with a minimum of £3 and a maximum of £10 applied per booking. These fees help us to cover the costs associated with servicing your order. You can avoid the booking fee by buying your tickets in-person at the Festival Box Office in Hay-on-Wye or at any of our live events. 

• WHO ARE THE MEMBERS OF HAY FESTIVAL AND WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF BECOMING A MEMBER?

Members are our loyal supporters whose involvement is greatly valued. In return for an annual subscription, Members get three days’ priority booking on all tickets we release (including the Winter Weekend). Become a Member of Hay Festival.

• WHERE IS THE FESTIVAL?

In Hay-on-Wye, recently named by a Which? survey as the best town in Wales and one of the best in the UK, Hay is situated on the edge of the beautiful Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. We're between Hereford and Brecon just off the A438. The site is located on a green field called Dairy Meadows (HR3 5PJ), just ten minutes walk from the centre of Hay.

• WHEN DOES THE FESTIVAL SITE OPEN AND CLOSE?

The site is open half an hour before the first event until the end of the last event each day, please check your programme for details. The Box Office opens at the same time as the site, but closes when the last event starts.

• HOW DO WE GET TO THE FESTIVAL?

Hay-on-Wye is situated just off the A438 between Brecon and Hereford. The Festival is well signposted. The nearest railway station is Hereford, 21 miles away, and Hereford bus station is served by National Express coaches. 

Railway enquiries | nationalrail.co.uk | 03457 48 49 50

Great Western Railway | GWR.com | 03457 000 125

Coach information | nationalexpress.com | 03717 81 81 81

Public transport information | traveline.info | 08712 00 22 33

• HAY FESTIVAL BUS SERVICES/SCHEDULED BUS SERVICES/FESTIVAL–HAY-ON-WYE SHUTTLE BUS SERVICE 

• DRIVING

• Taxis

• Train

• Bicycle

• WHAT IS THE DISTANCE BETWEEN VENUES?

Most venues are together on the Festival site on Brecon Road, only a few minutes walk from each other.

• HOW LONG ARE THE EVENTS?

Most sessions on site last around 1 hour and are followed by book signings. Our time slots are designed to allow you to move from one event to another. Please check individual listings for non-standard event durations. The evening concerts and comedy shows last 70–90 minutes. 

• ARE THERE EVENTS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES?

Our Hay Festival Families events are for young people and families and are included in the main programme listings. Children aged 11 and under must be accompanied to all events by an adult. A sign in and out procedure will be in place for children aged 9–11 years attending workshops. Children aged 12+ years can attend events and workshops without an accompanying adult.

• WHERE DO WE STAY?

Findmeabed.co.uk is the official accommodation service and booking agent for Hay Festival. Find Me A Bed offers a wealth of information about Hay and the surrounding area, and Sarah will be happy to help you with your accommodation enquiries. Email info@findmeabed.co.uk, or visit the website to view available accommodation. If you would like to camp, our official camping partner is Tangerine Fields. You can also find accommodation information via the local Tourist Information Services. Accommodation in Hay and the surrounding area can also be found on Airbnb and Booking.com – see our accommodation page.

• HOW ACCESSIBLE IS THE FESTIVAL?

Despite the Festival taking place in a field, we do our very best to ensure the whole site is as accessible as possible. All the venues have wheelchair access, and are connected by smooth walkways. The larger venues have hearing loops, and we can arrange for the hard of hearing or lip readers to sit in an appropriate seat. If you have any particular needs relating to events or venues, please let the Box Office know at the time of booking, either over the phone or via the ‘order notes’ when booking online. If you notify us in advance, our stewards will be expecting you – simply make yourself known to them on arrival. Hay Festival is committed to removing barriers for all, regardless of your disability. If you need any additional help which is not listed above, please contact accessibility@hayfestival.com and we will do everything we can to make your visit as easy and stress free as possible. Find out more about accessibility at Hay Festival.

• WILL THE FESTIVAL BE AVAILABLE ONLINE?

Watch this space! We are hoping to be able to offer live, digital access to some of our events. The extent to which this is possible will depend on demand and funding. Please sign up to our mailing list to hear the latest news as soon as it is available. Many of our events will be recorded and become available on Hay Festival Anytime. 

• WHAT ARE THE PUBLIC SAFETY MEASURES ON THE FESTIVAL SITE?

You will need to pass through security before entering the site with bag checks in operation. This will be done with minimal contact. Please allow extra time for arrival and do not bring large bags or rucksacks. Please report anything suspicious to a Festival steward or staff member.

You cannot bring these items onto the festival site, if you are found to have one of the following it will be removed and returned to you when you leave.

• Air horns

• Knives

• Flag poles & banners

• Laser pointers

• Pyro, smoke containers, fireworks

• Spiked umbrellas

• Tools

• Glue

• Cable ties

• Chains

• WHAT HAPPENS IF I’M LATE TO AN EVENT

Every effort is made to ensure that events start on time. Doors open 5–15 minutes before the start time. Customers with e-tickets, please make sure you have the correct barcode ready for scanning. It may not be possible to admit latecomers to all events; however, stewards will try to find a suitable break in the performance.

• HOW ARE THE WRITERS CHOSEN?

We invite the writers, artists, academics, thinkers and performers we most admire. We try to bring the greatest contemporary practitioners and the most exciting new voices to our audiences. We talk to publishers, writers and a huge range of advisors – including many festival-goers themselves. If you have any ideas to share, please send them to submissions@hayfestival.org.

• CAN I BRING MY DOG ON SITE OR ONTO THE FESTIVAL CAR PARK?

Only assistance and/or guide dogs are allowed onto the festival site or festival car park. If you wish to attend the festival with assistance and/or a guide dog, you are welcome to either:

(a) Inform the staff at the entrance of the Festival that you wish to enter with your assistance and/or guide dog on your day(s) of attendance; or

(b) Notify the Festival that you will be attending with your animal in advance by contacting the Box Office by email to: accessibility@hayfestival.com

If your assistance and/or guide dog is not immediately identifiable by an appropriate coat, harness, identification tag or any other means, Hay Festival retains the right to ask you to complete a self-certification form confirming that your animal is an assistance and/or guide dog and is highly trained for these purposes. 

Unfortunately, only assistance and/or guide dogs are allowed on the Festival site, regrettably you will not be able to attend the Festival with an emotional support animal.

You have sole responsibility for the behaviour and well-being of your assistance and/or guide dog. Hay Festival reserves the right to remove or bar entry to any animal when it is exhibiting poor behaviour and/or poses a threat to the health & safety of others.

PLEASE NOTE

Audio recorders, cameras and mobile phones may not be used in the performance venues.

No smoking or vaping anywhere on the Festival site.

A paramedic is on duty at all times.

Visitors to Hay Festival may be filmed and/or photographed for future promotions of the Festival.