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‘It’s Glastonbury on wheels’: bards and musicians flock to eisteddfod to celebrate Welsh culture
Wales's national eisteddfod, one of Europe's oldest and largest touring cultural festivals, has returned to its historical birthplace near Cardigan in Pembrokeshire to mark its 850th anniversary. This year's event, Eisteddfod y Garreg Las, celebrates the tradition first recorded in 1176 when the medieval Welsh prince Lord Rhys ap Gruffydd hosted a tournament for bards and musicians at his newly rebuilt Cardigan castle, and it now stands as a major showcase of Welsh language and culture that organisers liken to "Glastonbury on wheels".
Running from 1 to 8 August, the festival features more than 1,000 events and activities and is expected to draw around 150,000 visitors, with bands including Super Furry Animals performing. A five-metre puppet of Lord Rhys, created by Cardigan's Theatr Byd Bach, has toured local towns and villages ahead of the opening alongside the traditional crown and chair awarded for the best free-verse poem. Local fundraising committees have raised £400,000 since the site was announced in 2024, and hundreds of volunteers have helped prepare the grounds near the village of Llantwd.
In short
- National eisteddfod marks 850th birthday near Cardigan, Wales.
- Festival runs 1-8 August with 1,000+ events, 150,000 visitors expected.
- Lord Rhys puppet and £400,000 in local fundraising feature prominently.
Explained simply
An eisteddfod is a Welsh festival of poetry, music and performance, with competitions at its heart. Wales’s national eisteddfod moves to a different place each year, bringing cultural events and visitors to its host area.
The tradition is linked to a gathering held in 1176 by Lord Rhys ap Gruffydd, a medieval Welsh ruler, at Cardigan Castle. Bards—poets and musicians—competed there, and the festival’s prizes for poetry still reflect that heritage.
Today, the eisteddfod is a major showcase for Welsh language and culture, alongside concerts and other events. Hosting it involves local organisers, fundraisers and volunteers, and can bring visitors and activity to the surrounding communities.
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