Hay Festival, Hay-on-Wye kicked off today (Thursday 23 May) with the free schools programme, bringing together writers and young readers for a series of inspiring interactive activities and conversations in person and online with support from the Welsh Government and the Rothschild Foundation. 

3500 pupils from 72 schools joined the Festival for KS2 events included writers Maz Evans, Katie & Kevin Tsang, Connor Allen, Yassmin Abdel-Magied, MG Leonard, Kiran Millwood- Hargrave, Lee Newbery, Jeff Kinney, Matt Goodfellow, Adam Rutherford, Tọlá Okogwu and Children's Laureate Wales 2023-2025 Alex Wharton.

KS3/4 events will feature writers Alex Wheatle, Jenny Valentine, Sarah Crossan, Phil Earle, Aneirin Karadog, Ashley Hickson-Lovence, Nicola Garrard, AM Dassu, Anthony Horowitz, Daniel Morden, Frances Hardinge and Manon Steffan Ros. Plus, a live recording of BBC Radio 4’s Front Row will spotlight the power of literature in front of an audience of pupils.

Over the next 10 days, more than 700 artists will appear at the Festival, launching the best new fiction and non-fiction, while offering insights and debate around significant global issues, the programme sees writers, policy makers, pioneers and innovators take part from around the world, offering big thinking and bold ideas.

Hay Festival Hay-on-Wye is free to enter. Discover the full programme and book individual events online now at hayfestival.org/hay-on-wye