The Eisteddfod

Choir competition during the Eisteddfod, Wales
Choir competition during the Eisteddfod, Wales

NEED TO KNOW

LOCATION The Eisteddfod moves to different locations in Wales, returning every four years to the capital, Cardiff, in the southeast of the country

WHEN Eisteddfod takes place in the first week of August

VISITORS PER YEAR

Around 160,000

DAYTIME TEMPERATURE

60°F (16°C) in August

Taking its name from the Welsh word eistedd (“sit”), this vibrant eight-day festival is an out-and-out celebration of Welsh culture and heritage, staged entirely in the Welsh language. First held in 1176 and revived in its present form in 1860, the Eisteddfod is today the most famous festival in Wales. More than 6,000 people take part in drama, music, poetry, and prose competitions, held in a different Welsh location each year. The Eisteddfod Pavilion, an enormous tent set up in the host town, is the focal point of the event (portable hand-sets providing English translations are on offer here). A wealth of performances, exhibitions, and concerts take place in other nearby venues.

Practical Information

Getting There and Around There are regular flights to Cardiff from the neighboring English cities of Birmingham, Bristol, and Manchester. Long- distance bus services run between many English and Welsh towns. Check timetables for train times.

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