Though it may all sound a little old-worldly upon first impressions, the National has developed into a multidimensional event; celebrating contemporary Wales as well as upholding historical convention.
Along with the age-old competitions for poetry and dance, there are now categories for spoken word, literature writing, essays, short stories, humorous performances, and much more. The festival element has also grown significantly in recent years, with glitter featuring almost as prominently as the Gorsedd. Consequently, visitors will find an impressive array of cafes, bars, artisan stalls and street food vendors on site to rival any of Wales’ major summer festivals.
A programme of events is also held to celebrate our wonderful and diverse audiences. The Mas ar y Maes partnership (between Stonewall Cymru and the Eisteddfod) was created to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, and has added an element of the fabulous to proceedings. Recent highlights include Parti Pinc: This is Ballroom presented by the Welsh Ballroom Community, and Qwerin – a queer take on folk dancing.
For younger people, Maes B is the after-dark little brother of the Eisteddfod. A stone’s throw from the main site, the best Welsh pop, rock, indie and hip hop bands and DJs perform until late into the night (or early morning). This is the pinnacle performance for many Welsh bands, and for many young people, this will be their first experience of live music and late-night festival fun — hwyl a sbri!
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