HowTheLightGetsIn Hay 2026 takes place from 4:00PM on 22 May to 5:00PM on 25 May 2026 in Hay-on-Wye (HR3 5BZ), on the edge of the Black Mountains beside the River Wye, a five-minute walk from The Globe at Hay.
“There is a crack in everything… that’s how the light gets in.” So goes the Leonard Cohen song from which our festival gets its name. At HowTheLightGetsIn Festival, you can spend the day exploring bold new ideas with leading thinkers and the night dancing, laughing, and celebrating.
HowTheLightGetsIn is not just another festival. It’s a place alive with ideas, where curiosity matters more than celebrity. Alongside familiar names, you’ll discover emerging thinkers, new artists, and conversations that challenge and inspire. Bring your curiosity, share your ideas, and you might just experience a little magic.
