Book Earlybird Tickets Now
HowTheLightGetsIn Hay 2026 is set in a magical location on the edge of the Black Mountains, alongside the river Wye in the famed book town of Hay. The site is located just off Newport Street, HR3 5BZ. It is about a 5 minute walk from the Globe at Hay, Newport St, Hay-on-Wye, Hereford.
HowTheLightGetsIn Hay 2026 Gift Tickets are now available to purchase!
Whether you're planning ahead for Christmas, a birthday, or simply want to say thank you, our Gift Tickets are the perfect way to share something truly special with loved ones.
Next Spring Bank Holiday give the gift of being able to join world-leading philosophers, pioneering scientists, and political giants, alongside hilarious comedy and entrancing music performances, to the big-thinkers in your life.
How Gift Tickets work
Simply check the 'make it a gift' option on the ticket you wish to gift on our tickets page. You will receive a digital confirmation, and we will send a printed Gift Ticket for the lucky recipient to unwrap.
HowTheLightGetsIn Hay 2026 is running from 22nd-25th May 2026. Festival tickets will provide access to a huge range of events, including debates, talks, music, comedy, academy and late night parties.
HowTheLightGetsIn Hay 2026 is set in a magical location on the edge of the Black Mountains, alongside the river Wye in the famed book town of Hay. The site is located just off Newport Street, HR3 5BZ. It is about a 5 minute walk from the Globe at Hay, Newport St, Hay-on-Wye, Hereford.
Yes, and under 12s do not need a festival ticket to gain entry to the site.
No, pets are not permitted on the festival site.
Please refer to our Disability Arrangements for full details on Guide Dogs & ESAs.
Unfortunately, due to licensing reasons and to ensure safe access to our festival pitches, we cannot allow vehicles on the campsite. This includes campervans.
Parking is available to book from our extras page when you checkout.
If you're having any issues purchasing your ticket, please email enquiries@artandideas.org with the subject line 'Ticket Issue'. Please state the issue as well as your phone number and a member of our team will get back to you as soon as possible.
We do not issue physical tickets. All you need is your confirmation code (HA___) found in your confirmation email to collect your Festival Wristband at the Box Office. If you're not able to find your code, please email enquiries@artandideas.org or call T: +44 (0) 20 7837 3000.
You can apply all discounts at checkout if you open 'Click here for offers/ insider codes'. Only one discount can be used per ticket. If you have a Friends Discount, you will need to enter your code at checkout. Student and under 25 tickets can be added to your basket on our festival passes page. Please note that discounts are only valid for HowTheLightGetsIn Festival Tickets.
Our terms and conditions, details of which you can find on the INFO page, state that we cannot refund tickets nor a ticket transfer.
All events will be released on IAI.tv at a later date. Pick up a ticket plus subscription and your first three months' access to IAI.tv is just £4.
Debates: 1 hour including a 15 minute audience Q&A
Solo Talks / Hat Sessions: 45 minutes
Academy Talks: 2 hours total including two 45 minute sessions with a half hour break
For health and safety reasons, external food and drink other than bottled water is not allowed on site. You must keep all food and drink on the campsite.
For all customer enquiries, please email enquiries@artandideas.org. Our team will aim to get back to you within 72 working hours.
Contact Sara at education@artandideas.org for our planning resource pack, including a draft risk assessment, letter to parents and promotional brochure.
HowTheLightGetsIn is proud to partner with leading newspapers, national media organisations and like-minded charities. If you're interested in a partnership for HowTheLightGetsIn Hay 2026, please contact Tess at press@artandideas.orgt
This ticket is issued by TVF Limited on behalf of the Institute of Art and Ideas, henceforth the ""organisers"", and is subject to the terms and conditions indicated on this ticket or displayed at the ""venue"", HowTheLightGetsIn Festival in Hay-on-Wye. Purchasers should note that this ticket is sold by the organisation responsible for the event.
Purchase and possession of a ticket signifies agreement to the following conditions:
1. This ticket is issued subject to the rules and regulations of the organisation, operators and management of the venue.
2. Every person entering the event must have a valid ticket.
3. Ticket holders are required to carefully check their tickets in advance of their visit; mistakes may not be rectified on the day.
4. The organisers reserve the right to refuse entry of the ticket holder to the event site. Customers found to be causing damage to the site, the site infrastructure, causing harm to any other person on site or in breach of these conditions will be subject to prosecution.
5. The organisers reserve the right to search all persons and personal property and refuse admission to, or eject from, the site any person who refuses to be searched by a security official.
6. This ticket is not transferable. No money will be refunded or tickets exchanged after purchase unless the event is cancelled. In the event of cancellation, the promoter’s sole obligation and liability shall be to offer a ticket for an alternative performance by the relevant artist, if available, or a full refund of the face value of this ticket. No other claims will be entertained. You will be contacted directly about cancellations at the email address used for your booking. Any questions about your claim should be directed to enquiries@artandideas.org.
7. No duplicate tickets or wristbands will be issued in the event of loss.
8. All accommodation bookings are final and non-refundable. No refund or offer of exchange or rollover will be given by the company in the event of the booking not being fulfilled.
9. Admission to the site and performance is at the ticket holder’s own risk. Neither the promoter nor the site management shall be held liable for any injury or damage sustained within the site.
10. Ticket holders give their express consent to the use of their actual or simulated likeness in connection with the production, exhibition, advertising or exploitation of any film, video and/or audio recording of this event and/or any element thereof in any/all media throughout the world. This includes filming by the police or security which may be carried out for the security of customers.
11. The event promoter reserves the right to make any change whatsoever to the act programme owing to any unforeseen or unavoidable cause.
12. Neither the venue nor the organisation can accept responsibility for lost or stolen property.
13. The possession of this ticket shall constitute an acceptance by the holder of these conditions and imply an undertaking on the part of the holder to observe them. In the event of any breach of these conditions, the event promoter reserves the right to cancel this ticket and retain any monies paid theretofore.
14. Other than the provisions advertised or outlined by the box office at the time of sale, customers are required to address any special needs by contacting the box office in advance of their visit, as the event promoter may not be able to provide those needs without notice.
15. We do not store credit card details nor do we share customer details with any 3rd parties.
16. Paper lanterns shall not be brought onto or used on the festival site under any circumstances.
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