The Hay Festival Programme for Schools provides free in-person and live-streamed author events for primary and secondary schools as part of its wider Festival programming.  The 2026 Programme for Schools will take place on Thursday 21st May (Primary, age 7-11) and Friday 22nd May (Secondary, age 11-16).

From epic fantasy to history’s biggest blunders; from stories rooted in ancient myths to gaming-inspired adventures, this year’s Primary Programme has something to engage all young readers. Authors include: MC Grammar, Emma Carroll, Lee Newbery, Maz Evans, Jeffrey Boakye, CM Lewis, Siôn Tomos Owen, Katherine Rundell, Joseph Coelho and Athena Kugblenu.

Themes of identity, courage and finding your voice figure strongly in this year’s star-studded Secondary Programme, featuring Matt Goodfellow, Yasmin Abdel-Magied, Patience Agbabi, Sarah Crossan, Manjeet Mann, Melanie Owen, Nathanael Lessore, Bernardine Evaristo, Curtis Jobling and Iszi Lawrence.

Booking for the in-person events opens at 9.00am on 25th February 2026 on a first-come, first-served basis. Schools wishing to watch the live-streamed events must register first.

Events last approximately 45 minutes and tips on how to plan your visit can be found here.

Cost: Free with registration.

About Hay Festival: Hay Festival is one of the world’s most prestigious art and literature festivals. It offers a platform for leading experts and award-winning authors to share the latest thinking, offer new perspectives, and spark conversations with curious audiences around the world.