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Teacher Toolkit

Background

The National Eisteddfod is the largest travelling cultural festival in Europe. It takes place in a different part of Wales every year during the first week of August. The festival has a long history. It began at Cardigan Castle in 1176. Since then, it has grown into a large celebration of Welsh culture and the Welsh language. There is something for everyone at the Eisteddfod. You can enjoy music, books, art, science, technology, and much more. Before the festival, community projects bring people together. They help organise activities and celebrate their local area. This positive impact is called a legacy. 

In this pack, you will learn about the history of the Eisteddfod and how it has changed over time. You will explore interesting stories from the past, including surprising events and important moments in Welsh history. You will also discover how an empty field is turned into a busy festival site that welcomes thousands of visitors and offers hundreds of activities. Through the activities and tasks in this pack, you will make links with different areas of the curriculum and learn about the social history of Wales in a fun and interesting way. Come and discover the history, culture, and stories of the National Eisteddfod!

 

People's Collection Wales

Possible questions to discuss

  • Why do you think Lord Rhys organised the first Eisteddfod in 1176? What might it have meant to people at that time?
  • How has the Eisteddfod changed since 1861? What do these changes tell us about Welsh society?
  • What can stories like the 1861 Pavilion being blown away or the Suffragettes’ protest in 1912 teach us about history?
  • Why is it important to remember events that happened at the Eisteddfod in the past?
  • Why is the Eisteddfod important for Welsh language and culture today?
  • How does the Eisteddfod help people feel connected to Wales and each other?
  • Why is it important that everyone is welcome at the Eisteddfod, even if they don’t speak Welsh?
  • In what ways has the Eisteddfod stayed the same over 850 years? In what ways has it changed?
  • How can Eisteddfod competitions reflect changes in society (for example after the First World War)?
  • What differences might you see between a town in Wales in the 1920s and today? How could the Eisteddfod help us understand those changes?
  • How does hosting the Eisteddfod affect a local community?
  • What skills do people need to organise an event like the Eisteddfod?
  • What do you think the “legacy” of the Eisteddfod means for an area after it leaves?
  • Why do you think the Eisteddfod includes so many different areas (music, art, science, technology)?
  • If you were designing your own Eisteddfod, what activities or competitions would you include, and why?

Activities and experiences

  • Create a Timeline of the Eisteddfod
  • Design Your Own Eisteddfod Poster
  • Role Play: Historical Moments
  • Build a Model of Y Maes
  • Compare Then and Now
  • Create a Mini-Eisteddfod in Class
  • Debate: Why Does the Eisteddfod Matter?
  • Explore Welsh Identity
  • STEM Challenge: Plan an Event Site
  • Creative Writing: A Day at the Eisteddfod
  • Make and Design Your Eisteddfod Programme
  • Write and present a Competition Brief

Key concepts

(derived from the statements of what matters)

Humanities:
  • Investigate
  • Interpret
  • Change and continuity
  • Places
  • Human Impact on the World
  • Identity and Diversity
  • Cause and effect
  • Justice, inequality and rights
  • Social Action
  • Ethical and moral questions
The Expressive Arts:
  • Understanding context in creative works
  • Communicate ideas
  • Exploring purpose and meaning
  • Develop and refine designs
Health and Wellbeing:
  • Communication, Help Seeking and Empathy
  • Informed Choices and the impact of decisions
  • Social Influences and Norms
  • Identity and Values
  • Rights and Respect
Language, literacy and communication:
  • Reading Strategies
  • Drawing conclusions
  • The effect of grammatical constructions of the meaning of texts
  • Responding to texts
  • Vocabulary Development
  • Communicate ideas and opinions (Oral)
  • Collaborate and negotiate
  • Writing for different purposes and audiences

Eisteddfod Y Garreg Las (2026)

 

The Garreg Las Eisteddfod is coming to Llantood, Pembrokeshire, from 1 to 8 August 2026. People from all over Wales and from other countries will visit. More than 175,000 people are expected during the week. Local people and volunteers have worked hard to get everything ready for the festival. Everyone is welcome. You do not need to speak Welsh, but it is a great chance to hear and enjoy the language. The Eisteddfod site will be like a large village, with colourful tents and stalls. 

There will be more than 1,000 events and up to 250 stalls. Competitions are an important part of the Eisteddfod. These include singing, dancing and performances by about 70 choirs. There will also be special Gorsedd ceremonies. Other activities include live music, the Art Space, the Science and Technology Village, games, dance, street theatre, and lots of fun activities for children and families.

 

Celebrating the 850

 

In 2026, the National Eisteddfod is celebrating 850 years since the first Eisteddfod. To mark this special anniversary, a giant puppet of Lord Rhys and his dog, Teifi, travelled through parts of west Wales before finishing its journey at Cardigan Castle. 

Lord Rhys was an important prince in south Wales in the 12th century. He was a strong supporter of Welsh culture, poetry, and music. In 1176, he held a special festival at Cardigan Castle. Poets and musicians came together to compete. Many people see this event as the beginning of the Eisteddfod tradition. 

Today, the National Eisteddfod still celebrates the Welsh language, the arts, and Welsh culture. Every year, it brings people together to compete, perform, and enjoy Welsh activities. Its history goes back 850 years to the time of Lord Rhys.

Large puppet of Yr Arglwydd Rhys in Aberteifi
Yr Arglwydd Rhys yn Aberteifi, ©Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru
Large puppet of Yr Arglwydd Rhys walking through Aberteifi
Yr Arglwydd Rhys yn Aberteifi, ©Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru

Culture and Language

 

Culture is at the heart of the Eisteddfod. Singing, music, poetry, recitation, dance and drama competitions and performances take place throughout the festival. These activities provide opportunities for people to showcase their talents, develop confidence and express themselves creatively through the Welsh language.

During the festival, the local area hosting the Eisteddfod can showcase its own character and traditions. For some people, this is their first time attending a Welsh-language or bilingual event. This can help the Welsh language feel more familiar and welcoming. After the Eisteddfod, some people start learning Welsh, and many activities continue. This is one of the things that makes the Eisteddfod special.

Tŷ Gwerin, ©Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru
Y Lle Celf, ©Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru

Community

 

The National Eisteddfod is a major community project that begins around two years before the festival with a public meeting to encourage local involvement. Community members help shape the programme, organise competitions, and support fundraising and promotional activities. Their ideas, creativity, and enthusiasm give each Eisteddfod its own unique character and help create a strong sense of local ownership.

Wrexham Eisteddfod 2025 announcement event, ©Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru
Parade announcing the location of the 2027 Eisteddfod, ©Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru

Behind The Scenes

 

Work on the National Eisteddfod begins almost as soon as the previous festival ends. First, a suitable site must be found. There needs to be space for the festival field, camping, caravans, parking, and Maes B, the youth area. The plans are changed several times before the final design is chosen. 

Work on the site starts in June. Temporary roads, electricity, and water supplies are put in place first. Then the pavilions, stages, and stalls are built. It is important to make sure the site is safe, suitable, and easy for people to use. A lot of work also takes place before the festival begins. Sets and decorations are made in advance and then brought to the festival site. 

Maes B set materials in storage for the Eisteddfod, ©Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru
Pavilion building works, ©Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru

Related resources

Gorsedd of the Bards

Gorsedd of the Bards

The Gorsedd, established in 1792 by Iolo Morgannwg, is an integral part of the Eisteddfod Festival.

Competitions

Competitions

The pavilion plays a central role in the National Eisteddfod as the main venue for competing.

History of the National Eisteddfod

History of the National Eisteddfod

In 1176 Lord Rhys hosted the first known ‘eisteddfod’.

External resources

Contributors: People's Collection Wales; Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru; Gwenllian Carr