In 2026, Wales is marking 850 years since the first recorded Eisteddfod. The tradition is commonly traced to a gathering hosted by Lord Rhys ap Gruffudd at Cardigan Castle in 1176, where poets and musicians competed for prizes. The modern National Eisteddfod developed centuries later, but that medieval competition remains the traditional starting point for the story.
What Is an Eisteddfod?
An Eisteddfod is a Welsh festival built around competitive poetry, music, performance, and other arts. The National Eisteddfod is the best-known example, but local, school, youth, and community eisteddfodau are also part of the tradition.
The word is formed from Welsh elements connected with eistedd, "to sit," and bod, "to be," and is often explained as the idea of "sitting together" or a session or gathering. If Welsh spelling is new to you, our guide to Welsh words, phrases, and pronunciation is a useful companion.
From the 1176 Gathering to the Modern Eisteddfod
Lord Rhys's 1176 competition at Cardigan Castle is the earliest recorded event traditionally linked with the Eisteddfod. Later Welsh poetic and musical competitions developed in different places and forms, so the modern festival should not be treated as one completely unchanged institution running continuously from the 12th century.
A major revival came in the late 18th century. The London-based Gwyneddigion Society supported eisteddfodau in Wales from 1789. In 1819, at Carmarthen, the Eisteddfod became formally associated with the Gorsedd of the Bards, a ceremonial body created during the Welsh cultural revival of the period.
The first official National Eisteddfod was held at Aberdare in 1861. From there it developed into the major national cultural institution familiar today.
Did the Eisteddfod Stop During the World Wars?
The history is more complicated than a simple wartime pause. During the First World War, the Bangor Eisteddfod planned for 1914 was postponed until 1915, but National Eisteddfodau continued at Aberystwyth in 1916, Birkenhead in 1917, and Neath in 1918.
The Second World War caused more severe disruption, with government restrictions and wartime conditions affecting whether and where large gatherings could take place. Much later, the Covid-19 pandemic again interrupted the normal in-person festival programme and pushed Welsh cultural activity toward digital alternatives.
What Happens at the National Eisteddfod?
The National Eisteddfod is held each summer in a different part of Wales and runs for roughly a week. Poetry, singing, instrumental music, drama, visual art, literature, performance, and youth competitions all feature, alongside exhibitions, talks, food, community organizations, and cultural activities.
Welsh is at the heart of the festival. That makes the Eisteddfod not only an arts event but also one of the most visible public celebrations of the Welsh language. For many visitors, it is a place where Welsh is encountered as a normal language of creativity, conversation, competition, and modern public life.
What Is the Chairing of the Bard?
One of the most famous Eisteddfod ceremonies is the Chairing of the Bard. A specially created chair is awarded for a winning poem in strict metre. The modern ceremony belongs to the later national Eisteddfod tradition, but the chair prize also echoes the much older association between poetic competition and the chair linked with the 1176 gathering of Lord Rhys.
The Crowning of the Bard is another major honour and is awarded for poetry in a different form. Together, the chair and crown have become two of the most recognizable symbols of Eisteddfodic competition.
The Black Chair and Other Moments of Living History
The Eisteddfod has repeatedly reflected the politics and social movements of its own time. At the 1912 National Eisteddfod in Wrexham, women's suffrage campaigners disrupted a speech by David Lloyd George, turning the festival pavilion into part of the wider struggle over votes for women.
Five years later, the 1917 Birkenhead Eisteddfod produced one of the most moving moments in Welsh cultural history. The winning chair was awarded to the poet Ellis Humphrey Evans, better known as Hedd Wyn, who had been killed in Flanders only weeks earlier. The chair was draped in black and became known as Y Gadair Ddu, the Black Chair.
Stories like these help explain why the Eisteddfod is more than a historical reenactment. Its ceremonies are old, but the festival has continually responded to the language, politics, arts, and experiences of contemporary Wales.
Why Does the Eisteddfod Still Matter?
The Eisteddfod gives Welsh music, poetry, literature, performance, and language a national stage. It also connects local competition with a broader cultural tradition: a child performing in a school eisteddfod and a poet competing for the National Eisteddfod chair are participating in different levels of the same living cultural idea.
That combination of competition, language, ceremony, and creativity is why the Eisteddfod remains one of the clearest expressions of Welsh cultural identity. For another national symbol with both historical and legendary roots, read our guide to the history of Y Ddraig Goch, the Welsh Dragon.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Eisteddfod
What is an Eisteddfod?
An Eisteddfod is a Welsh festival of competitive poetry, music, performance, and other arts. The National Eisteddfod is the largest and best-known example.
How old is the Eisteddfod?
The tradition is traced to the first recorded Eisteddfod associated with Lord Rhys at Cardigan Castle in 1176, which is why Wales is marking 850 years of the Eisteddfod in 2026. The first official modern National Eisteddfod was held at Aberdare in 1861.
Is the Eisteddfod only for Welsh speakers?
No. Welsh is central to the National Eisteddfod, but visitors do not need to be fluent Welsh speakers to attend and experience the festival.
What is the Chairing of the Bard?
It is the ceremonial award of a specially created chair to the winner of a major poetry competition in strict metre. The chair is one of the National Eisteddfod's most prestigious honours.
What was the Black Chair?
The Black Chair was the chair awarded posthumously to Hedd Wyn at the 1917 Birkenhead National Eisteddfod after he had been killed in the First World War. The chair was draped in black during the ceremony.
Sources and Further Reading
Welsh Government — Celebrating 850 years of the Eisteddfod · Museum Wales — The National Eisteddfod · Museum Wales — What is the Eisteddfod? · Museum Wales — Historically interesting Eisteddfodau
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