National Eisteddfod 2026
Llantood, near Cardigan, was the location of this year's National Eisteddfod, and Swansea University enjoyed a fantastic week in the sunshine of west Wales. It was a busy week, featuring daily sessions in Y Babell Lên (the Literature Tent) as well as some other events across the festival site.
One of the many highlights was seeing Professor Siwan Davies, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Enterprise, and a member of Swansea University’s Department of Geography, win the 2026 Science and Technology Medal. This award recognises an exceptional contribution to scientific research, education, and science communication through the medium of Welsh. A special ceremony to honour Siwan was held in the Science Village on Thursday morning, followed by another on the Pavilion stage in the afternoon; both events were hosted by Elin Rhys, Honorary Fellow of Swansea University. As Siwan hails from the local area, it was particularly fitting that she won the medal this year. To mark Siwan’s achievement, Grug Muse, a graduate of Swansea University’s Welsh Department, composed a poem in her honour and was present to recite it at both ceremonies.
Earlier on Thursday, the Hywel Teifi Memorial Lecture was held in Y Babell Lên. This year, Professor Emerita Menna Elfyn delivered the annual lecture under the timely title, "Poetry in the age of untruths: Do we need poets in the days of AI?" Menna discussed works by authors and poets ranging from Emily Dickinson to Gwenallt, reflecting on the unknown, the immortal, and the true role of the poet today. It was an imaginative, creative, and highly relevant lecture.
Late on Thursday afternoon, a reception was held for students, alumni, staff, and friends of the University, and it was a pleasure to welcome both familiar and new faces to the event. Professor Gwenno Ffranco, Deputy Assistant Vice-Chancellor for the Welsh Language, its Heritage and Culture, and Director of Academi Hywel Teifi, welcomed the guests and spoke about the University’s developments and achievements regarding the Welsh language over the past year. The audience was entertained by Professor Gwynedd Parry, from the School of Law, who shared a song with us. The reception was a delightful way to conclude an exceptionally successful Thursday for Swansea University at the Eisteddfod.
Another highlight was seeing Jonathan Davies, a tutor with Learn Welsh Swansea Bay Region, win the Learner of the Year award. Jonathan comes from Loughor on the outskirts of Swansea, and he began learning Welsh to reconnect with his heritage and identity after living in London.
Further successes celebrated at this year's National Eisteddfod took place at the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol reception, where Emily Evans, a graduate of the Welsh Department, received the trophy Gwobr Mered. Emily is now a tutor in the Department of Welsh at Swansea University, but she won the award for her exceptional contribution to Welsh-language life and culture during her time as a student. Another student, Cynir Hedd Davies, who is studying Media and Communication at the University, was recognised for winning a special bursary that is a partnership between the Coleg Cymraeg and S4C.
On the Monday morning of the Eisteddfod, a few Academy staff members were inducted into the Gorsedd of Wales. Lynsey Thomas, Saran Thomas, Meinir Hutchings, and Michelle Thomas were among the new members inducted during the Gorsedd’s opening ceremony. In addition to the four of them, Cara Medi Walters, a postgraduate student in the Media Department, was also inducted.
Our first session in Y Babell Lên was 'Easing Trauma by Writing', chaired by Dr Angharad Wyn. TV personalities Mari Grug and Ifan Phillips shared their experiences of dealing with personal challenges resulting from trauma. Professor and Chief Bard Tudur Hallam, also contributed via screen as the three discussed their books and the therapeutic impact the writing process can have.
On Tuesday, a crowd gathered to hear broadcaster and sports commentator Huw Llywelyn Davies in conversation with rugby referee Nigel Owens. Both are Honorary Fellows of Swansea University and during the session they discussed Nigel’s new autobiography and shared numerous stories from the rugby pitch and beyond. There wasn’t an empty seat to be seen and the audience thoroughly enjoyed listening to the anecdotes. Wednesday’s session focused on travel writing and the Welsh language, with Dr Miriam Elin Jones hosting a fascinating discussion between Dr Grug Muse, Jon Gower, and Dr Kathryn Jones.
Our last session in Y Babell Lên concluded with TV legend Beti George, another of our Honorary Fellows, chairing a panel discussion entitled 'Towards the West' featuring Cleif Harpwood, Meinir Mathias, and Euros Lewis, exploring creative responses to social change and language loss in west Wales. The conversation touched upon the struggle to protect local neighbourhoods and the challenges arising from the evolution of communities.
Several Swansea University staff members took part in other events organised by external partners on the Eisteddfod field during the week. Dr Geraldine Lublin was a member of a panel organised by Adnodd, discussing history, identity, and the Curriculum for Wales. Professor Gwenno Ffrancon delivered a lecture organised by the Bob Owen Society titled ‘John Roberts Williams – Remembering the voice of a nation’, and Professor Siwan Davies delivered the Learned Society of Wales lecture, sharing her expertise by looking back at, and into the future of, the climate crisis. A panel discussion was held featuring the authors of the volume Chwarter Canrif o Addysg Ddatganoledig yng Nghymru (A Quarter Century of Devolved Education in Wales) including Professor Andrew Davies, and Professor Gwynedd Parry took part in an evening commemorating the musician Meirion Williams, who died 50 years ago this year.
It was great to see St John Ambulance Cymru, who were at the Eisteddfod throughout the week to assist with any enquiries or first aid incidents, using the Gofalu Trwy’r Gymraeg (Caring Through Welsh) booklet. The booklet was created by Swansea University as a resource to help healthcare staff provide a bilingual service to patients, and this is a perfect example of it being used for that very purpose!
Professor Gwenno Ffrancon, said:
"It has been a wonderful week for Swansea University at the 'Garreg Las' National Eisteddfod. It was great to see so many people attending our events in Y Babell Lên and across other pavilions on the Maes. It was a privilege to witness and celebrate the success of some of our exceptional staff—Professor Siwan Davies winning the Science Medal and one of our Welsh for Adults tutors, Jonathan Davies, winning the Learners' Medal. It was also a pleasure to welcome our alumni, staff, and current students to our annual reception, held this year in the 'Sfferen' tent in the Science Village."
Here is a link to an album of the week's photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjD2bMT