February – March 2026 

From town criers in gold sequinned cloaks to stories of peace, poetry and the wonders of the river Rheidol, Aberystwyth University is organising a series of activities during February and March 2026 to celebrate Aberystwyth Ceredigion’s recognition as Wales’s first Dinas Llên / City of Literature. The programme includes a range of creative events which are open to the public free of charge – scroll down for more details and information on how you can be part of the celebrations.

It’s not only the University which is celebrating Aberystwyth Ceredigion’s recent recognition as a Dinas Llên | City of Literature, and part of UNESCO’s worldwide network of Creative Cities. Activities are also being held in Ceredigion by other members of the partnership which was formed in 2021 to develop and submit the application for Dinas Llên / City of Literature status to UNESCO. The full partnership includes Aberystwyth Town Council, Aberystwyth University, the Books Council of Wales, Ceredigion County Council, the National Library of Wales and the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (including the Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies, the Wales Literature Exchange and Literature Across Fontiers).

Dates: 4 and 6 March

Location: Parry-Williams Building, Penglais Campus

This residency will bring together five artists from the performance collective SGÔR on Penglais Campus from Monday 2 March to Friday 6 March.

On Wednesday 6 March at 16:00, an open session will be held in the cinema of the Parry-Williams building on Penglais Campus, where the artists will discuss their practice.

On Friday at 10:00, there will be a public showing of the work developed during the residency in the Foundry Studio of the Parry-Williams building, followed by an audience discussion.

Tickets are free but please reserve a seat in advance via Eventbrite.

Time: 10:30 – 12:30

Date: Saturday 7 March

Start Location: Aberystwyth Railway Station*

Join artist Nuala Dunn and writer Eluned Gramich for a creative walk through Aberystwyth. Together we’ll explore how we see, hear and experience the town’s unique environment – from the station to the castle, the promenade and beyond. This informal workshop will include a short circular walk, observation exercises, word-jotting, and mark‑making with shapes and lines. No experience is needed and all are welcome but please reserve your place in advance. A collaboration between Aberystwyth School of Art and the Spineless Wonders network.

*In extreme weather (e.g. heavy rain), we’ll explore imaginative and remembered landscapes in the National Library.

Time: 14:00 – 16:00

Dates: Saturday 7 March

Location: Aberystwyth School of Art, Buarth Mawr, SY23 1NG

Learn the basics of book art structures, following templates to create a selection of folded artefacts. Considering the book as a permeable container, we’ll be exploring physical gestures such as folding, cutting, tearing, collaging, tracing, and erasing, to create sequences held within its form. The workshop will be led in English and Welsh by visual artist Catrin Menai and print specialist Harriet Fuller.

All materials will be provided, but you’re invited to bring any papers, fragments, notes, or found elements you feel drawn to incorporate into the process. Reserve your free place in advance on Eventbrite. This project is a collaboration between Aberystwyth School of Art and the Spineless Wonders network.

Date: Sunday 8 March

Location: Aberystwyth town centre

On International Women’s Day on 8 March, a newly commissioned piece by emerging Welsh author Courtney Olwen will be cried out in key locations around Aberystwyth, including Sgwâr Glyndŵr, the castle and the bandstand. The piece will be a response to nominations received by the Er Mwyn Dyn | For Crying Out Loud project, which has been inviting members of the public to write a love letter to a woman they wish to celebrate. Olwen’s words will be cried out loud by the Aber Criers, a unique group of female town criers clad in gold sequinned cloaks and traditional tricorn hats.

Between Santes Dwynwen Day on 25 January and St Valentine’s Day 14 February, more than 160 nominations were received as part of the project which is led by Dr Louise Ritchie from the Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies.

Time: 19:30

Date: Tuesday 10 March

Location: Canolfan Arad Goch, Bath Street, Aberystwyth

Gareth Bonello/The Gentle Good in conversation with Professor Mererid Hopwood, discussing his album Elan, and performing the songs inspired by the history and landscape of the Elan Valley.

The Irish poet Dairena Ní Chinnéide will also perform her work, while Mererid reads translations of her poems into Welsh. Simultaneous translation will be provided.

Time: 12:30 – 20:30

Date: Sunday 15 March

Location: Aberystwyth 

Join writers, artists and geographers for a walking tour and creative activities along Aberystwyth’s coastal landscape and start a new writing journey. The activity will be led by Nuala Dunn, Hywel Griffiths, Dewi Roberts, Brian Swaddling and Stephen Tooth.

Meet at ‘The Hut’ on South Beach at 12:30 and walk along the coast before returning to Canolfan Arad Goch at 17:30 for refreshments followed by a creative writing workshop.

Tickets are free but places are limited so please register by emailing hmg@aber.ac.uk noting any dietary or accessibility requirements by 11 March.

Time: Dusk until late

Date: 20 – 22 March

Location: Aberystwyth Castle

For three nights, work by six local artists on the theme of positive peace will be projected onto the tower of Aberystwyth Castle. The projections bring together myth, coastal folklore, language, and everyday scenes, creating a shifting collage of images that reflect on peace, place, and the communities that shape this coast. We invite everyone to grab a torch, walk up to the castle and, at the Spring Equinox, to join us in looking forward to the year ahead.

This is a collaborative event between Aberystwyth University’s Dialogue Centre and Ton Fawr / Big Wave’s wider Heddwch a Chariad creative season. 

Time: 14:00 – 16:00

Dates: Saturday 21 March

Location: Aberystwyth School of Art, Buarth Mawr, SY23 1NG

Learn the basics of book art structures, following templates to create a selection of folded artefacts. Considering the book as a permeable container, we’ll be exploring physical gestures such as folding, cutting, tearing, collaging, tracing, and erasing, to create sequences held within its form. The workshop will be led in English and Welsh by visual artist Catrin Menai and print specialist Harriet Fuller.

All materials will be provided, but you’re invited to bring any papers, fragments, notes, or found elements you feel drawn to incorporate into the process. Reserve your free place in advance on Eventbrite. This project is a collaboration between Aberystwyth School of Art and the Spineless Wonders network.

Time: 16:00 – 18:00

Date: Saturday 28 March

Location: Aberystwyth School of Art, Buarth Mawr, SY23 1NG

An event to celebrate the creative work of workshop participants, PhD Symposium, and other contributors to this partnership project between Aberystwyth University School of Art and the Spineless Wonders network. A pop-up exhibition featuring a range of work will be open between 4pm and 6pm, with readings by Reading the Landscape: Spineless Wonders contributors and participants between 5pm and 6pm. No booking required and all welcome.

Directions to the School of Art

Time: 18:30

Date: Saturday 28 March

Location: Aberystwyth Town Hall, Queen’s Square, SY23 2EB 

This special event brings to a close the series of activities held during February and March 2026 as part of the Er Mwyn Dyn / For Crying Out Loud project. It brings together writers, artists, and academics whose work engages with the historical and contemporary experiences of women… expect laughter, crying and a little bit of magic! Speakers include the host of The Aberystwyth Book Club, Hannah Loy; the author Mari Ellis Dunning; Dr Jenny Mathers, co-editor of The Appeal: The Remarkable Story of the Welsh Women’s Peace Petition, 1923-24 (Y Lolfa, 2023); community arts producer Naomi Heath; young women’s health ambassador Athika Ahmed; Katja Birkett, who offers women-only Jiu Jitsu classes, and Dr Louise Ritchie from the University’s Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies who leads the project. Admission is free and all are welcome but please book in advance on Eventbrite.

Date: Saturday 28 March

Location: Aberystwyth 

A collaboration between Big Wave/Ton Fawr and Aberystwyth University’s Dialogue Centre brings contemporary public art pieces to the town’s streets. As part of the wider Heddwch a Chariad creative season, Stop for Peace will feature installations at three bus stops – two in Penparcau and one on Penglais Hill near Bronglais Hospital – exploring the theme of Positive Peace. The aim is to offer people a moment of reflection and mindfulness during their everyday journeys. The artwork will appear on the bus stops during the last week of March.

Date: Various dates in March

Location: Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Penglais Campus

Esyllt Lewis takes up the role of writer in residence at Aberystwyth Arts Centre until the end of March 2026. Working with writing groups and performance classes who meet regularly in the Arts Centre, Esyllt leads an inspired pilot project that embeds literature across the centre’s creative learning and wellbeing programmes.

She will work closely with artists, participants and audiences of all ages to explore how writing can respond to visual art and exhibitions; support wellbeing and reflection; engage people of all ages and backgrounds, and exist both as a stand-alone practice and integrated into other artforms.

Esyllt’s workshops are free of charge but advance booking is recommended. For details, visit the Arts Centre website or contact the Box Office on 01970 623232.

Date: February-March

Location: Aberystwyth 

A workshop and follow-up sessions led by Professor Mererid Hopwood from the Department of Welsh & Celtic Studies at Aberystwyth University mark the beginning of the Heolydd Heddwch / Peace Pathways project. The aim is to develop a literary tour mapping the connections between literature and positive peace in Aberystwyth and the wider county of Ceredigion.

The project brings together writers, researchers and creative mapping specialists and will feature individuals such as Gwenallt, T.E.Nicholas, T.H.Parry-Williams, Waldo Williams, Henry Richard and others.

The events listed above are part funded by Welsh Government.