Hay is a tiny market town in the Black Mountains with a population of 1300 people and 39 bookshops! For ten days a year 50,000 visitors converge on Hay from all over the UK, Europe and America to celebrate the Hay Festival of Literature.

Cardiff Singer of the World, as it was known until this year, has become the premier singing competition in the world for the disciplines of opera or concert music. Hundreds of talented young singers from all around the world apply but only one can walk away with the title.

A capital city extravaganza! This year’s festival included open-air concerts and carnival celebrations, the international food and drink festival, a theatre festival and children’s festival. Stay posted for their plans in 2004.

The International Musical Eisteddfod sees amateur musicians, dancers and singers from around forty different countries, competing in a variety of competitions. The remarkable feature of the Eisteddfod is that each evening the best and most colourful competitors share the stage with professional artists. Over its history, the stage has featured Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, Kiri Te Kanawa, Lesley Garrett and James Galway to name a few.

The Royal Welsh Show covers all aspects of farming and rural life in Wales.

The National Eisteddfod of Wales can be traced back to 1176, when poets and musicians from all over the country were invited to a grand gathering. A chair at the Lord's table was awarded to the best poet and musician, a tradition that prevails in the modern day National Eisteddfod, which has now become a fully-fledged folk festival on a large scale.

Brecon Jazz Festival is a colourful, international celebration of jazz at the heart of the spectacular Brecon Beacons National Park in Mid Wales.

A range of live events including theatre, classical music, opera and jazz.