Tickets are now on sale for Cardiff Children’s Literature Festival 2026

Cardiff Children’s Literature Festival is back for 2026 – and tickets are now on sale.

Taking place on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 April, the award-winning festival brings together an exciting and inspiring programme of events in both English and Welsh, presented by popular children’s authors and illustrators.

Perfect for children aged three to 12, Cardiff Children’s Literature Festival takes place at various prominent locations in Cardiff’s city centre including the Reardon Smith Theatre at National Museum Cardiff, the Undercroft at Cardiff Castle, The Old Library on the Hayes, Cardiff Central Library, and Cornerstone on Charles Street.

The weekend will be filled with live events with brilliant children’s authors and illustrators, fun, hands-on creative workshops, storytelling sessions that bring books to life, and opportunities to discover new favourite stories.

Since 2013, the festival’s goal has been help create lifelong readers and each year creates a packed programme of authors, illustrators and workshops to entertain and enthuse young people about reading.

This year’s event is a magical celebration of stories, imagination, and creativity designed especially for children of primary school age.

Highlights for English language readers this year include sessions with Welsh author and illustrator Huw Aaron – Jungle Storytime: The Monkeypig for younger readers and Discover the Unfairies for those 9+; Meet the Football GOATS (Greatest Footballers of All Time) with Matt Oldfield and Seth Burkett; Forest Girl with BBC presenter and author Lucy Owen and illustrator Rebecca Harry; and Whale Song, a journey beneath the waves with Children’s Laureate Wales, Nicola Davies.

Meanwhile Welsh language events include Storytime with S4C’s Parc Glan Gwil for children age 3+; Bach a Mawr for ages 5+ and Mira a’r Trip Ysgol for ages 7+, with Luned Aaron; and an interactive session with debut author Endaf Griffiths trying to solve the mystery of the missing sheep in celebration of his new novel Dirgelwch y Defaid (ages 7+).

Whether your child loves adventurous tales, hilarious characters, or drawing their own stories, there will be something for every young reader and writer to enjoy.

You can book for all these and view the full weekend programme at the Cardiff Children’s Literature Festival website, with tickets from £5 per person per session.