Welsh Museums Festival takes joy as its theme

Organised by Museums Federation Cymru and supported with Welsh Government funding, the Welsh Museums Festival began its 11^th year on Saturday 25^th October.

The week-long celebration continues until this Sunday, 2 November, and takes in a wide range of events, exhibitions and activities in more than 50 museums and galleries across Wales.

This year’s theme is “hwyl”, the Welsh word for fun, joy or enthusiasm. Festival organisers have published the History of Hwyl booklet, which has been written by the Welsh poet Aneirin Karadog. 

By exploring the “hwyl” in Welsh history, festival organisers hope that children will discover histories new to them.

This week marks the anniversary of the Aberfan disaster, when 116 children and 28 adults lost their lives on 21 October 1966 as a result of a catastrophic collapse of a colliery spoil tip that slid downhill as slurry and engulfed Pantglas Junior School and a row of houses.

The festival is intended to remind people “why museums must tell the full story of our past – both the tragedies that shaped us and the joy that sustained us”.

Oriel Môn in Llangefni, Anglesey, is running a free Halloween art club for visitors to decorate pumpkins using collage and paint techniques, while the Museum of Cardiff is running a ghost hunting trail, spooky crafts and activities as well as showing a scary film.

The festival has also launched a bilingual Wales History Trails Passport Challenge that encourages families and enthusiasts to explore 34 museums across Wales to collect stamps in a passport for each museum they visit. Prizes include den-making kits and scooters and the challenge continues until Easter 2026.

To mark the start of the festivities, the minister for culture, Jack Sargeant, visited the Museum of Cardiff. He said: “Once again the Welsh Museums Festival is not just providing a great opportunity for all to come and enjoy their local culture, but it also succeeds in showcasing what our beloved museums across the country have to offer.

“The festival shows the diversity of museums in Wales and I want to take the opportunity to recognise the valuable impact local museums have in their communities – as centres for lifelong learning and health and wellbeing, but also for the economic impact they have as visitor attractions for tourists and locals alike.”

Ken Griffin, the president of Museums Federation Cymru, said: “Museums Federation Cymru organises the Welsh Museums Festival to showcase the strength and collaboration of the Welsh museum sector. With 34 museums also participating in the Wales History Trails Passport Challenge through to April 2026, we're extending that festival spirit for months to come.

“This year, we also have a brand-new resource exploring the history of 'hwyl'. The resource offers opportunities for museums and galleries of all sizes, particularly smaller and volunteer-led venues, to extend a warm ‘croeso’ to visitors, engage them in common experiences and to discover our shared heritage throughout Wales.”