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Anglesey prepares to host Europe's largest travelling youth festival

Carwyn JonesBBC Wales
News imageBBC Three young girls, all wearing white shirts, black braces, green ties and black trilby-style hats. The girls on the left and in the centre have blonde hair and the other has dark hair. All of them are smiling at the camera.BBC
Mia, Begw and Llywela are all competing with their school band at this year's Eisteddfod

Anglesey will this weekend host the Urdd's National Eisteddfod for the first time in more than 20 years.

The Urdd Eisteddfod is widely regarded as one of Europe's largest annual travelling youth festivals, celebrating Welsh language, culture and the arts for young people.

The island last hosted the large event back in 2004, at the same location on the showground in Mona.

Llio Maddocks, the Urdd's Director of the Arts, said: "Ynys Môn [Anglesey] has turned red, white and green - and we're really looking forward to welcoming children and young people from all over Wales to this special island."

News imageA shop window decorated with the festival's logo which is white, green and red. It has the name of the festival, the year 2026 and the word croeso, plus a little cartoon style character to the right in green, red and white stripes.
Businesses across the island have been decorating their shop windows

With preparations under way for more than three years, the festival site is nearly ready to welcome people from across Wales between 23 and 29 May.

Many children and young people across the island have been rehearsing for their competitions.

School children in Ysgol Henblas near the Eisteddfod have been practising with their band, with many children playing instruments for the first time ever.

"It's been absolutely incredible really, I can count on one hand how many have actually played an instrument before September," said parent Bronwen Evans, who has been helping the children prepare.

"That was the main challenge, putting something together in a month... the kids have worked so hard, they've gone home and practised every night."

News imageBronwen is a young woman with dark hair past her shoulders and large round, wire-rimmed glasses. She is wearing a red round-neck sweater with a white t-shirt underneath. She is smiling at the camera.
Bronwen Evans got the task of teaching the pupils to play instrument, many for the first time

One pupil, eight-year-old Begw, said: "We've been practising the song 'Mae'n Wlad i Mi', and we've made it to the Eisteddfod finals.

"What I'm looking forward to is performing on the stage with my friends."

Llywela, also eight, had never played an instrument before, and has enjoyed being part of the band this year.

She said: "We've been practising with the band and I play the cornet.

"I have never played an instrument before and I'm looking forward to playing at the Eisteddfod."

Fellow eight-year-old, Mia, is also looking forward to attending.

"I've been playing the trombone and we're so lucky that Bronwen came to teach us how to play instruments.

"We're going to be trying to win the competition, and we're going to be practising and practising until we get it perfect. I'm excited to see if we win."

News imageLlio is standing at the festival site; behind her is a red and white striped tent, festoon lights and pink and purple flags. She has bright pink hair and green sunglasses on top of her head. She has large silver hoops in her ears and is wearing a silver necklace featuring stars, a yellow high-vis vest and a blue coat.
Llio Maddocks is the Urdd's Arts Director

Llio Maddocks, the Urdd's Director of the Arts, said staff couldn't wait to see the site filled with people.

"We're really looking forward to welcoming children and young people from all over Wales to this special island.

"The volunteers have been absolutely incredible, they've worked really hard with us for the last three years and they were really happy to announce last week that they had reached their fundraising target of £380,000.

"It's absolutely phenomenal what they've done - yes they've raised the money but they've also raised the excitement here, making sure that everyone on this island knows that the Eisteddfod is coming."

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