Carmarthenshire welcomes return of National Urdd Eisteddfod

Carmarthenshire County Council welcomes the National Urdd Eisteddfod next year.

Llandovery has been chosen to stage the 2023 event which celebrates the Welsh language and the culture of Wales.

The Eisteddfod first visited Carmarthenshire in 1935 when the Eisteddfod was held in Carmarthen and the most recent visits include Eisteddfod Sir Gar in 2007 and Eisteddfod Cwm Gwendraeth in 1989.

Thousands of people are expected to turn out for the week-long festival which will be held from May 31 – June 4 next year.

It will be the eighth time the festival has been hosted in Carmarthenshire.

The Urdd National Eisteddfod is one of Europe’s largest youth touring festivals that attracts around 90,000 visitors each year and is held in a different location each year.

It is a competitive festival with over 15,000 children and young people under the age of 25 competing during the Eisteddfod week in various competitions such as singing, dancing and performing. They are the elite few from around 40,000 competitors across Wales who have won their place following local and regional rounds held in the spring months leading up to the Eisteddfod.

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Deputy Leader, Cllr Linda Evans said the event would be an opportunity for people to sample the very best that Wales can offer.

She said: “We are delighted to have been chosen to host this event once again in Carmarthenshire. This event will have huge benefits for the local economy and at the same time will give everyone in Carmarthenshire the chance to experience true Welsh culture whether the visitor speaks the language or not. Hosting this event will also contribute to the vision of our ambitious Welsh Language Strategy and ensure it is heard, spoken and celebrated.”

This year’s festival is currently underway at Denbighshire until Friday June 3.

Carmarthenshire County Council Leader, Cllr Darren Price, said: “We are looking forward to welcoming the National Urdd Eisteddfod here to Carmarthenshire once again. It is the one of Wales’ largest cultural events and a great opportunity to celebrate our commitment to Welsh arts and culture. Not only does it showcase some of the best Welsh talent in music, poetry and dance but it brings huge economic benefits, prestige and publicity.”