Spooky season and kinder-for-the-planet hwyl focus for Welsh Museums Festival 2026
Tymor y bwganod a ffocws ar hwyl sy'n fwy ecogyfeillgar yng Ngŵyl Amgueddfeydd Cymru 2026
From spooky visits to Ruthin Gaol, to a 20ft copper dragon in Rhayader, to bat boxes in the Rhondda, there’s plenty on offer this October half term as the Welsh Museums Festival kicks off for its 12th year.
The week-long celebration begins on Saturday [Saturday 24 October until Sunday 1 November] with a wide range of events, exhibitions and activities taking place in more than 60 museums and galleries across the nation.
Organised by Museums Federation Cymru and supported with Welsh Government funding, the festival offers many low cost or free special events and activities to families, making it the perfect time to discover your local museum or gallery. With this year's celebration taking in Calan Gaeaf there's a range of bilingual activities on offer including a greener version of the festival’s free Halloween resource.
This year, Festival organisers are encouraging participating museums to develop more Sustainable Hwyl, but still with Halloween in mind, bringing fun whilst minimising waste with museums and visitors alike encouraged to celebrate with the environment at the fore.
As part of the funding provided to support this year's festival, Museums Federation Cymru has awarded grants over £12,000 to 18 museums to help them take part in the festival for 2026.
To mark the start of the festivities, the Cabinet Minister for Culture and Sport, Heledd Fychan, visited Porthcawl Museum and Historical Society. An independent museum founded in October 1972 and located within the old Police Station building, the museum holds a collection of over 8,000 items documenting the history of Porthcawl, including the second largest costume collection within an independent museum in Wales.
During the visit, the Minister toured the museum and heard about recent Welsh Government funding to support works for security upgrades.
The Minister said:
“The Welsh Museums Festival is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the museums we have across Wales and everything they contribute to our communities. They bring our history and culture to life, provide opportunities for learning and enjoyment, support our wellbeing, and attract visitors to towns and communities across the country.
"It was wonderful to see first-hand the difference Welsh Government investment is making and the passion and commitment that goes into keeping our local museums thriving.”
Ken Griffin, President of the Museums Federation Cymru, said:
“Museums Federation Cymru organises the Welsh Museums Festival to showcase the strength and collaboration of the Welsh museum sector. This year, more than 60 museums are taking part, the highest number since the festival began. The festival is especially popular with families, providing free and accessible activities during a period of financial pressure.
“This year, we’ve also encouraged museums to think about greener ways to celebrate Halloween, and it’s been lovely to see so many trying new ideas, from willow lanterns to bat boxes. Above all, it’s the perfect time to discover your local museum.”
For more information, go to www.museumsfestival.wales.
Notes to editors
| North Wales | Mid and West Wales | South East Wales |
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Brambell Natural History Museum, Bangor University Conwy Culture Centre Denbigh Museum Football Museum of Wales and Wrexham Museum Greenfield Valley Museum Holyhead Maritime Museum Lloyd George Museum Llŷn Maritime Museum Mold Museum and Library National Slate Museum Oriel Môn Oriel Plas Glyn-y-Weddw Penmaenmawr Museum Penrhyn Castle Plas Newydd, Anglesey Plas Newydd Historic House and Gardens, Llangollen Plas yn Rhiw Porthmadog Maritime Museum Ruthin Gaol Museum Sir Henry Jones Museum Storiel Yr Ysgwrn |
Andrew Logan Museum of Sculpture Carmarthenshire Museum Ceredigion Museum Dylan Thomas Birthplace Dylan Thomas Boathouse Dylan Thomas Centre The Egypt Centre, Museum of Egyptian Antiquities Glynn Vivian Art Gallery Gregynog Internal Fire Museum of Power Museum of Land Speed National Library of Wales National Waterfront Museum National Wool Museum Parc Howard Museum Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre Pembroke Museum Radnorshire Museum Swansea Museum Tenby Museum and Art Gallery TimeScape Rhayader Y Gaer Museum, Art Gallery and Library Y Lanfa – Powysland Museum, Welshpool |
Abergavenny Museum Abertillery Museum Big Pit National Coal Museum Chepstow Museum Cyfarthfa Castle Museum and Art Gallery Firing Line: Museum of the Queen’s Dragoon Guards and The Royal Welsh Museum of Cardiff Nantgarw China Works National Museum Cardiff National Roman Legion Museum Newport Museum and Art Gallery Pontypridd Museum Porthcawl Museum Rhondda Heritage Park St Fagans National Museum of History Shire Hall Museum South Wales Miners Museum Torfaen Museum |