The Football Association of Wales and Arts Council of Wales today announce a cultural celebration to mark our national day. Gŵyl Dewi, a development of Gŵyl Cymru Festival, will take place over the weekend of St David’s Day with football and cultural events happening across Wales during the weekend of Friday 1st March – Saturday 2nd March 2024.
The FAW and Arts Council of Wales aim to provide a platform for people across Wales to celebrate St David’s Day / Dydd Gŵyl Dewi like never before – with Welsh culture and football, all in the heart of their local communities.
From Swansea to Wrexham, Pontypridd to Llanuwchllyn, Carmarthen to Dolgellau, gigs and performances will take place in community venues (community halls, community-owned pubs and venues) across the country – with special appearances by some Cymru football legends!
The event is a continuation of a long-term partnership between two national organisations, Arts Council of Wales and Football Association of Wales. The partnership builds on the previous Gŵyl Cymru Festivals when FAW and Arts Council of Wales joined forces to create a national cultural celebration during the men’s FIFA World Cup finals in 2022, and then again at events across Wales in the summer of 2023.
The FAW and Arts Council of Wales are keen to return to the communities that supported and celebrated Cymru’s historic FIFA World Cup campaign in 2022 by celebrating Welsh arts, culture and sport with them on our national day.
Among the venues and community groups already confirmed are Clwb Ifor Bach, Neuadd Ogwen, Cell B and a spin-off Gwyl Arall events. Community-owned pubs including Y Plu, Tafarn y Fic and Tafarn Sinc will host events at the heart of their communities. Many more events are being arranged.
Noel Mooney, Football Association of Wales CEO, said: “It’s important that on our national day, Dydd Gŵyl Dewi, we can celebrate Cymru’s incredible culture together!
“I’m grateful that at the FAW we are again working alongside our valued partner, Arts Council of Wales, to offer a celebration of football and the arts in communities across Cymru over the Gŵyl Dewi weekend.
“We value our links with communities through football and are excited to return to the venues who supported Gŵyl Cymru during our World Cup adventure in 2022. We’re excited to invite everyone to make the most of the St David’s weekend by attending their local Gŵyl Dewi.”
Lleucu Siencyn, Director (Arts Development) of Arts Council of Wales, said: “Arts Council of Wales is delighted to be collaborating with the Football Association of Wales yet again. Gŵyl Cymru is a unique and special partnership, with a commitment to empowering and celebrating Wales’ communities at its heart. The programme of events brings together our nation’s passion for football and the arts and showcases exceptional creative talents. This year we will be celebrating Dydd Gŵyl Dewi in every corner of Wales with song, talks – and a lot of fun!”