Writing / hay festival
Hay Festival brings second After Hours event to Bristol Beacon
Following a successful first outing in 2025, Hay Festival will be back in Bristol on March 26 for a second After Hours event at Bristol Beacon.
Four inspiring guests will be taking to the stage for an evening of “big ideas, provocations and new thinking” that also gives audiences a flavour of what they can expect from visiting the festival itself – running in Hay-on-Wye across the last 10 days of May.
Garlanded author, essayist and lecturer Rana Dasgupta will be discussing his new book, After Nations: The Making and Unmaking of a World Order.
Zakia Sewell, who is a writer, DJ and radio broadcaster and producer, will be joined in conversation by historian Colin Grant to talk about her book, Finding Albion: Myth, Folklore and the Quest for a Hidden Britain – and the quest to find an alternative British cultural identity.
(Clockwise from top left): Rana Dasgupta, Colin Grant, Zakia Sewell and Vanessa Kisuule, the Hay Festival After Hours lineup 2026 at Bristol Beacon
Acclaimed Bristol poet and writer Vanessa Kisuule – who also featured in the 2025 event – completes the bill, exploring the boundaries of cultural storytelling and championing the power of live art in fostering connection and understanding.
After its inaugural event in the city sold out, Hay Festival global CEO Julie Finch is enthusiastic about bringing After Hours back to Bristol, particularly in its capability of widening the event’s appeal. “We’re back with a new purpose”, she comments, “spotlighting four essential writers for our times in a new evening of conversations and performances.
“As a charity, we believe culture is for everyone and work to create accessible platforms of free exchange all around the world. It’s going to be a night to remember, Bristol. Join us!”
Hay Festival After Hours: Bristol is at Bristol Beacon on March 26 at 7.30pm. For tickets, visit www.bristolbeacon.org.
Hay Festival runs on May 21-31 in Hay-on-Wye. To find out more about this year’s programme, visit www.hayfestival.com, or follow @hayfestival.
All photos: Hay Festival
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