Gŵyl Tawe, Swansea’s Welsh language-led music and arts festival, returns with a new expanded programme taking over the city centre on the weekend of the 5th and 6th of June 2026.
Initially founded outside the Railway Inn in Killay in 2021, this is the fourth edition of the festival in its current form, with the event continuing to grow following its biggest year to date in 2025.
The Friday night sees a new opening gig at The Bunkhouse music venue headlined by Welsh three-piece The Joy Formidable. The Joy Formidable bring the volume back to Swansea with their first electric show in two years at Gŵyl Tawe, joined by new drummer Dafydd Cartwright. After a season of solo adventures and stripped-back shows, Ritzy Bryan (vocals/guitar) and Rhydian Dafydd (bass/vocals) plug back into the band’s cinematic sound, with new music coming in 2026. Upcoming dates include the Royal Albert Hall with Manic Street Preachers and support for The Cure at their Cardiff show in June.
Joining The Joy Formidable at The Bunkhouse will be the crushing noise and delicate melodies of Breichiau Hir, the pioneering Pat Morgan of Datblygu, and the minimalist punk neo-rave of Crinc.
The Saturday at the National Waterfront Museum is headlined by Gwenno. Gwenno Saunders has been working as a professional musician and producer for over 25 years and has released 2 EPs, 4 solo full-length albums, and 2 full-length albums with the indie-pop group The Pipettes. As a songwriter and producer, she has won numerous prizes including the Welsh Music Prize 2015 for her debut solo album ‘Y Dydd Olaf’ and was shortlisted for the Mercury Music Prize in 2022 for her third album ‘Tresor’. In 2025 Gwenno released her fourth solo album, ‘Utopia’, on Heavenly Recordings.
Playing before Gwenno in the museum garden will be Melin Melyn, while Mellt headline the Taliesin stage in the museum’s Ocean Room.
Formed in 2019 by Gruff Glyn (lead vocals, guitar, saxophone), Will Barratt (lead guitar), Cai Dyfan (drums) and Garmon Rhys (bass, backing vocals and who also performs as The Mighty Observer), Melin Melyn was Gruff’s first proper musical project. After a year or so performing as a foursome, the band were soon joined by Rhodri Brooks (pedal steel) and Dylan Morgan (keys), adding further gravitas and completing the sound that the band had been looking for. Their debut album ‘Mill on the Hill’ sees the band jump between surf-rock, country, prog-rock and psychedelia with the grace and skill of a band with numerous records under their belt, held together by an efficacious and fantastical thematic principle.
Mellt are a four-piece band originally from Aberystwyth but now based in Cardiff. Their debut album ‘Mae’n Hawdd Pan Ti’n Ifanc’ won the coveted Welsh Language Album of the Year in 2018 and was nominated for the Welsh Music Prize the same year. Their second album ‘Dim Dwywaith’ was released in October 2023 on Clwb Music and received incredible reviews from Clash, NME and an 8/10 review from Uncut Magazine. Citing influences from The Clash, The Band and The Replacements, with their catchy guitar riffs and a perfect blend of slacker rock and post punk sounds – Mellt’s clever and intricate lyrics take them to the next level.
Special guests Carwyn Ellis & Rio 18 bring their vibrant, globe-trotting sound to Swanseain a live show that blends Welsh lyricism with the irresistible rhythms of Brazil. Led by acclaimed musician and producer Carwyn Ellis, Rio 18 brings together shimmering tropicalia, soulful grooves, and lush orchestration to create a warm, uplifting atmosphere that feels both retro and refreshingly modern.
Also appearing across the Saturday line-up will be Candelas, Cerys Hafana, Mwsog, Griff Lynch, and Coron Moron, with more names to be announced.
“We are excited the share the initial line-up for this year’s Gŵyl Tawe and are delighted to see the festival continuing to grow year on year. 2025 was our biggest year to date, and we can’t wait to welcome a wide range of internationally acclaimed artists such as Gwenno, The Joy Formidable, and Carwyn Ellis & Rio 18 to Swansea for this year’s edition. The new community elements for this year’s event are another exciting development, and more information about these projects will be announced soon. Through this event, we remain committed to ensuring that high quality Welsh language art is accessible to everyone in Swansea.” – Tomos Jones; Head Officer, Menter Iaith Abertawe / Creative Director, Gŵyl Tawe
More details will be announced over the coming months, including a wide variety of creative art and folk music workshops for young people leading up to the festival. The festival’s live session project in partnership with Am returns again this year, while a new project led by acclaimed Swansea musician Ify Iwobi will see the formation of a new community choir to open the festival’s music programme.
On the Saturday of the festival, there will also be a brand-new community stage open to local schools and up-and-coming artists, interactive theatre shows, dance performances, and a wide variety of stalls and activities in the museum’s foyer.
Tickets for the opening night at The Bunkhouse go on sale at 10AM on Wednesday 28/1 via the venue’s website. The Saturday is free to attend on a first come first serve basis, with the museum opening at 10AM and the entertainment running until 9PM.
Gŵyl Tawe 2026 is delivered by Menter Iaith Abertawe in partnership with Museum Wales, with support from Swansea Council, The Bunkhouse Swansea, and the Taliesin Arts Centre, and funding from the Arts Council of Wales. More partners and stallholders will be announced in the coming weeks.
All enquiries: swyddfa@menterabertawe.org