Hay Festival Cartagena

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Arts & CultureCartagena
DatesDates TBA · Usually JanuaryCheck locally before booking
Duration4 daysListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forPerformance, exhibitionsCartagena was the first place outside Wales
Language["es"]Currency: COP
CategoryArts & CultureFestival type
The story

Hay Festival Cartagena in Cartagena

Held each January in Cartagena's colonial walled city since its first edition in 2006, the Hay Festival brought Wales's literary and ideas festival format to Colombia for the first time outside Britain, staging talks, readings and interviews with international and Latin American writers, journalists and thinkers across multiple historic venues.

A Welsh kitchen-table idea from 1987 became a Caribbean literary institution when Cartagena hosted its first edition of the Hay Festival in 2006, making the Colombian city the first place outside Wales permitted to run an official Hay Festival under that name.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Cartagena was the first place outside Wales permitted to stage an official Hay Festival under that name, a licensing distinction not extended to other Hay editions that later launched elsewhere in the world

02

The mystery stays covered

The festival's founding is directly tied to Gabriel Garcia Marquez, with Carlos Fuentes's remark that the festival must come to Gabo credited as part of its origin story, giving it a specific literary lineage unusual among festivals of ideas

03

The city starts moving

Staging talks and readings inside Cartagena's colonial walled-city venues, rather than a modern convention centre, ties the festival's format to a genuinely historic architectural setting

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

Symbols

Custom

Hay Festival Cartagena is documented as a recurring arts-culture festival in the Eventisimus atlas.

Participation

Calendar

Some moments are open to visitors; others belong to local participants. Follow barriers, steward instructions, and local etiquette.

Place memory

Place

The strongest version of the event is the one tied to Cartagena, not a generic copy of the same category elsewhere.

The local code

Meaning

Cartagena was the first place outside Wales permitted to stage an official Hay Festival under that name, a licensing distinction not extended to other...

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually January

Getting around

Stay close enough to the part of Cartagena you will actually use, especially if the event runs late.

What to wear

Light, breathable clothing suits Cartagena's hot, humid January climate, with a layer for air-conditioned indoor venues; comfortable shoes matter for walking between spread-out old-town...

Safety

Keep valuables light, follow local instructions, and watch how residents use the space before joining in.

Where to stay

For busy dates, stay near reliable routes so the return after Hay Festival Cartagena does not become the hardest part.

Tickets/cost

Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.

Language/currency

["es"] · COP

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map10.40 N, 75.49 WOpen in Google Maps

Cartagena, Bolivar, Colombia

Nearest airportCTG — Rafael Nuñez
TransportStay close enough to the part of Cartagena you will actually use, especially if the event runs late.
Stay areaFor busy dates, stay near reliable routes so the return after Hay Festival Cartagena does not become the hardest part.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Cartagena via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Cartagena, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for January.Compare faresFestival gearLight, breathable clothing suits Cartagena's hot, humid January climate, with a layer for air-conditioned indoor venues; comfortable shoes matter for walking between spread-out old-town session locations.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Colombia and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Hay Festival Cartagena?

Hay Festival Cartagena is listed for Past edition: 29 January–1 February 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Hay Festival Cartagena take place?

The festival is listed in Cartagena, Colombia. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

4 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Cartagena, Bolivar, Colombia

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLhayfestival.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually January
Source statusOfficial source linked
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