Exhibition celebrates National Eisteddfod tradition ahead of Eisteddfod y Garreg Las

A major exhibition exploring the rich history and traditions of the National Eisteddfod of Wales is currently on display at The Riverside: Library, Gallery and Visitor Information in Haverfordwest, as Pembrokeshire prepares to welcome Eisteddfod y Garreg Las.

The A Oes Heddwch: Traddodiad yr Eisteddfod | The Eisteddfod Tradition exhibition presents a fascinating selection of items from the collections of the National Library of Wales, offering visitors an opportunity to discover the story of Wales' most iconic cultural festival.

The exhibition comes at a particularly significant time, with Eisteddfod y Garreg Las taking place in Llantwd, in the heart of north Pembrokeshire, from August 1-8 2026.

Visitors travelling to the National Eisteddfod are warmly invited to extend their visit to Pembrokeshire by exploring the exhibition and discovering more about the history of the Eisteddfod at the Riverside Library and Gallery in Haverfordwest.

Drawing on the nationally important collections of the National Library of Wales, the exhibition features four themed sections: History of the Eisteddfod, Around the Gorsedd, In the Pavilion, and On the Maes. Together, they explore the development of the Eisteddfod movement and its lasting influence on Welsh culture, language and identity.

The exhibition’s principal highlight is Brut y Tywysogion (Chronicle of the Princes), the only surviving original record of the first Eisteddfod, which marks its 850th anniversary this year.

The first Eisteddfod was held in 1176, at Cardigan Castle, home of Lord Rhys, who invited bards and musicians from across Wales and beyond. The prize for the best bard and musician was a chair at Lord Rhys’ table during the celebratory feast, establishing the tradition of the Chairing of the Bard that remains a central feature of Eisteddfodau today.

Among the other highlights is a photograph of the organisers of the Ruthin Eisteddfod in 1868, which is the earliest photograph relating to the National Eisteddfod in the National Library of Wales' collection.

Visitors will also be able to see treasured artefacts relating to previous Pembrokeshire Eisteddfodau, including the Official Programme from Fishguard, 1936, and a plan of the Maes from Haverfordwest, 1972.

Alongside A Oes Heddwch, visitors can also explore the Riverside Gallery's permanent exhibition, Pembrokeshire: Past and Present, which celebrates the county's rich history, culture and landscape.

Featured items include a collection of historic black and white photographs, among them a Geoff Charles view of Haverfordwest in 1972 and a photograph by Julian Sheppard showing the poet Waldo Williams with pupils from Goodwick Primary School in the late 1960s. The exhibition also includes a manuscript belonging to Waldo Williams, a sketchbook owned by artist Elizabeth Haines, and a collection of artworks inspired by the Pembrokeshire coast.

Both exhibitions will remain on display until the autumn, offering visitors and residents alike the opportunity to engage with Wales' cultural heritage and Pembrokeshire's unique story.

For anyone attending Eisteddfod y Garreg Las 2026, the Riverside Gallery provides an ideal opportunity to continue the Eisteddfod experience and explore the people, places and traditions that have shaped Welsh cultural life for generations.

See more on The Riverside: Library, Gallery and Visitor Information at: https://www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/the-riverside

Picture credit:

29 Jul 2026