Special ceremony at St Davids will mark the presentation of this year’s prestigious awards ahead of Eisteddfod y Garreg Las
THE CROWN and Chair for the 2026 National Eisteddfod will be officially presented to the local Executive Committee at a special event in Pembrokeshire later this month.
The ceremony, taking place on Friday, June 19, forms part of the launch of wider celebrations marking the 850th anniversary of the National Eisteddfod under the banner Carreg Filltir Las.
A giant five-metre puppet of Lord Rhys, created by Small World Theatre, will play a central role in the festivities. The puppet will travel through communities across the region before arriving in Cardigan for a programme of activities, music and celebrations in the town and at Cardigan Castle.
Events begin at 5.45pm at St Davids Cathedral, where Lord Rhys will be ceremonially awakened from his sleep before setting off with his faithful dog, Teifi, and a procession of supporters to Oriel y Parc.
A formal ceremony will then take place, including the unveiling of this year’s Eisteddfod Crown and Chair.
The Crown has been donated by the family of the Reverend W J Gruffydd, known by his bardic name Elerydd, and Mrs Jane Gruffydd. The gift honours their memory and recognises the support and generosity shown by families throughout the Eisteddfod area during their ministry.
A prize of £750 accompanies the Crown, donated by community newspaper Y Cardi Bach in memory of its former editors, Rhoswen Llewellyn and the Reverend Euros Wyn Jones.
The Crown has been designed and crafted in silver by Elen and Dylan Bowen of Bowen Jewellery, who work from their workshop in Newcastle Emlyn.
This year’s Chair has been designed and made by craftsman Tomos Lewis. It has been donated by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, with a £750 prize provided by Geraint and Siân James, owners of Awen Teifi in Cardigan.
The unveiling marks another milestone in preparations for Eisteddfod y Garreg Las and highlights the importance of the National Eisteddfod’s cultural legacy as it approaches its historic 850th anniversary.
Organisers say further details, photographs and information about the Crown and Chair will be released ahead of the event.
