Opera simulcast, musical competition and Pembrokeshire homecoming among highlights
BROADCASTER S4C is marking St David’s Day with a packed schedule of programming celebrating Wales as the “Land of Song”.
Blending factual and entertainment programmes with music and opera, this year’s Gŵyl Ddewi line-up aims to showcase the nation’s rich cultural heritage across television and digital platforms.
On St David’s Day Eve, presenters Elin Fflur and Trystan Ellis-Morris will host a live evening of musical entertainment from the Anglesey Showground as Cân i Gymru returns for another year. Eight songs will compete for the £5,000 prize for the winning composer, with viewers invited to vote on the night and join the conversation online using the hashtag #CiG2026.
A landmark broadcast will take place on 1 March itself, as opera film Tanau’r Lloer airs simultaneously across S4C and Channel 4 platforms — the first time the two broadcasters have released digital content at the same time.
Commissioned by both broadcasters, the production is inspired by scenes from Un Nos Ola Leuad by Caradog Pritchard, the modern Welsh literary classic first published in 1961.
Music remains central to the celebrations. Viewers will follow singer Rhys Meirion as he creates a Welsh-language version of a song by the late Mike Peters, lead vocalist of The Alarm. The programme, Neges Olaf Mike Peters, documents Rhys fulfilling a personal promise by collaborating with Mike’s sons, Dylan and Evan, on a special recording.
A special St David’s Day edition of Dechrau Canu, Dechrau Canmol will also be broadcast, presented by Nia Roberts, with hymns sung from St David’s Cathedral.
Pembrokeshire features prominently again on 4 March, when singer Cerys Matthews returns to her roots in Trefin for Stori’r Iaith. The programme sees her exploring the history of the Welsh language and the unique dialect of the area where she grew up.
S4C’s digital platforms will also play a key role in the festivities, including the launch of a new YouTube series from the stars of cabaret show Cabarela, offering a satirical take on contemporary life.
S4C Chief Executive Geraint Evans said the broadcaster was proud to place language and music at the heart of its national celebrations.
“From the first words of our language to the first notes of a song, S4C is celebrating everyone as part of this year’s St David’s Day festivities,” he said.
“The programming on S4C during the celebrations is a feather — or a leek — in the cap of those who’ve worked on the programmes and we look forward to celebrating Wales with our viewers.”
