Happy St David's Day

St David's Day (Dydd Gŵyl Dewi in Welsh) is the national day of Wales, celebrated each year on 1st March. Our celebrations showcase Welsh culture, language and heritage with music, song, poetry and food. You will often see children in traditional costumes and people wearing daffodils and leeks, our national symbols.Celebrations change each year but if your clients visit Wales around the 1st March they are guaranteed to get a taste of Wales. Here are some of this years highlights in Southern Wales:

• Every year Cadw offer free visits to sites that normally have an entrance fee - so pop along to our castles like Caerphilly, Raglan and Chepstow, or check out the Roman heritage in Caerleon.
• Welsh Rarebit Fortnight is a celebration of this traditional Welsh snack (a luxury version of cheese on toast) that almost 30 restaurants are taking part in - putting their own spin on the dish and raising funds for charity.

• Walk, Talk and Cawl around Southerndown - on 28 February 2026.  
• The Big Welsh Festival in Blackwood on 28 February.
• Harps, traditional dance and more at St Fagan's National Museum of History as well as poetry and mining heritage at Big Pit National National Coal Museum.

In most town centres you will find music and song - and call into any local baker to taste wonderful Welsh cakes. You might even come across some new artwork like this one in Blaina created by Walls by Paul.

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New attraction for Cardiff City Centre - Upside Down House

Have you heard of Upside Down Houses?

They are an interactive photo attraction designed for visitors of all ages,  who are looking for a unique adventure, something different; a visit will turn your world upside down!

Wales' first Upside Down House will open at the end of February on Queen Street in the centre of Cardiff. The Welsh house will celebrate Welsh culture with rooms inspired by the Welsh Dragon, rugby and a farm style lounge with playful sheep details. Each room offers unforgettable memories and interactive fun.  

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Land of Song Festival – Gŵyl Gwlad y Gân Cardiff’s Principality Stadium - May 2027

Wales is the Land of Song, where singing is part of every community and every event, across the generations.

In May 2027, the Land of Song Festival will bring the tradition up to date with a national celebration of singing at Principality Stadium in Cardiff. Through Côr World Choir and Young Voices Cymru, voices of all ages will come together in a powerful shared moment, rooted in Wales and shared with the world. This isn’t just for Welsh choirs – why not bring your choir group from anywhere in the world to join in?

At its heart, the festival celebrates a Welsh love of singing as a shared language of connection, community and joy. Singing is coming home. Register you interest – dates will be confirmed soon.

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Meet the Southern Wales team

Southern Wales is getting out and about in 2026 - and we would love to meet you and to chat about what this compact and accessible region of the UK offers your clients and groups. We will be at:

• British Tourism & Travel Show - 19 March, NEC Birmingham.

We are also delighted to welcome the Coach Travel Association to Cardiff in May 2026.If you would like to find out more about Southern Wales - do get in touch. We'd be delighted to help you plan a visit or set up a fam visit so that you can experience the area.

St David's Day ideas and other news from Southern Wales. See the original newsletter here.