The 2026 festival carried particular historical weight, marking 850 years since Lord Rhys’s landmark 1176 gathering at nearby Cardigan. More than 100,000 visitors attended the Maes, which represented communities across Pembrokeshire, west Carmarthenshire and south Ceredigion. Fun and games on the Maes on Friday (Image: Stuart Ladd)Competition remained at its heart: Martin Huws won the Crown, while Gareth Evans-Jones received the Prose Medal. Corgannwg, a 117-strong choir formed for Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Morgannwg’s 25th anniversary, won a major choral competition. Some of the areas most talented classical solo singers were reunited on Friday afternoon to celebrate the teaching of Eilyr Thomas (Image: Stuart Ladd)This group were enjoying the Eisteddfod on Friday (Image: Stuart Ladd)Smiles from Einir Dafydd who carried the Corn Hirlais in all of the Gorsedd ceremonies during the Eisteddfod (Image: Stuart Ladd)On Friday, family, friends and strangers came together to remember Aberporth Bard Dic Jones in the Babell Len (Image: Stuart Ladd)Lord Rhys takes his place amongst the visitors to the Maes on Friday morning (Image: Stuart Ladd)Mererid Hopwood on her last day as the Gorsedd Archdruid (Image: Stuart Ladd)