The award honours both the town and the wider Ceredigion area
17:22, 31 Oct 2025Updated 17:22, 31 Oct 2025
Aerial view from Constitution Hill over Aberystwyth, the sea and Welsh coast
Aberystwyth has been named Wales’ first Unesco City of Literature. The award recognises the town and the wider Ceredigion area for its contribution to the creative arts.
There are more than 50 cities around the world honoured by has been recognised by the United Nations education, science and culture body for their contribution to the world of letters. Others include Barcelona, Dublin, Seattle and Rio de Janeiro. They are all part of the broader Unesco Creative Cities group.
Wales’ First Minister and the Welsh Secretary were among those who congratulated Aberystwyth on the honour, which followed an application by the Dinas Llên group, which means city of literature in Welsh.
The group said Aberystwyth has a vibrant infrastructure of festivals, bookshops, theatres, cultural events, lectures, centres of academic excellence and research, publishing, poetry and writing that connects all parts of the county.
Their application cited both the town and the wider county of Ceredigion to celebrate the centuries-old literary traditions of the area and its thriving bilingual cultural scene.
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Professor Mererid Hopwood, of the Department of Welsh and Celtic Studies at Aberystwyth University and member of the Dinas Llên partnership the accolade propelled Aberystwyth and Ceredigion onto a world stage.
She said: “As the first area in Wales to be recognised by the UNESCO Creative City network, the significance of the designation announced today goes beyond Aberystwyth and the county of Ceredigion and on to a national and global stage.
“It’s an opportunity to reinforce the vibrant literary heritage that we enjoy right here as we share it with the world. We have a saying in Welsh that reminds us that winning a prize is when the work begins. We now look forward to taking on the responsibility that comes with this significant privilege.”
The Dinas Llên partnership was formed in 2021 to move forward a programme of research and local consultation.
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The partnership comprises Aberystwyth Town Council, Aberystwyth University, Books Council of Wales, Ceredigion County Council, the National Library of Wales and University of Wales Trinity Saint David (including The Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies, Wales Literature Exchange and Literature Across Frontiers).
The application was for Aberystwyth Ceredigion which the Dinas Llên group said might not constitute a city in the traditional sense, but whose rich literary scene, universities and national literary institutions merited the designation.
The group said: “Literature and creativity in many forms, and in both Welsh and English, are an integral part of everyday life here, for people of all ages and backgrounds.
“Literature is at our feet as we walk Aberystwyth Promenade. It adorns the Quay at Cardigan and the woodland trail in Llandre. Aberystwyth alone can claim a connection to over 300 poets and is the first Welsh town to employ a Town Poet.”
The National Library of Wales
Welsh literary institutions are found in Ceredigion including the National Library of Wales and the Books Council of Wales.
The University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David is an international centre of excellence for Celtic Studies, and Aberystwyth University is world-renowned for its excellence in teaching and research in languages and literature, including Welsh, English and Creative Writing.
Councillor Emlyn Jones, Mayor of Aberystwyth said: “It’s fantastic that Aberystwyth Ceredigion has been awarded this status, putting our county on a worldwide stage and celebrating our distinctive cultural and literary heritage. Literature is for everyone, and we’ve now joined a global network of cities that have creativity rooted in their local communities to create a more inclusive, resilient and sustainable future.”
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First Minister of Wales Eluned Morgan said: “Llongyfarchiadau Aberystwyth Ceredigion! Congratulations to Aberystwyth Ceredigion for becoming Wales’ first UNESCO Creative City and City of Literature.
“Wales is a land of creativity, made up of great authors, poets, singers and actors. Of course, many of these come from the Aberystwyth area and attended the University, and this announcement is testament to the vibrancy of the literary scene, in both Welsh and English, throughout the county.
“Achieving UNESCO City of Literature status is thoroughly deserved, and I am looking forward to seeing opportunities unfold and Wales’ new City of Literature flourish.”
UNESCO representatives sent the following message: “Llongyfarchiadau / Congratulations to Aberystwyth Ceredigion on becoming Wales’ first UNESCO Creative City and City of Literature!
“This mark of global recognition shines a light on the vibrancy and strength of Wales’s bilingual literary culture and its contribution to creativity nationally & internationally.
“As part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, Aberystwyth Ceredigion joins a community that promotes inclusion, sustainability, and innovation through culture and creativity.
“It demonstrates how local and international efforts can prioritise literature, helping to strengthen Wales and the UK’s cultural influence and their voice on the world stage.”
Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said: “Congratulations to Aberystwyth on becoming the first place in Wales to receive this accolade. Aberystwyth and the wider area has so much to offer as a well-established centre of learning, culture and literature and richly deserves this recognition on the international stage.
“There is already much for Aberystwyth to be proud of and the award of City of Literature status will help bring tourism and boost the local economy in the years to come.”