Hay Festival Forum Dallas 2026

Hay Festival Forum takes over the Bishop Arts District from October 16 to 18, with The Texas Theatre serving as one of its main hubs. It's part of Hay Festival Global, which brings together voices from art, literature, science, politics, music and comedy to listen, talk, debate and create through festivals in unique locations around the world, along with forums, digital platforms and learning programmes.

The Dallas edition spreads across the neighborhood over three days, mixing stage conversations, workshops and book clubs with performances and university events. Some activities are free and only require an RSVP, while the featured conversations and concerts are ticketed. There's also a live performance of Symffoni'r Môr Mawr - A Transatlantic Symphony by Welsh composer Katie Jenkins.

While the full program for this edition hasn't been confirmed, the names floating around the festival include Richard Ford, Nikole Hannah-Jones, Jan Martínez Ahrens, Nilo Tabrizy, Mariana Alessandri, Anna Pazos, Brenda Navarro, Claudia Piñeiro, Austyn Wohlers, Chris Kraus, Jorge Comensal, Lee Ranaldo, Benjamín Kumantuk Xuxpë, Bun B, Kelly Lytle Hernández, Petro Rivera-Rideau and June Cohen. That's a wide spread of writers, musicians and thinkers from different backgrounds, so there should be something that catches your eye regardless of where your interests lean.

On the practical side, a Day Pass for Saturday or Sunday is $25, a Weekend Pass is $65, and a Festival Pass is $40. The whole thing runs from October 16 to 18 across the Bishop Arts District, with The Texas Theatre as a central spot.