Aberystwyth, a university and seaside town, known for its rich culture, stunning coastline and significant insitutions along with its wider county of Ceredigion was designated Wales’s first UNESCO City of Literature in late 2025, recognizing its vibrant bilingual literary culture , rich history, festivals, bookshops, and institutions like the National Library of Wales, and its role as a hub for poets and writers, solidifying its place in the global literary network with features like historical texts, publishing and creative events.
This status places Aberystwyth in the global of Creative Cities, highlighting its strong literary heritage and thriving scene of poetry, writing, and academic excellence in Welsh and English.
The successful application was led by the Dinas Llên strategic partnership, involving local councils, universities, and cultural bodies.
The title celebrates Aberystwyth’s ongoing commitment to literature, connectiong its local literary life with international efforts to promote creativity, inclusions, and innovation through words and stories.
Aberystwyth and Ceredigion, as well as the beauty of their natural surroudings, boast a stunning literary heritage. People in these parts left their stories on stones in the 5th and 6th centuries, ancient inscriptions and medieval vellum to modern digital formats, and literature is embedded in the history of this Welsh land.
Aberystwyth alone with its long history can claim with 300 poets and is the first town in Wales to employ a Town poet and is the first centre to in Wales to join the global UNESCO Creative Cities Network, alongside relevant cities like Barcelona, Spain and Dublin, Ireland.
The designation celebrates its thriving festivals, independent bookshops, theatre, poetry and a very strong academic presence at Aberystwyth University, founded in 1872 and gold - rated in the Teaching Excellence Framework..
Bilingual culture highlights the area’s deep Welsh literary traditions, and its multicultural identity, boasting a thriving Welsh and English literary scene with a strong tradition in both languages and the National Library of Wales, a major national institution undoubtedly plays a significant role in preserving Welsh culture and memory.
Ceredigion is also home to other literary institutions of national and international importance: Books Council Wales, Literature Across Frontiers, Wals Literature Exchange, the University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic studies and the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, plus a thriving publishing industry dating back to 1718 and famous to be a place for national festivals of vibrant literature exchange since at least the 12th century.
In essence, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion’s City of Literature status celebrates its enduring literary history, dynamic bilingual culture, and robust literary infrastructure, placing it with this prestigious recognition by UNESCO on the world stage.
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Thanks a lot to read and note.