Your guide to Cardiff / Music & Entertainment in Cardiff
Music and entertainment in Cardiff
The beautiful city of Cardiff, Wales, sits on Cardiff Bay and attracts visitors from around the world. Archeological evidence suggests that people have been living in Cardiff since at least 6000 B.C. Today, it's Wales' largest city and capital. It's also known for its cultural institutions and commercial center. If you're planning a trip to the area and you're interested in the best things to do in Cardiff, you can't go wrong when you check out some of these top events, attractions and festivals.
Music Events
Cardiff has a wide-ranging and well-established music scene. Whether you want to see the opera or check out a live concert, you're sure to find a performance you love when you explore these music events in Cardiff.
HUB Festival
HUB Festival is a multi-genre and multi-venue event that takes over Cardiff at the end of August. This festival brings over 150 live music acts to perform across 12 stages around the city. In addition to some amazing concerts and DJs, the festival also offers performances in comedy, spoken word, art, poetry and dance. Plus, you don't want to miss your opportunity to sit in on some of the informative workshops that occur at the festival.
Maes B
While the National Eisteddfod might be one of the most significant celebrations of culture and language in Wales, Maes B is one of the most notable music celebrations in the country. Since the National Eisteddfod was initially divided into different fields, Maes B started as the alternate field for young people. However, today Maes B is a regular music event held at the National Eisteddfod of Wales that features performances by contemporary Welsh rock and pop musicians.
Sporting Events
If you enjoy sports, you'll love the sporting events on offer in Cardiff. The city plays host to a variety of high-profile competitions at local, national and international levels. Check out some of these top options to explore the best sporting events in Cardiff.
Principality Stadium
The Principality Stadium is an iconic sports venue that's the national stadium of Wales. The stadium hosts the home games for both the Wales national rugby union team and the Wales national football team. In addition to these games, the stadium also has concerts and motorsports events. Plus, if you're interested in getting a behind-the-scenes look at the stadium, you can sign up for one of the tours. The Principality Stadium tour lets you explore the inner workings of the 74,000-seat stadium and gives you a chance to see the team's dressing room, walk down the tunnel and more.
Food and Drink Events
The food scene in Cardiff is growing in popularity every day. If you're interested in attending a Cardiff festival that celebrates good food and even better drinks, be sure to check out some of these top options.
Cardiff International Food & Drink Festival
The Cardiff International Food & Drink Festival is a popular Cardiff Bay food festival. This three-day event is held in July and celebrates street food and local cuisine. Over 100 producers from around Cardiff and beyond come to the festival to showcase their popular dishes. The festival includes a Street Food Piazza, Farmers' Market and Producers' Fayre. You'll also be able to enjoy live music, craft stalls and daily children's workshops where young chefs can learn to create their own delicious dishes.
Great Welsh Beer and Cider Festival
For three days in October, the Great Welsh Beer and Cider Festival brings some of the best drinks in the city to one place. You'll be able to browse and drink and exciting selection of over 130 cask ales from Wales and other countries. The festival will also have a nice mixture of other entertainment, including live music, pub quizzes, a hot sauce competition, various raffles and pub games that include shuffleboard and table skittles.
Cultural Events
Cardiff has numerous performing arts venues located around the city and a deep appreciation of theater, dance and art. Explore some of these top attractions and cultural events to get a true feel of the city.
Mela Festival
Even though Mela has its roots in Indian culture, the Cardiff Mela is now a large-scale multicultural festival that brings in around 30,000 visitors. This free event takes place in the summer and features a variety of activities for everyone to enjoy, including concerts, Bollywood dancers, music workshops, kids activities, various food stalls, sports workshops and a market bazaar that will have face painting, henna artists and ethnic clothing stalls.
Royal Arcade
No visit to Cardiff is complete without a stop at the Royal Arcade. The Royal Arcade dates back to 1858, making it the oldest in the city. As you stroll through the arcade and look around the independent shops, be sure to view some of the incredible architecture inside. Although the Royal Arcade was recently refurbished, many original wooden storefronts and first-floor Venetian windows are still intact. You should also check out the original shopfronts at numbers 29, 30 and 32.
Wales Millennium Centre
The bold Wales Millennium Centre is an arts center that hosts a variety of performances, such as ballet, opera, musical theater, contemporary dance and theater comedy. It's also home to eight cultural organizations, including the Welsh National Opera, National Dance Company Wales and BBC National Orchestra & Chorus of Wales. The center has one large theater and two smaller halls that have restaurants, bars and shops.
National Museum Cardiff
Whether you want to study art or learn some history, the National Museum Cardiff is the place to go. This museum and art gallery is part of the larger National Museum Wales network and showcases collections in archeology, geology, botany, zoology and fine and applied art.
Cardiff is a dynamic city that offers an impressive variety of things to do and attractions to enjoy. When you're looking for the best Cardiff events to help you fully appreciate the city and everything it has to offer, be sure to check out these excellent options.