Yasmin Zaher at Hay Festival 2025

The world-famous Hay festival returned for its 38^th year with over 600 events taking place from May 22^nd- June 1^st featuring award-winning writers, global policy makers, pioneers and innovators in conversations, performances and debates, while HAYDAYS events for families gave young readers the opportunity to meet their heroes and get creative.

Elaine Canning and Yasmin Zaher sat on the Hay Festival stage with audience in front of them.

This year’s Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize winner, Yasmin Zaher, took to the festival’s Meadow Stage to talk about her incredible debut novel The Coin in a fascinating conversation with Prize director and author, Elaine Canning.

A wonderful Thursday afternoon audience heard the Palestinian journalist and author speak on her upbringing, journey into writing, inspirations behind The Coin, what it means to win the 2025 Dylan Thomas Prize literary award, and more.

Elaine Canning and Yasmin Zaher in the 'Writer's at Work' tent with several writers at desks

Earlier in the day, both Zaher and Canning took part in the festival’s ‘Writers at Work’ creative development programme for emerging Welsh talent.

Offering a fully-programmed ten days of creative development opportunities, Hay Festival ‘Writers at Work’ allows the selected writers to engage in Festival events, attend workshops with publishers, agents and, crucially, with established international artists.