Duchess visit and Hawkstone Farmers’ Choir first highlights of 2026 Royal Welsh Show

A Royal visit, the first performance in Welsh by the Hawkstone Farmers’ Choir, a Wales team shearing victory and glorious sunshine were highlights of the 2026 Royal Welsh Show.

The four-day annual event was blessed with as large crowds that packed into the Llanelwedd showground to celebrate the best of Welsh and British agriculture.

The Duchess of Edinburgh attended the show on Tuesday, making her first visit in her capacity as patron of the Association of Show and Agricultural Organisations (ASAO).

A longstanding supporter of farming, food production and rural communities, she toured the showground, meeting exhibitors, staff, volunteers and Royal Welsh Agricultural Society (RWAS) members.

The crowd enjoyed a special performance by the Hawkstone Farmers’ Choir, whose stirring rendition of the Welsh hymn Calon Lân was one of the highlights of Monday’s programme. It was the choir’s first official performance in Wales since winning ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent.

Livestock took centre stage, with an outstanding standard of entries across every section. The show continues to attract exhibitors from far and wide, all hoping to take home one of the coveted rosettes and prizes.

 
In the cattle rings, the supreme champion beef title was awarded to a Charolais heifer Larahill Voiet, exhibited by Mike and Melanie Alford and bred by John O’Connor.

Corringham Lambda S Gremlin, an impressive Holstein cow bred and exhibited by A. Salter-Chalker and David Jones, was supreme champion dairy cow.
 
A new Charles Arch Memorial Award was introduced this year to honour the legacy of one of the RWAS’ much-loved commentators. Charles served the show for more than four decades and was a passionate supporter of young talent and the Welsh language.

Presented during the grand parade, the annual award recognises an outstanding young handler, with the inaugural award going to the champion in the beef cattle section, Iestyn Llyr Hughes.
 
The sheep supreme champion was Arnold Oare with a yearling Suffolk ewe and the pig supreme champion was Duroc, bred by Morgan Halliday and exhibited by Pigs Dyfodol Pedigree.

Spectators were treated to four days of horse classes in the main ring, culminating in the sought-after Royal Welsh supreme horse champion title, which went to a Section D Welsh Cob brood mare, Glyncoch Capoeira, bred and exhibited by Glyncoch Stud.

Other winners were: RWAS & Dai Jones Llanilar team of five beef breeds, Limousin cattle owned by Messrs Jenkinson, Thor Atkinson and R. & J. Graham. Marks & Spencer team of five dairy breeds, Holstein cattle owned by A. Salter-Chalker and D. W. & C. E. Jones, A. H. Wilson and S. R. Davies. RWAS/Shearwell Data Ltd.

More than 64 newly elected Members of the Senedd attended the show, reflecting its role as a hub for agriculture, rural communities and policymakers.
 
The main ring programme featured the return of the thrilling Paul Hannam Quad Bike Stunt Show and welcomed the Shetland Pony Grand National for the first time.

The crowd also enjoyed a special performance by the Hawkstone Farmers’ Choir, whose stirring rendition of the Welsh hymn Calon Lân was one of the highlights of Monday’s programme. It was the choir’s first official performance in Wales since winning ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent.
 
Wednesday saw the Meirionnydd Shearing Centre host the Six Nations Shearing Championship, with Wales claiming the title. Champion Shearer of Wales, Gwion Lloyd Evans and Llyr Jones, under the leadership of team manager Rhys Jones, beat England, Scotland, France, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. 

The shearing centre also hosted the Wales v New Zealand Machine Shearing Test which the Kiwis won under the guidance of manager Digger Balme.

The new Welsh Sheep Village, Cynefin, made its show debut, while the renowned Food Hall showcased an array of produce from food and drink businesses across Wales and beyond.

The Welsh Food and Drink Village, Gwledd, was a vibrant hub throughout the four days, with live music from the BBC Radio Cymru stage. Elsewhere, the Horticulture Village featured a packed programme of demonstrations and talks, while the Heavy Horse Village celebrated the heritage and importance of these magnificent animals.
 
“It’s been a tremendous week.” said Aled Rhys Jones, RWAS chief executive. “One of the highlights was seeing the Hawkstone Farmers’ Choir perform in the main ring.

 
“The engagement we’ve had on social media has also been absolutely sensationala, with more than two million views across our channels.
 
“Thank you so much to everybody who supported this year’s Royal Welsh Show and to the incredible team at the Brecknock feature county, led with great distinction by our president, Gethin Havard and his wife Ceri.

“The bar was set extremely high with a fantastic Moliant y Maes on the Sunday evening which set the tone for the rest of the week.
 
“We are pleased with all the feedback we have had for the new additions this year, including Cynefin, our new sheep village. Our thanks to all those who play their part in making this show such a special.”

 
Next year’s show will be from July 19–22.