The 2026 Royal Welsh Show has drawn to a successful close after four days of competitions, entertainment, food, shopping and family attractions at Llanelwedd.
Blessed with sunshine throughout the week, the show welcomed crowds from across the UK and beyond to celebrate the best of Welsh and British agriculture, with livestock competitions once again taking centre stage.
Among this year’s biggest winners, the Supreme Champion Beef title went to Larahill Violet, a Charolais heifer exhibited by Mike and Melanie Alford and bred by John O’Connor. The Supreme Champion Dairy Cow title was awarded to Corringham Lambda S Gremlin, a Holstein cow bred and exhibited by A Salter-Chalker and D W & C E Jones.
In the sheep section, Arnold Oare claimed the Supreme Champion title with a Suffolk shearling ewe, while the Pig Supreme Champion was a Duroc bred by Morgan Halliday and exhibited by Pigs Dyfodol Pedigree.
The prestigious Royal Welsh Supreme Horse Champion title was awarded to Glyncoch Capoeira, a Section D Welsh Cob brood mare bred and exhibited by Glyncoch Stud.
This year’s show also saw the introduction of the Charles Arch Memorial Award, created to honour the legacy of one of the Society’s long serving commentators and champion of young talent and the Welsh language. Presented during the Grand Parade, the inaugural award was given to Iestyn Llyr Hughes, Champion Young Handler in the Beef Cattle Section.
The Royal Welsh Show also welcomed Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh on Tuesday during her first visit as Patron of the Association of Show and Agricultural Organisations (ASAO). During her visit, The Duchess toured the showground, meeting exhibitors, volunteers, staff and Society members.
As the first show since the Senedd elections in May, more than 64 newly elected Members of the Senedd also attended, highlighting the event’s importance as a meeting place for Wales’ agricultural sector, rural communities and policymakers.
Away from the competition rings, visitors enjoyed a packed programme of attractions. The Paul Hannam Quad Bike Stunt Show returned to the Main Ring, while the Shetland Pony Grand National made its Royal Welsh debut.
One of the week’s standout moments came when the Hawkstone Farmers’ Choir performed in the Main Ring, including a rendition of the Welsh hymn Calon Lân during their first official performance in Wales since winning ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent.
Wednesday brought more success for Wales as the home team won the Six Nations Shearing Championship in front of packed crowds at the Meirionnydd Shearing Centre. Champion Shearer of Wales Gwion Lloyd Evans and Llyr Jones helped secure victory over England, Scotland, France, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland under the leadership of team manager Rhys Jones.
The Shearing Centre also hosted the Wales v New Zealand Machine Shearing Test, which began with the national anthems of both countries and a traditional Haka before New Zealand claimed victory.
Across the showground, visitors explored the new Welsh Sheep Village, Cynefin, sampled produce in the popular Food Hall, enjoyed live entertainment in the Welsh Food and Drink Village, Gwledd, and attended demonstrations in the Horticulture Village. The Heavy Horse Village also proved a popular attraction, celebrating the heritage of these iconic 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. Thousands came to watch around the ringside with over 3,000 people packed into the Grandstand. And when they sang in Welsh for the very first time, singing Calon Lân, all 3,000 in the grandstand rose to their feed in applause. What a moment.
“The engagement we’ve had on social media has also been absolutely sensational, 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, Mr 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.”
The Royal Welsh Show will return to Llanelwedd, Builth Wells, from 19 to 22 July 2027.
