BBC Arts Digital brought you three days of coverage of the festival’s greatest writers, thinkers and performers.
Image source, Getty ImagesGoldie Hawn in 2005
Actor Goldie Hawn wooed the Hay Festival crowd in 2005 to promote her memoir, A Lotus Grows in the Mud.
Image source, Getty ImagesJane Fonda in 2005
Appearing the same year, Oscar-winner Jane Fonda stole the show with an audience of 1,300 on the festival's last day. See more in our feature.
Scorchio!
With temperatures reaching 27°C, festival-goers were out enjoying the sunshine. With their books, of course...
Books at Hay Castle
The author spoke to Viv Groskop about her iconic literary creation last night.
The author admits she was previously too embarrassed to say the iconic character was based on her.
Martin Amis at the Hay Festival, 1992
Peter Florence
Director, Hay Festival
Quote MessageThe whole Festival basically grew out of my falling in love with modern literature when I read Martin Amis’ 'Money’ in 1985 over a lost weekend.
Image source, Hay FestivalMartin Amis at the Hay Festival, 1992
Hay Festival director Peter Florence explains why this year's speakers will be "refreshing".
Derek Addyman, Addyman Books
Throughout the day, we will be telling the modern history of Hay-on-Wye through the words of the people who make it what it is.
Image source, Hay FestivalDerek Addyman, dressed in medieval costume, outside his bookshop in Hay-on-Wye
Quote MessageThe modern story of Hay starts with the King. He started selling books in 1962, back when he was still just Richard Booth. He declared UDI, unilateral independence, in 1977, and crowned himself King Richard Coeur de, Coeur de whatever it was. I’d been working for him then for a year or two. I am now Prince Derek Fitz-Pitt Booth Addyman. I declared myself prince because I’m a natural born bookseller. It just comes to me. Anne and I started out on our own in February 1987, out of a 10 foot by 10 foot room by the Blue Boar. I spent six months carrying books up and down stairs and I learned two things. One is that books are really heavy. The other is they’re like a drug. I’d never been a great reader as a boy, but they just inspired me.
Did you know the idea for Hay was born around a kitchen table? Or that Bill Clinton called it 'Woodstock of the mind' when he visited in 2001? Check out our '30 years of Hay' timeline and discover the festival's illustrious past.
Nick Higham reports from the Hay Festival in 2001, featuring former US President Bill Clinton.
Roving reporter Lindsey Chapman sets the scene for our Saturday coverage.
Check out our round-up of the best moments from last year's festival, including Sarah Millican on Victoria Wood, Sam Mendes on James Bond, and this wonderful anecdote from Michael Palin on Monty Python:
Michael Palin explains the inspiration for the name of the famous comedy sketch group.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Hay Festival, organisers have been inviting the public, external to help nominate 30 books from the last 30 years that deserve some more attention.
Some 29 amazing books have already been nominated by the public on social media using the hashtag #HAY30BOOKS. The final one will be picked this weekend, so we'd love to know about YOUR favourite reads.
Click here to use our special interactive tool to write a review of your must-read title published after 1987. We'll share the best submissions as part of our coverage this weekend - and maybe your pick will complete the list!
What's your favourite?
This year's festival features over 500 speakers across more than 600 events over 12 days. Here we've picked out 10 who we can't wait to see, along with details of how to watch at home.
Ed Balls, Lucy Worsley, Stephen Fry, Tracey Emin and Tom Daley
Hello and welcome to BBC Arts Digital's live coverage in partnership with The Hay Festival, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Today we'll bring you the best of the fest live, with regular updates from our roving reporter Lindsey Chapman, plus video highlights, photos, archive treasures and all the latest news from the festival, right through until 22:00.
Lindsey Chapman arrives on site