URDD Gobaith Cymru is offering a unique opportunity to residents across Wales - the Eisteddfod experience from the comfort of their own homes.

On Friday, Urdd Gobaith Cymru announced that this year’s Urdd National Eisteddfod will be the alternative, new-style 'Eisteddfod T'.

Following the disappointment of having to postpone the 2020 Denbighshire Eisteddfod until 2021, Eisteddfod T will be a lively celebration of the talents of Wales’ youth, on a slightly different, digital stage.

The competitors will compete by uploading videos, clips, and pictures of their performances and creations, and the final rounds will be broadcast on specially scheduled programmes on S4C, online and BBC Radio Cymru. S4C’s coverage is produced by AVANTI.

Eisteddfod T (a play on words – Ti means ‘you’ and Tŷ means ‘house’) will be seen and heard on a range of programmes and platforms during the week commencing May 25 - the exact week the Eisteddfod should have been held.

The list of competitions and instructions on how to compete can be seen on the S4C website www.S4C.cymru/urdd, which is now live. The website also has musical accompaniment, arrangements, filming and recording tips - everything you will need to compete. In addition to traditional competitions such as cerdd dant and choirs, there are other fun competitions – impersonations, lip-sync and competitions for the whole family... even pets! The closing date for competing is midday, May 11.

“Eisteddfod T is going to be amazing,” said Eisteddfod Director, Sian Eirian. “The Urdd was determined to have an Eisteddfod in some shape or form to provide an opportunity for those children and young people where the Eisteddfod plays such an integral part in their calendar. Similarly, our broadcast partners, S4C and BBC Radio Cymru were keen to offer programmes for audiences who have become familiar with a week of eisteddfod coverage at the end of May.

“Eisteddfod T will offer the usual competitions, standard and range on a slightly different stage, as well as a lot of fun.”

Amanda Rees, S4C’s Content Director said: “S4C will bring all of Wales’ finest talents to you, from the homes of hundreds of competitors throughout the country. We are delighted to be part of this innovative initiative with the Urdd, and we will be broadcasting digitally and linearly with a highlights programme every night. It’s definitely going to be an event to remember!”

Rhuanedd Richards, Editor BBC Radio Cymru said: “This is difficult time for everyone, including our young people, and I’m delighted that we’re able to work in partnership with the Urdd to bring the fun and light relief this very different festival will provide to the listeners of BBC Radio Cymru. Eisteddfod T is an opportunity to broadcast new and emerging talents from across Wales from competitors’ homes, live every afternoon in the company of some of the station’s well-known voices. We can’t wait for this event which we hope will lift spirits across the country.”

With the set competition pieces for the Denbighshire Eisteddfod on hold until next year, all the competition pieces for Eisteddfod T are new, with the competitors choosing their own performance pieces in most of the competitions. Eisteddfod T will also be giving main awards for literature, music, drama, craft, and learners during the week.  

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