Hay is a small town located in the county of Powys in mid-Wales, near the border with England. It sits in the Wye Valley, in the shadow of the Black Mountains, in the western part of the county.
The town is best known as a center for books and literature. Hay hosts the annual Hay Festival, a major literary festival that has been held since 1988 and attracts authors, poets, and readers from across the world. The festival has become one of the United Kingdom's prominent cultural events. The town's association with books extends beyond the festival; it has numerous independent bookshops and has developed a reputation as a destination for book lovers.
Hay has a long history as a market town and remains small in population, retaining much of its character as a rural Welsh settlement. The surrounding landscape of the Wye Valley offers access to walking and outdoor activities in the region.