Poet Emyr Lewis has been awarded the National Eisteddfod Chair, one of Welsh culture's highest honours, for a poem judges described as "exhilarating and tender." The win, announced at this year's festival, marks the second time Lewis has claimed the Chair, having first won it in 1994. Judges praised the originality of his entry in a competition that drew 16 poems, the largest field since 1988.
According to Nation.Cymru, this year's Chairing competition was built around the theme "Llinell | Llinellau" (Line/Lines), and the judging panel confirmed the 16 submissions were the highest tally since the 1988 National Eisteddfod held in Newport.
The award was presented to Lewis on behalf of the judging panel by Idris Reynolds, who explained that the "Line/Lines" theme had given competing poets latitude to explore a wide range of directions.
the theme "Line/Lines" had given poets "the freedom to go wherever they wished"
What made the winning poem stand out?
Two entries emerged as the strongest contenders in the competition, according to the judges. One, written under the pen name Pwll y Wrach, was hailed as a skilfully crafted awdl — a traditional long-form Welsh poem — grounded firmly in the history and traditions of west Wales.
Ultimately, though, it was Lewis's entry that impressed the panel most for its inventiveness. The judges said the piece spanned eight centuries and injected the competition with what they called "astonishing novelty."
"This is a riot of an awdl, bringing astonishing novelty to the chair competition. It leads the eisteddfodic awdl into places it has never gone before, plunging into the absurd depths of the subconscious. It is a train journey through the nightmares of the night beneath the curve of an uneven, fickle moon."
The panel summed up their assessment by calling it an "exhilarating and tender awdl."
Separately, according to Nation.Cymru, judge Idris Reynolds remarked that the standard of competition had not been matched since the Cardigan Eisteddfod of 1976, underscoring just how strong this year's field of entrants was.
Who is Emyr Lewis?
Lewis was born in London and relocated to Cardiff with his family at the age of six. He was educated at Ysgol Gymraeg Llundain in west London before attending Rhydfelen Comprehensive School, where his Welsh teacher, Nia Daniel, first nurtured his passion for poetry.
Before turning to academia, Lewis spent years working as a lawyer. In 2019 he became head of the department of law and criminology at Aberystwyth University, a role that reflects his standing as a professor there. He has also published three collections of poetry. Separately, according to a Swansea University profile, Lewis holds the title of emeritus professor and has a track record of success at the Eisteddfod beyond his two Chair wins — he also took the Crown at the 1998 Bro Ogwr Eisteddfod, an achievement not mentioned in the festival's own announcement of this year's result.
Lewis's latest triumph was reported in more detail in our earlier coverage, Emyr Lewis wins Chair at Eisteddfod y Garreg Las for second time, which noted judges called this year's contest the closest since 1976 and highlighted the record-equalling 16 entries.
How was the Chair itself made?
This year's Chair was crafted from timber sourced within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, with additional materials drawn from across the host region in west Wales. Its design pays tribute to the chair of Lord Rhys, a historic piece still on display at nearby Cardigan Castle — the site where the first documented Eisteddfod took place in 1176.
The National Eisteddfod is Wales's foremost cultural festival, combining competitive events with a broader celebration of the Welsh language, and typically draws roughly 150,000 visitors annually. The word "Eisteddfod" translates loosely as "sitting-together" in English.
What happens next?
According to Nation.Cymru, the formal Chairing Ceremony honouring Lewis was scheduled to take place on Friday, 7 August 2026 at 16:00 in the festival's Pavilion. Next year's National Eisteddfod is due to be staged near Machynlleth in Powys.
Key Facts
- Emyr Lewis has won the Eisteddfod Chair twice, in 1994 and again this year.
- The 2026 competition's theme was "Llinell | Llinellau" (Line/Lines) and attracted 16 entries, the most since 1988.
- Judge Idris Reynolds said the competition's strength had not been seen since the 1976 Cardigan Eisteddfod.
- Lewis also won the Crown at the 1998 Bro Ogwr Eisteddfod, according to a Swansea University profile.
- The Chairing Ceremony was scheduled for 16:00 on Friday, 7 August 2026, and next year's Eisteddfod will be held near Machynlleth, Powys.
