Other Voices: Cardigan 2025, the television showcase recorded at the autumn festival in Aberteifi, has been nominated for a BAFTA Cymru award in the Entertainment Programme category, organisers have confirmed. The programme’s long-time frontman, Huw Stephens, has also been put forward in the Presenter category.
Festival TV picks up national recognition
The one-off television special — produced by South Wind Blows in partnership with Mwldan and Triongl — was broadcast on BBC Cymru Wales and RTÉ and remains available on BBC iPlayer. The edition brings acts from contemporary Irish, Welsh and international scenes together under the Other Voices banner, staged in the West Wales town better known by its Welsh name, Aberteifi (Cardigan).
“On behalf of the producing partners South Wind Blows, Mwldan and Triongl, we are delighted to have received a BAFTA Cymru nomination for ‘Entertainment Programme’ for Other Voices: Cardigan 2025 with Huw Stephens,”
The Mwldan spokesperson who made the announcement also congratulated Stephens for his individual nomination, calling both nods a “wonderful recognition of the success of this special Wales–Ireland event, and the quality of the programme and artists featured.”
Cross-border production and public backing
The Cardigan edition of Other Voices has been publicly supported by a constellation of cultural funding bodies. The project was staged with the investment of the Welsh Government and the Government of Ireland (through the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media), and benefited from the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Reconciliation Fund. It was also part-funded by the UK Government via the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and had backing from Ceredigion County Council.
That mix of national and cross-border support underlines the event’s ambition: Other Voices Cardigan bills itself as “the biggest showcase of contemporary Irish artists in the UK”, placing them alongside Welsh and international acts in an autumn festival setting.
Context and consequences
The BAFTA Cymru nominations arrive at a complicated moment. Earlier in 2026 organisers announced that Other Voices Cardigan would not run this year, citing a "late and reduced funding decision" that left insufficient time to secure alternate revenues for an event of that scale. The cancellation highlights the precarious financial environment for mid-sized festivals and the reliance many events have on timely public support.
- Programme nominated: Other Voices: Cardigan 2025 (Entertainment Programme)
- Presenter nominated: Huw Stephens
- Broadcasters: BBC Cymru Wales, RTÉ (programme available on BBC iPlayer)
The recognition from BAFTA Cymru will be welcomed by producers and local partners alike, not only as a mark of quality for the televised show but also as an affirmation of the creative value generated by collaborations between Welsh and Irish arts organisations.
What next for Other Voices?
While the awards season may offer a boost to the project’s profile, the organisers’ earlier statement about the 2026 cancellation remains the clearest sign of the operational challenges ahead. Any future editions will depend on the timely and sufficient flow of funding — public and private — and on partners’ ability to translate broadcast acclaim into sustainable income streams for on-the-ground festivals.
| Producer partners | Broadcast | Public funders/support |
|---|---|---|
| South Wind Blows; Mwldan; Triongl | BBC Cymru Wales; RTÉ (available on BBC iPlayer) | Welsh Government; Government of Ireland; Department of Foreign Affairs’ Reconciliation Fund; UK Shared Prosperity Fund; Ceredigion County Council |
The BAFTA Cymru shortlist will be followed closely by cultural organisations and local authorities alike: a high-profile win could strengthen arguments for future support, while even the nomination itself underscores the artistic reach of projects that bridge regional scenes and national broadcasters.
