Playday 2026 events
Playday is the national day for play in the UK. This year’s Playday is taking place on Wednesday 5 August. It is an opportunity to celebrate children’s right to play and to remind everyone about the importance of play on Playday, and every day.
On Playday, organisations across Wales and the rest of the UK host events to celebrate children’s right to play. The events offer a great opportunity for children and families to go out to play. Playday events vary from a teddy bears' picnic in the park to town centre-wide celebrations – and everything in between!
Events in your area
To help you plan for Playday, we are sharing information about some events that are open to the public and free to attend. In the lead up to Playday we will update this page with new events as they are announced, so please check back regularly.
If you know of an event taking place in your area, please let us know by contacting us by email.
Blaenau Gwent
Event: It Takes a Village ... National Playday 2026
Organiser: Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council
Location: Bedwellty House and Park, Tredegar NP22 3XN
Date: 5 August 2026
Start and end time: 11:00am - 3:00pm
Contact: Anna Pryce
Enjoy a fantastic range of free activities designed to bring families together, encourage play and create lasting memories. Activities will include arts and crafts, bouncy castle, face painting, water play, sensory play, marshmallow toasting and messy play.
Caerphilly
Event: Caerphilly Playday
Organiser: Caerphilly Play and Caerphilly Early Years and Childcare
Location: Morgan Jones Park, CF83 1AB
Date: 5 August 2026
Start and end time: 11:00am – 2:00pm
Contact: Laura Thomas - 01443 863412
Come along to a free open access play in the park event for parents and children to play together. Activities to include art and craft, messy play, outdoor games, and there will be an area for small children and babies to play. Activities will aim to be inclusive for all needs.
Inspired by this year's Playday theme, Play – here, there, everywhere, other sessions are happening across Caerphilly over the summer. For more information, please visit the website.
Cardiff
Event: Play Day Celebration
Organiser: Cardiff Children’s Play Service
Location: Trelai Fields, Caerau, CF5 5AQ
Date: 29 July 2026
Start and end time: 1:00pm to 4:00pm
Contact: Cardiff Children’s Play Services
Celebrate National Playday with a fun-filled event for all ages! Enjoy messy, creative, and active play experiences.
Carmarthenshire
Event: Playday
Organiser: Carmarthenshire Play Team
Location: Ammanford Park
Date: 3 August 2026
Start and end time: 10:00am – 1:00pm
Contact: Carmarthenshire Play Team
Join us to celebrate National Playday! Come along to a free, family-friendly event and enjoy a day of play together. A wide range of partner organisations will be there, sharing information about their services and each offering fun, interactive play activities for children and families to enjoy.
Event: Playday
Organiser: Carmarthenshire Play Team
Location: Carmarthen Park
Date: 5 August 2026
Start and end time: 10:00am – 1:00pm
Contact: Carmarthenshire Play Team
Join us to celebrate National Playday! Come along to a free, family-friendly event and enjoy a day of play together. A wide range of partner organisations will be there, sharing information about their services and each offering fun, interactive play activities for children and families to enjoy.
Event: Playday
Organiser: Carmarthenshire Play Team
Location: Parc Howard, Llanelli
Date: 7 August 2026
Start and end time: 10:00am – 1:00pm
Contact: Carmarthenshire Play Team
Join us to celebrate National Playday! Come along to a free, family-friendly event and enjoy a day of play together. A wide range of partner organisations will be there, sharing information about their services and each offering fun, interactive play activities for children and families to enjoy.
Ceredigion
Event: RAY Play Day
Organiser: RAY Ceredigion
Location: Square Field Aberaeron, Ceredigion
Date: 5 August 2026
Start and end time: 11.30am to 3:00pm
Contact: RAY Ceredigion
RAY Play Day is an annual event. Entrance to the event and all activities are free with free play, messy play, arts, crafts, a Youth Zone with Celf Aeron Arts teen bands and a recycled fashion show catwalk with this year’s carnival theme. Come along and stay all day.
Denbighshire
Event: National Playday Rhyl
Organiser: Denbighshire Play Ranger Service
Location: The Oak Tree Centre/Christ Church School Field, Ffordd Las, Rhyl, Denbighshire LL18 2DY
Date: 5 August 2026
Start and end time: 11:00am until 3:00pm
Contact: Dawn Anderson or Ruth Salisbury
A full day of free playful activities for all children, young people and families to enjoy. Activities include: water slide, messy play, arts and crafts, painting, facepainting, nature activities, food making activities, circus skills, sand and water play, cardboard city and more!
Pembrokeshire
Event: Play Day 2026
Organiser: Pembrokeshire County Council
Location: Scolton Manor, Haverfordwest, SA62 5QL
Date: 5 August 2026
Start and end time: 10:30am – 3:00pm
Contact: Alys Lewis
Play Day 2026 is a free, family-friendly celebration of play, offering a wide range of fun, inclusive activities for children and young people of all ages. Join us for a cost-friendly day packed with play, creativity, adventure and community fun for everyone to enjoy.
Rhondda Cynon Taf
Event: GGCA National Play Day
Organiser: Gilfach Goch Community Association
Location: Gilfach Goch Community Assoication Cambrian Avenue
Date: 5 August 2026
Start and end time: 10:30am - 2:30pm
Contact: Debbie Page-Evans, 01443 675004
To celebrate, we will be opening our doors to the whole family, inviting everyone to join us in recognising and supporting the importance and benefits of play. Through a variety of fun and engaging activities, families will have the opportunity to experience firsthand how play supports children's learning, development, wellbeing and social connections. We look forward to welcoming you as we celebrate the joy of play and its positive impact on children and communities.
Event: Cwmparc Family Hub National Playday for the whole family
Organiser: Cwmparc Family Hub
Location: Cwmparc Family Hub, Parc Road, Cwmparc CF42 6HY
Date: 5 August 2026
Start and end time: 10:00am - 1:00pm
Contact: Cwmparc Family Hub
Bring the whole family along for a free fun day out as we celebrate the joy of play at our National Playday. With plenty of exciting activities from an assault course to arts & crafts and field games.
Fun for everyone to enjoy, it's the perfect opportunity to spend time together, have fun and make lasting memories. We can't wait to welcome you!
Event: LCDP Playday 2026
Organiser: Llanharan Community Development Project
Location: Bryncae Comuunity Centre, Powell Drive, Bryncae, Llanharan, Pontyclun CF72 9UU
Date: 5 August 2026
Start and end time: 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Contact: Glyn Phillips / 01443 229723
A large Playday event offering a range of activities including cardboard city, messy play, water play, under fives play area, arts and crafts, glitter and temporary tattoos.
Event: Hirwaun YMCA Play Day
Organiser: Hirwaun YMCA
Location: Hirwaun YMCA, Manchester Place, CF44 9RB
Date: 5 August 2026
Start and end time: 11:00am - 2:00pm
Contact: 01685 811420
Join us at the Hirwaun YMCA Playday for a fun-filled family event! Children and families can enjoy face painting, crafts, games, nature-based activities, and a lively bilingual interactive family show. Come together to play, learn, connect, and celebrate a fantastic day of community fun for everyone.
Event: Play is everywhere Family Play Day
Organiser: The Bryncynon Strategy – the play team
Location: Feel Good Factory, Main Road, Mountain Ash, CF45 4XZ
Date: 5 August 2026
Start and end time: 11:00am - 2:00pm
Contact: 01443 475120
A community family Playday, to bring community togther. It will be an inclusive day planned and adapted for all families to access, and where children have freedom to explore.
The day will give families the opportunity to play togther and gain some understanding of the importance of play, along with ideas they can use at home. The event will include: family participation, sensory experiences, physical play and open ended activities.
Swansea
Event: National Play Day
Organiser: Swansea Council
Location: National Waterfront Museum, Oystermouth Rd, Maritime Quarter, Swansea SA1 3RD
Date: 5 August 2026
Start and end time: 10:00am – 11:00am Quiet Hour / 11:00am – 2:00pm
Contact: Garry Taylor
Join us at the National Waterfront Museum as we celebrate National Playday on with our amazing Play Partners across Swansea.
Torfaen
Event: National Play Day – Play in the Park
Organiser: Torfaen Play Service
Location: Fishponds Park, Griffithstown, Pontypool NP4 5AH
Date: 5 August 2026
Start and end time: 1.00pm - 3.00pm
Contact: Torfaen Play Service
Come and join us for Playday in the park. Playworkers will be providing a range of play experiences for children of all ages. Children under the age must be accompanied by an adult. Free of charge. No prebooking required.
Vale of Glamorgan
Event: Vale Play Team – National Playday 2026
Organiser: Vale Play Team
Location: Gladstone Gardens, Barry, CF62 8DD
Date: 5 August 2026
Start and end time: 11:00pm - 3:00pm
Contact: Vale Play Team
Join Vale Play Team and partners to celebrate National Playday 2026 with a fun-filled, inclusive community event for families of all ages!
Enjoy a wide range of free, creative and playful activities designed to inspire imagination, encourage outdoor play, and bring the community together. Activities include: Cardboard City building, den building, muddy kitchens, arts & crafts, junk modelling.
This is a welcoming, inclusive event where everyone can come along, get involved, and celebrate the power of play.
Wrexham
Event: Playday Wrexham
Organiser: Wrexham Council/Wrexham Play Network
Location: Queen Square and Guildhall Field, Wrexham
Date: 5 August 2026
Start and end time: 12:00pm - 4:00pm
Contact: Wrexham Play Team
A free afternoon of waterslides, paints, giant sandpit, maze, crafts, sports, loose parts and plenty of fun. All ages are welcome to join us. We suggest you dress in your playing out clothes as there is a good chance of getting wet and messy!
Celebrating with friends and family
If there isn’t a public event happening near you, why not celebrate with your family at home, or meet up with friends at the park, play area or beach, to have a day full of play. If you are looking for playful suggestions, take a look at the Play ideas section.
For the latest updates – and to share how you are celebrating – use the #Playday2026 hashtag on social media.
