If you’re drawing a blank when it comes to exciting things to do this April, then the Cardiff Animation Festival might be just the thing to add a little colour to your calendar.
Whether you know your Kiki’s Delivery Service from your Cowboy Bebop or are a complete newcomer to the genre, Cardiff Animation Festival is certain to have something to pique your interest, bringing some of the most exciting animated films from around the world to the Welsh capital.
Taking place over a long weekend from 23 to 26 April, the festival, which is held at Cardiff’s beloved Chapter Arts Centre every other year, will screen 98 short animated films over three days, all of which will be competing for a number of prizes, including Best Short, Best Student Short, and the coveted Audience Award. These prizes will be dished out during a ceremony on the closing evening of the festival (presented by well-known BBC presenter and film buff Ali Plumb!).
The 98 short films to be shown across the weekend – selected from over 700 submissions from 61 different countries (a record for the festival!) – range in style and concept, with plots that revolve around everything from homesick students to mystical sea creatures to talking used mattresses.
Alongside the main film contest, the festival will also stage exhibitions, workshops and Q&As with animators and directors. With a strong focus on sociability and inclusivity, the festival’s programme also reserves time for chitchatting and networking, granting all festival goers a chance to rub shoulders with other cinema-lovers, as well as those working within the film industry.
Speaking about the 2026 edition of the festival, Lauren Orme, Cardiff Animation Festival Director, said, ‘Cardiff Animation Festival has always been about celebrating community and connection through animation, and 2026 is no different. We’ve put together a playful, joyful programme packed with great films, inspiring talks, cosy workshops, inclusive socials, late‑night discoveries, and the return of some festival favourites!’
‘We can’t wait to welcome brilliant creators from around the world alongside incredible Wales‑based talent,’ Lauren added.
Alongside the films, this year's festival will also endevour to spotlight some of the exciting developments in the world of animated gaming, with talks from some of the developers of the recent hit video game titles Thank Goodness You’re Here and The Midnight Walk.
Learn more about the event, and purchase tickets, on the Cardiff Animation Festival official website. (A number of the festival's films, workshops and Q&A sessions will also be available to view online during the weekend through the festival's "Online Pass".)
Alternatively, discover more fantastic film festivals around Wales, focused on everything from horror to comedy to LGBTQ+ stories.