EUROPE’S largest youth festival, Urdd Eisteddfod, kicked off in Port Talbot today.

Thousands of people will attend the event, which features 400 competitions ranging from reciting, singing, dancing and art to hairdressing and cookery.

The Welsh government has provided £200,000 to the organisers so that low-income families can be given free entry.

The organisers said this year’s festival had attracted 119,593 registrations to compete, which also includes a 42 per cent increase in the number of young Welsh learners compared with last year.

Urdd Cymru’s Llio Maddocks said: “The number of entries this year reflects the way Eisteddfod yr Urdd has evolved and grown to ensure a wide range of opportunities are available to children and young people through the medium of Welsh.”

Tomorrow, the Urdu will also launch new projects to celebrate the Wales women’s football team, which has qualified for the Euro 2025 tournament.

One of the main projects is the Euros Jambori, a national, virtual singalong event held in partnership with the Football Association of Wales, S4C, Boom Plant and BBC Wales.

Composer Caryl Parry Jones will write a new anthem to support the national football team and pop band Eden, along with singers Aleighcia Scott and Rose Datta, winner of S4C’s Y Llais competition, will also help perform it.

Urdd chief executive Sian Lewis said: ”The fact that the Welsh women’s team is competing in the Uefa Women’s Euro for the first time presented us with a fantastic opportunity to deliver new projects.

“We’re looking forward to seeing these projects inspire children and young people across Wales.”

The Urdd Eisteddfod continues in Port Talbot’s Margam Park until May 31.