5 January – First Minister
Carwyn Jones visits areas of Wales that have been badly affected by flooding, and promises that a further £2.3 million will be made available to be spent on flood protection.[2]
8 February – Wales is badly affected by
Storm Imogen: 80 mph winds result in waves high enough to hit first-floor windows along
Aberystwyth's seafront.[4]
9 February – The Welsh Assembly votes for legislation to protect the historic environment and make the maintenance of records mandatory; this makes Wales the first part of the UK, and one of the first countries in the world, to legislate for the protection of historic environment records.[5]
17 March – The review of the
Macur Report, a government inquiry into the abuse of children in care in the former county council areas of Gwynedd and Clwyd in North Wales is published.[9] It finds "no evidence" of historical abuse by establishment figures.[10]
30 March – Tata Steel announces that it is looking for a buyer for its entire British steel making operations, putting at risk all 5,500 jobs at
Port Talbot Steelworks.[12]
April
1 April – As part of a three-day celebration of arts, culture and creativity in Wales, artist Marc Rees unveils a 20 ft tall statue of singer
Shirley Bassey on a balcony of
Caernarfon Castle.[13]
28 April – The skull and antlers of a deer dating back 4,000 years are found on a beach in
Borth.[14]
29 April – The Harvester, a fishing vessel operating from
Milford Haven, carrying a father and son team, sinks off the coast of St David's.[15]
14 July – Following
Theresa May's selection as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Welsh Secretary
Alun Cairns is one of only four ministers to retain their positions in the newly announced
Cabinet.[27]
24 July – Communities in Wales and England celebrate the bicentenary of the opening of the
Old Wye Bridge in Chepstow.[29]
August
6 August – 130,000 visitors are recorded attending the
2016 National Eisteddfod in
Abergavenny as the festival comes to a close. The iconic pink pavilion was replaced this year by a square-shaped white building in an attempt to improve acoustics.[30]
28 August – The final
BHS store in Wales, located in Swansea's Princess Way, closes its doors after the company goes into administration.[31]
The
Wales Bill 2016, which gives new powers and accountability for the Welsh Assembly, is passed by MPs in the House of Commons.[32]
A new Boundary Commission plan which would see Welsh Members of Parliament cut from 40 to 29, is published for consultation.[33]
17/
18 September – A series of events celebrating the works of
Roald Dahl are held throughout the streets of Cardiff on the centenary of the author's birth.[34]
21 October –
Charles, Prince of Wales, visits Aberfan on the 50th anniversary of the disaster, but the planned minute's silence is largely ignored outside Wales.[39]
31 December – Wales football manager
Chris Coleman is among the Welsh recipients of honours in the Queen's New Year Honours List, receiving the OBE.[42] Singer
Bryn Terfel receives a knighthood.[43]
6 July – Wales are beaten in the semi-finals of Euro 2016 by Portugal.[56] The tournament is Wales' most successful campaign, in which two players,
Joe Allen and
Aaron Ramsey are named in
UEFA's team of the tournament.[57] Out of contract striker
Hal Robson-Kanu's goal against Belgium in the quarter finals is named by UEFA as the second best goal of the championship.[58]
9 April –
Lee Selby successfully defends his IBF World Featherweight title, beating American
Eric Hunter on unanimous points decision.
14 May – At the Ice Arena Wales,
Andrew Selby defeats
Louis Norman to become British Flyweight champion. In winning, Selby became the fastest Welsh fighter to win a
Lonsdale Belt, having claimed his division in just five professional fights.[61]
30 October – Scottish boxer
Mike Towell dies following his fight with Carmarthen-based boxer Dale Evans.[62]
Cyclist
Geraint Thomas falls on the steep descent towards the finish of the Men's Road Race while in the leading group. Despite injury, he remounts his cycle and finishes the race.[73]
5 January – First Minister
Carwyn Jones visits areas of Wales that have been badly affected by flooding, and promises that a further £2.3 million will be made available to be spent on flood protection.[2]
8 February – Wales is badly affected by
Storm Imogen: 80 mph winds result in waves high enough to hit first-floor windows along
Aberystwyth's seafront.[4]
9 February – The Welsh Assembly votes for legislation to protect the historic environment and make the maintenance of records mandatory; this makes Wales the first part of the UK, and one of the first countries in the world, to legislate for the protection of historic environment records.[5]
17 March – The review of the
Macur Report, a government inquiry into the abuse of children in care in the former county council areas of Gwynedd and Clwyd in North Wales is published.[9] It finds "no evidence" of historical abuse by establishment figures.[10]
30 March – Tata Steel announces that it is looking for a buyer for its entire British steel making operations, putting at risk all 5,500 jobs at
Port Talbot Steelworks.[12]
April
1 April – As part of a three-day celebration of arts, culture and creativity in Wales, artist Marc Rees unveils a 20 ft tall statue of singer
Shirley Bassey on a balcony of
Caernarfon Castle.[13]
28 April – The skull and antlers of a deer dating back 4,000 years are found on a beach in
Borth.[14]
29 April – The Harvester, a fishing vessel operating from
Milford Haven, carrying a father and son team, sinks off the coast of St David's.[15]
14 July – Following
Theresa May's selection as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Welsh Secretary
Alun Cairns is one of only four ministers to retain their positions in the newly announced
Cabinet.[27]
24 July – Communities in Wales and England celebrate the bicentenary of the opening of the
Old Wye Bridge in Chepstow.[29]
August
6 August – 130,000 visitors are recorded attending the
2016 National Eisteddfod in
Abergavenny as the festival comes to a close. The iconic pink pavilion was replaced this year by a square-shaped white building in an attempt to improve acoustics.[30]
28 August – The final
BHS store in Wales, located in Swansea's Princess Way, closes its doors after the company goes into administration.[31]
The
Wales Bill 2016, which gives new powers and accountability for the Welsh Assembly, is passed by MPs in the House of Commons.[32]
A new Boundary Commission plan which would see Welsh Members of Parliament cut from 40 to 29, is published for consultation.[33]
17/
18 September – A series of events celebrating the works of
Roald Dahl are held throughout the streets of Cardiff on the centenary of the author's birth.[34]
21 October –
Charles, Prince of Wales, visits Aberfan on the 50th anniversary of the disaster, but the planned minute's silence is largely ignored outside Wales.[39]
31 December – Wales football manager
Chris Coleman is among the Welsh recipients of honours in the Queen's New Year Honours List, receiving the OBE.[42] Singer
Bryn Terfel receives a knighthood.[43]
6 July – Wales are beaten in the semi-finals of Euro 2016 by Portugal.[56] The tournament is Wales' most successful campaign, in which two players,
Joe Allen and
Aaron Ramsey are named in
UEFA's team of the tournament.[57] Out of contract striker
Hal Robson-Kanu's goal against Belgium in the quarter finals is named by UEFA as the second best goal of the championship.[58]
9 April –
Lee Selby successfully defends his IBF World Featherweight title, beating American
Eric Hunter on unanimous points decision.
14 May – At the Ice Arena Wales,
Andrew Selby defeats
Louis Norman to become British Flyweight champion. In winning, Selby became the fastest Welsh fighter to win a
Lonsdale Belt, having claimed his division in just five professional fights.[61]
30 October – Scottish boxer
Mike Towell dies following his fight with Carmarthen-based boxer Dale Evans.[62]
Cyclist
Geraint Thomas falls on the steep descent towards the finish of the Men's Road Race while in the leading group. Despite injury, he remounts his cycle and finishes the race.[73]