As the maes at Meifod sweltered in the summer heatwave, the competiting inside the pavilion was just as intense.
The highlight of the day was the Crowning of the Bard - and for only the fourth time in the history of the festival, the accolade went to a woman. Mererid Hopwood from Carmarthen won the crown for an ode or sequence of poems of not more than 200 lines on the theme of "Roots" ("Gwreiddiau"). The crown was made and designed by John Price from Machynlleth.
Monday was also the day when Hollywood actor Ioan Gruffudd from Cardiff was accepted into Gorsedd y Beirdd.
Here are a selection of Monday's images taken by Tegwyn Roberts, Pontrobert.
