1956 in Wales

This article is about the particular significance of the year 1956 to Wales and its people.

April – One of the last Welsh built naval vessels afloat, former iron screw frigate , built at Pembroke Dock, arrives in Belgium to be broken up. 2 April – Huw Wheldon marries Jacqueline Clarke. 24 April – A 250,000 signature petition is presented to the Westminster parliament by the all party Parliament for Wales Campaign. 9 May – The Gower Peninsula becomes the first area in the British Isles to be designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. 9 July – Mettoy introduce Corgi Toys model cars, manufactured at Fforestfach in South Wales. September – Bangor Normal College and Trinity College, Carmarthen, introduce courses in Welsh medium teaching. 4 September – Opening of the first Welsh medium secondary school in Wales – Ysgol Glan Clwyd, Rhyl. 22 November – In a mining accident at Lewis Merthyr Colliery, seven men are killed. exact date unknown – Aberystwyth's town clock is demolished as unsafe.

Welsh language periodical Y Faner is bought by Huw T. Edwards and thus saved from going out of business. Morecambe and Wise are reunited by chance at the Swansea Empire Theatre. 22 November – The New Scientist is launched by Percy Cudlipp, who becomes its first editor.

Richard Burton stars in Alexander the Great; William Squire also appears. Glynis Johns stars in The Court Jester. Edmund Gwenn makes his last film appearance. Moby Dick partly filmed at Lower Fishguard.

The BBC Light Programme becomes available on VHF from Wenvoe.

Granada Television begins producing up to an hour a week of current affairs and education programmes in Welsh to serve the overlap audience in north Wales.

June – First televised English language play produced in Wales, Wind of Heaven.