Oxford’s Cowley Road Carnival could return this year

The day‑long street festival in east Oxford, which turns Cowley Road into a pedestrianised parade of colour, music and community, has been a hit with people across the county in previous years.

After a five-year hiatus due to the Covid pandemic and funding difficulties, the carnival returned in 2024, headed by Pax Nindi.

While the leader of Cowley Road Works, a charity that promotes community engagement through the arts and culture, has stepped down, its future doesn’t seem so bleak.

The appointment of several new trustees to its board marks an exciting new chapter for the organisation to ensure “long-term sustainability, transparency and community leadership of this much-loved cultural event”.

Thousands of people turn out to enjoy the Cowley Road Carnival. (Image: Newsquest)

Rosie Jones, director of Independent Oxford, has stepped in as the chair of trustees. She will provide leadership as the organisation strengthens its governance and fundraising activities.

She said the message it clear that “this is a carnival built by and for the community”.

The leader added: “Cowley Road Carnival is one of Oxford’s most vibrant community celebrations, bringing together artists, performers, schools, businesses, charities and residents for a day that showcases the creativity and diversity of the area.

“The intention is to build on the spirit of recent years while creating opportunities for even wider participation.”

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Alan Brown, the site and production manager of Leys Festival, has joined as the part-time general manager.

Mr Brown, who is embedded within the city’s grassroots cultural network, will bring his extensive hands-on experience delivering large-scale community festivals in Oxford, to strengthen the operational capacity of the organisation as planning gathers pace.

He described the carnival as a “powerful expression of our community’s creativity, diversity and culture.”

He said: “With a strengthened board and experienced operational leadership in place, we are focused on building the partnerships and securing the funding needed to bring the carnival back in a sustainable and community-led way.”

An active fundraising campaign is now underway as the charity awaits a decision on its application to Arts Council England, which has been unsuccessful in the past.

The organisation said it is welcoming funders, sponsors, volunteers and community groups to get in contact “to be part of this next chapter.”

Oxford City Council has also confirmed it has received a placeholder application for this year’s event but is waiting for more information from the organisers.

The party began as the Caribbean Carnival 40 years ago before Cowley Road Works organised its first event in 2001.

Pax Nindi, who is the CEO of Global Carnivalz Ltd and the World Carnival Commission, has been contacted for comment.