Oxford Events
Supercar invasion: Salon Privé 2026 to bring a slew of UK automotive debuts
For five days in September, Blenheim Palace will become a particularly improbable backdrop for the future of the automobile. The lawns and formal gardens of one of England’s grandest country houses will host machines designed not for the school run, the commute or even particularly sensible journeys, but for speed, rarity and spectacle.
Salon Privé 2026 returns to Oxfordshire next week with what organisers describe as the largest collection of supercar and hypercar debuts in the event’s 21-year history. Among them will be cars being shown in Britain for the first time. And it is a line-up that says something about the peculiar state of the modern collector car.
The internal-combustion engine may be facing its most profound transformation in generations, but at the top end of the market there remains an extraordinary appetite for cars that are faster, rarer and more elaborate than anything that came before.
Lamborghini’s latest V12 arrives in Oxfordshire
Taking centre stage in the Automotive Gallery will be the Lamborghini Revuelto SV, making its UK debut at Blenheim Palace shortly after its global unveiling at The Quail in California.
The SV name carries considerable weight at Lamborghini. Meaning Super Veloce, or “Super Fast”, it can be traced back to the Miura SV of 1971 and has subsequently appeared on some of the marque’s most extreme V12s, including the Diablo SV, Murciélago LP 670-4 Super Veloce and Aventador SV.
The Revuelto SV continues that lineage — with numbers that would have seemed absurd even by Lamborghini’s standards a generation ago. Its V12 hybrid powertrain produces 1,065 CV and 1,425 Nm of system torque, sending the car from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.4 seconds and to 200 km/h in 6.7 seconds. Top speed is in excess of 345 km/h.
Lamborghini describes it as the most powerful and fastest production car it has ever built at Sant’Agata Bolognese. Only 1,963 examples will be produced, a reference to the year Automobili Lamborghini was founded, with the car reserved for the marque’s most loyal customers and collectors.
For Salon Privé visitors, though, the attraction is rather simpler: this will be the first opportunity to see the Revuelto SV in the UK. It will be joined at Blenheim by Lamborghini’s Urus SE Performante, making its own debut at the palace.
BRABUS brings two very different monsters
If Lamborghini’s approach is to push its established V12 formula further, BRABUS has opted for something more eccentric. The German coachbuilder will unveil the BRABUS BODO, a 2+2 Gran Turismo standing just 130 centimetres tall and limited to 77 examples.
The car is named in tribute to BRABUS founder Bodo Buschmann and draws on the proportions and character of the grand coupes of the automobile’s so-called golden age.
Under its carbon-fibre body is a hand-built 5.2-litre V12 biturbo engine. The result is a 0-to-100 km/h time of three seconds and a claimed top speed of 223 mph. It is an unapologetically old-fashioned idea executed with modern engineering: a large engine, a low roof and very little interest in restraint.
BRABUS will also use Salon Privé for the UK debut of the 800 Cabrio, based on the latest Mercedes-AMG G 63.
The transformation from familiar boxy off-roader to open-top luxury machine required more than 500 newly developed components, including a complex soft-top system. There is an 800hp 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 beneath the bonnet, while production is limited to 50 cars worldwide.
The two BRABUS cars could hardly be more different in appearance, but they share the same philosophy: if something can be made more extravagant, it probably should be.
Meet Giamaro’s Krafla
Among the more intriguing names making its UK debut at Blenheim will be Giamaro Automobili, an emerging Italian marque presenting the Krafla in its GC livery.
The company describes the car as an expression of extreme engineering, Italian craftsmanship and driver-focused design.
The GC specification combines Azzurro Giamaro, Bianco Infinito and Grigio Cenere with exposed carbon-fibre elements, giving the car a finish intended to emphasise its aerodynamic forms.
Inside, the emphasis shifts from visual drama to the driver. The cockpit has been designed around ergonomics, materials and technology, with Giamaro presenting the Krafla as a hypercar in which the person behind the wheel remains central to the experience.
For a relatively new manufacturer, Salon Privé offers an audience that few other events could provide: collectors, enthusiasts and buyers accustomed to seeing the newest and rarest cars before they reach the wider public.
The headline cars are only part of the story.
Electrogenic and Theon Design will also stage debuts and unveilings, while Petroyle and Talos will make their first large public displays.
The Automotive Gallery will additionally feature Bristol Motors, Delage Automobiles, Koenigsegg and Elektron Motors.
The resulting collection reflects a changing automotive landscape.
The traditional supercar manufacturer now shares the stage with electric specialists, restomod companies, independent coachbuilders and start-up hypercar marques.
Some are preserving old ideas; others are attempting to reinvent them. All are competing for the attention of a clientele increasingly interested in rarity and individuality as much as outright performance.
Salon Privé has become a particularly effective stage for that competition because the cars are not presented in isolation.
They are displayed in the gardens of Blenheim Palace, among concours cars, fashion, hospitality and the rituals of a traditional English social occasion.
Five days of automotive theatre
The spectacle returns to Blenheim
Salon Privé runs from 02 to 06 September, beginning with the Salon Privé Concours by Aviva Private Clients and continuing through Ladies’ Day by Boodles, Supercar Saturday and Club Trophy Day presented by Lockton, before concluding with Supercar Sunday and Lifestyle Club Day.
But the cars are the reason to pay attention this year.
Salon Privé’s 20th anniversary in 2025 set a high bar for an event already accustomed to excess. This year’s answer is not subtle: more debuts, more hypercars and a collection of machines that exist at the outer limits of what a road-going automobile can be.
For Oxfordshire, it means that one of the county’s most familiar landmarks is about to become an unlikely meeting point for some of the most exclusive cars in the world.
The Revuelto SV will arrive carrying more than 1,000 horsepower. BRABUS will bring a V12 coupe and an open-air G-Class. Giamaro will introduce a new Italian hypercar.
And for a few days, the roads around Blenheim will lead not merely to a palace, but to another kind of fantasy — one measured in horsepower, carbon fibre and the increasingly rare sound of a V12.
What’s on in Oxford and across Oxfordshire this September
Hello and welcome to your invaluable guide to the best events, exhibitions and things to do in Oxford and across Oxfordshire throughout September.
September in Oxfordshire may be ‘back to school’ time, but it’s also when the county comes alive with a lot of the cultural scene that goes into semi-hibernation mode over the summer, returning to life in the autumn.
From comedy to concerts, funfairs to country fairs, there’s something in stock for everyone in Oxfordshire this September. And if you fancy venturing further afield, consider a cultural day trip to London’s west end for a weekend matinee in one of London’s theatres (the capital city is relatively calmer then).
And while it may officially be the end of summer, the British Autumn may yet surprise us with some spectacular sunny spells. If that be the case, make the best of it with brunch at one of Oxfordshire’s best restaurants with outdoor seating or afternoon tea in a country house that’s within easy reach.
Needless to say, this is a curated list of things to do in Oxford and across Oxfordshire this September. Take a look at the “What’s on” section, where you’ll find a growing array of events in Oxford and across Oxfordshire, plus unmissable ones beyond the county that would make for a great day out.
Got an event that should be on the list? List your event on The Oxford Magazine website and reach our growing audience of people who live, work or play in Oxfordshire. Once again, welcome to your invaluable guide to what’s on in Oxford and across Oxfordshire this September.
Blenheim Palace is delighted to be hosting a series of exclusive watercolour workshops led by acclaimed Woodstock artist Rod Craig.
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
Welcome to The Choir of Man, the best pub in the world. Come ready to drink in the excitement. Brimming with hits from artists such as Queen, Luther Vandross, Sia, Paul Simon, Adele, Guns & Roses, Avicii and Katy Perry and many more.
Salon Privé returns to Blenheim Palace with their most sensational line-up to date. For four days, the South Lawn will be overcome with the finest super and classic cars in the world, accompanied by luxury brands and exquisite hospitality to form the UK’s Most Exclusive Motor Show.
The North Wall Arts Centre
BAFTA-winning writer and recovering spoken-word artist Jack Rooke brings back his debut comedy-theatre show ‘Good Grief’ featuring the original show, some present day musings and a decade retrospective of Jack Rook capitalising on his dead dad to varied levels of failure and success.
Ruby Wax and Clive Tulloh review clips from Ruby’s extraordinary shows, tell scandalous stories never before heard, and take the audience along for the ride.
On the banks of the Thames in South Oxfordshire, Wallingford BunkFest is a free-access community festival providing a unique, family-friendly celebration with something for everyone. From a small marquee in a pub car park to filling the KineCroft and providing entertainment throughout Wallingford, on the River Thames and the Bunk Railway line.
Festival lineup includes: The Delicate Sound of Pink Floyd / Dr Feelgood / The Blue Water Giants
The Archers: Live at 75 tours the UK with cast performances, music and nostalgic moments celebrating the iconic BBC show. Experience Ambridge as you’ve never seen – or heard – it before!
Michael Spicer, the online sensation who brought you the award-winning viral hit The Room Next Door, brings another hilarious and brilliantly entertaining satirical stage show – Hope All’s Well.
Jon Ronson brings his latest book to life on stage, exploring mystery, crime and human behaviour in a gripping live show. You’ll also get a first look at what’s coming in the next season of Things Fell Apart, and the chance to put your questions directly to Jon.
The Rare Plant Fair at Adwell House near Thame brings together specialist nurseries and plant enthusiasts in a historic Chilterns garden setting. Visitors can explore rare and unusual plants, enjoy food stalls, and experience the estate’s celebrated walled garden and water features.
St Giles’ Fair is one of the most prestigious and long-standing fairs in the country, dating back to 1625 as a parish festival celebrating the feast of St Giles – it is held on the Monday and Tuesday following the first Sunday after St Giles’ Day (01 September).
Over the centuries, it has evolved from a toy and children’s fair to a large-scale funfair, with rides and attractions expanding during the Victorian era. Today, the fair is run by Oxford City Council, drawing huge crowds for two days of traditional rides, games, and festivities each September.
Discover more: All the fun of the fairs
Holy Holy recreate the authentic sound of David Bowie with drummer Woody Woodmansey and producer Tony Visconti leading an all-star band through Bowie classics from the 1970s to Blackstar. Featuring Heaven 17’s Glenn Gregory on vocals, the acclaimed live show celebrates one of music’s most influential catalogues with stunning performances and musicianship.
Lucy Worsley shares stories from Britain’s royal past in an engaging live event exploring palaces, monarchs and history. Prepare to be entertained, enlightened, and thoroughly charmed.
The Sustainable Fashion Show returns to Blenheim Palace as part of Sustainable Fashion Week 2026. Showcasing innovative local and emerging designers, the runway features more than 70 sustainable looks created from rescued, upcycled and pre-loved materials in the stunning Orangery setting.
Cornbury House Horse Trials is a new original eventing experience that promises to be a stylish, fun, and innovative experience for competitors and spectators from all around the world. Enjoy locally sourced and sustainable food and drink, retail with luxurious local brands, plus access to the otherwise private Deer Park and the wider historic parkland.
Experience an extraordinary piano recital from Grammy Award-winning Icelandic pianist Víkingur Ólafsson as he explores the timeless musical connections between Bach, Beethoven and Schubert. Featuring expressive performances and the introduction of the Schwarzman Centre’s new Steinway D grand piano, this captivating programme celebrates beauty, lyricism and emotional depth.
Paul Merton and Suki Webster’s Improv Show is an evening of sensational improvised comedy featuring fast, fabulously funny improvised games, scenes, stories and laugh out loud surrealism.
Join A Night of Laughs for a fantastic evening of comedy in aid of the Oxfordshire charity, Lawrence Nurses. Don’t miss Miles Jupp, Adam Kay, Lucy Porter, Arthur Smith, and Ria Lina for a night of sharp wit and big laughs – all for an incredible cause.
The team behind OxPHWOARd brings Toxic MasculiniTEASE, boylesque at its best – a racy romp of bodacious boys and satirical striptease, starring performers of all shapes, sizes, and genders, pushing boundaries and showing there’s more than one way to be sexy and masc!
Jon Anderson performs YES classics live with The Band Geeks in a tour celebrating iconic progressive rock hits.
The Theatre Chipping Norton
Lucy Porter returns to Chippy with a brand new show about the power of letting yourself go – in every sense and using your midlife crisis to pursue new goals and reinvent yourself.
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
Tom Bailey opens his 2026 UK tour with a Friars Aylesbury performance celebrating the biggest Thompson Twins hits, joined by special guests Blancmange for an evening of iconic Eighties synth-pop classics.
The UK’s No.1 outdoor cinema shows come to the beautiful Stonor Park & Gardens near Henley-on-Thames. Get ready for an experience like no other in this incredible setting.
Join Miriam in conversation for stories from the new book, naughty confessions, and a no-holds-barred Q&A where no question is off-limits. Expect memories & mammaries, Arsenal, politics, filth, and absolutely everything in between.
Oxford Open Doors is a weekend that celebrates Oxford’s heritage and culture by giving everyone the chance to explore the colleges, university buildings and green spaces together with a range of heritage sites across the city – many of which are not usually open to members of the public.
Read more: Oxford Open Doors: nine properties to see inside
Henley Farm & Country Show is a fun, family day visited by thousands every year and this year features the spectacular Bolddog Motorcycle Display Team, Shetland Pony Racing, Scurry Racing, Grand Parades of Animals, Heavy Horse Parade, Farm Machinery, Classic Cars and Vintage Tractors in the main ring.
Sam Campbell brings his surreal comedy show Kid Giblet live, blending absurd humour with sharp observational wit.
Witney Feast 2026 brings the community together for a lively celebration of local food, drink, entertainment and family-friendly fun in the heart of Witney.
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
Lord of the Dance presents their 30th Anniversary, a combination of precision dance, powerful music, pyrotechnics, and emotional storytelling featuring over 150,000 taps per performance, with the dancers’ energy and passion promising an electrifying experience.
Transform Trauma Oxford 2026 by Masters Events presents Science, Spirit and the Body: The Synthesis of Healing, exploring how modern science, embodied practice and spiritual understanding come together to create a more integrated vision of healing. Join thousands of people from around the world who are advancing the future of trauma and mental health care.
Lineup of speakers includes: Gabor Maté / Bessel van der Kolk / Licia Sky / Tara Swart and many more.
Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities
MAN WOMAN, a visually striking dance performance by New York choreographer Vangeline that reimagines the world of Butoh for contemporary audiences. Inspired by Eikoh Hosoe’s iconic photographs, the production blends expressive movement, visionary costumes and an immersive electro-acoustic score to explore identity, transformation and female agency through a bold feminist lens.
The Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials is a must for any eventing enthusiast. It’s four days of eventing action, including Dressage, Cross Country and Showjumping, all taking place in the breathtaking grounds of one of Britain’s most beautiful and historic venues – Blenheim Palace, home of the Duke of Marlborough.
Get ready for three days of rides, thrills, treats and family fun as the annual Thame September Fair lands on the High Street. From dodgems and waltzers to hot dogs and candy floss, there’s something for everyone.
Learn to move with ease, fluidity and total control with internationally acclaimed choreographer, dancer and teacher Vangeline. Whether you’re a dancer, performer, or simply a complete beginner who is curious about movement and creativity, this workshop welcomes all.
Fin Taylor, the King of the Internet Jungle, is back with his Pre-emptive Comeback Special live, delivering sharp, fearless stand-up on his biggest tour yet.
The Knights of Royal England return to Stonor Park for an action-packed weekend of medieval jousting, thrilling full-contact tournaments and family entertainment. Enjoy archery, falconry, axe throwing, street food and adventures at Tumblestone Hollow in a spectacular historic setting.
Experience the electrifying reunion of Formula One’s most captivating driver partnership, as former team-mates, fierce rivals and companions David Coulthard and Mika Häkkinen are back on the road for a live evening of stories, insight and humour.
23 September to 11 October
Step aboard When the Blackbird Sings, an immersive promenade production that takes audiences on a remarkable journey through Oxford’s past and present. Following Paulette’s inspiring story from 1966, this powerful new production combines live performance, travel by bus and historic locations to explore identity, community, resilience and the people who have shaped the city’s history.
The Lemonheads head out on their 2026 tour, representing a significant new chapter for the band rooted in a commitment to their music and the community that surrounds it.
The award-winning Oxford Opera Company is back at The Playhouse with Puccini’s iconic Tosca. New Zealand-born Samoan soprano, Marlena Devoe returns following critically acclaimed performances as Mimi in La Bohème and Pamina in The Magic Flute. Be swept away by the majesty of Puccini’s music as Oxford Opera Orchestra brings this epic human story of love, lust, loyalty, corruption, jealousy, and revenge to life.
25 September to 11 October
Phase | Pattern | Pulse features three audio programmes of Steve Reich’s compositions: Music for 18 Musicians, Drumming and The Sextets, offering an exploded 360° insider’s view of some of Reich’s most admired compositions, revealing the inner structures of each piece in fresh and startling detail.
University Church of St Mary the Virgin
Experience an enchanting candlelit evening with the English Chamber Orchestra and acclaimed violinist Harriet Mackenzie, featuring Vivaldi’s exhilarating Winter from The Four Seasons, Vaughan Williams’ soaring The Lark Ascending and John Eccles’ beautiful Aire from The Mad Lover’s Suite.
The North Wall Arts Centre
Fresh from starring in the latest series of Taskmaster, Ania Magliano brings Peach Fuzz, a brand-new show full of jokes, confessions, and occasionally unhinged observations.
Explosive indie-rock favourites return to the stage with their signature blend of huge riffs, anthemic choruses and raw, high-energy performance. Expect powerful guitar-driven tracks, soaring vocals and the kind of urgency that has made them a standout force in modern British rock.
The Jeff Beck Experience is a celebration of the extraordinary sound, style and legacy of one of the most influential guitarists of all time, Jeff Beck. This is your opportunity to hear some of the most iconic instrumental rock work performed live, with a focus on authenticity, atmosphere and respect for a truly unique musical legacy.
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
Al Murray brings his brand new stand up show – All You Need Is Guv, with hot-takes for the masses and offering a much-needed truth tonic. With a fresh and frothing pint to hand, a barrel of laughs to pour from, and a flower in his heart, Guv is all you need.
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
Bringing his successful sellout and highly praised show on a UK tour, Astronomer and author Adrian West (aka VirtualAstro) presents a glorious visual and thought-provoking experience for everyone who looks up and wonders. Using amazing visual effects, The Night Sky Show will take you on a fantastic and epic journey across the cosmos from our celestial backyard.
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
Get ready for a night of raw emotion, powerhouse vocals and thunderous guitars as Love Hurts – Rock Anthems and Power Ballads storms across the UK in 2026.
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
Tom Davis is back on the road with his fully loaded show Spudgun, firing out his freshly cooked observations on life’s hot topics.
David Essex returns to the stage with his ‘Thanks for the Memories’ tour in September 2026, celebrating decades of music, theatre and performance in a must-see live show for fans old and new.
Comedy star Urzila Carlson heads to the UK in 2026 with her new show Fatty on a Yacht, blending deadpan humour and sharp observations on identity, belonging and life’s awkward moments.
Every Saturday (Except 26 December)
Out of the Deep is a family-friendly specimen handling and exploration of the underwater world of marine reptiles.
Oxford University Museum of Natural History
Join Family-Friendly Sundays for free sessions including nature-themed activities, creative crafts, family-friendly trails and more, all provided by the museum’s volunteers.
Step back into the golden age of the Great Western Railway at this 21-acre living museum, where trains from Victorian times to the 1960s bring railway history to life. Explore historic engine sheds, restored locomotives, interactive signalling displays and wartime exhibits, with the rare chance to see steam-era engineering up close in a quieter, immersive setting.
Meet the four-legged and feathered summer guests this summer as the Walled Garden comes alive with the sights, sounds and snuffles of the Marlborough Mini Farm.
Camp Tumblestone arrives at Tumblestone Hollow with a brand-new outdoor adventure included in every summer holiday ticket. Families can enjoy giant garden games, an agility trail, imaginative play in the teepee camp area and even more exciting activities alongside the popular adventure playground.
Developed through research into the Bate Collection of Musical Instruments at the University of Oxford, the exhibition brings together sound, video and photography to consider what is revealed and concealed through the collection, preservation and display of musical instruments. At its centre is a new sound work created using recordings of historic instruments from the collection.
Blenheim Palace presents Life Through a Royal Lens, a major photography exhibition tracing the Royals’ enduring relationship with the camera, from the reign of Queen Victoria to the present day.
The Bodleian Libraries’ Wonder of Birds exhibition explores art, science and culture through the lens of avian life. Featuring rare archives, manuscripts and immersive sound, it invites visitors to reflect on both the beauty of birds and their decline.
Join Pip & Posy’s Treehouse Trail in Adventure Play on an adventure to solve the mystery of the missing toy Piggy!
There are car shows, and then there are gatherings where the car becomes something closer to an artefact: a record of ambition, craftsmanship and the particular obsessions of the people who built it.
This year’s Concours by Aviva Private Clients at Blenheim Palace brings together machinery from across the history of the automobile, from pre-war racers and hand-built grand tourers to prototypes and modern hypercars. Some are celebrated names; others are rarities whose stories are almost as compelling as their engineering.
Set against the architecture and parkland of Blenheim Palace on 2 and 3 September, the event offers a chance to see cars that rarely share the same piece of ground. Here are some of the entries worth seeking out.
What makes a concours compelling is not simply rarity. It is the opportunity to see, gathered in one place, the different ideas that have shaped the automobile: speed and elegance, experimentation and excess, engineering discipline and sheer imagination.
At Blenheim Palace, those ideas span almost a century, from the craftsmanship of pre-war luxury cars to the uncompromising technology of today’s hypercars. Together, they offer something more interesting than a parade of valuable machinery. They tell the story of what happens when designers, engineers and manufacturers decide that a car can be more than a means of getting from one place to another.
For anyone with even a passing interest in cars, it should make for quite a spectacle.
Armstrong-Siddeley Special Six
Class: The Golden Age of Motoring
Built during one of Britain’s great periods of automotive innovation, this elegant 1933 Armstrong-Siddeley Special Six captures the craftsmanship and engineering excellence that defined luxury motoring before the Second World War.
Maserati 8C 3000
Class: Sports Racers
One of the rarest Maseratis ever built, the 8C 3000 represented the marque’s ambition to dominate international motorsport. Combining formidable performance with unmistakable Italian styling, it remains one of the most coveted pre-war sports cars in existence.
Arnolt Bristol Deluxe
Class: Celebrating 80 Years of Bristol Motoring
Marking eight decades of Bristol, this beautifully proportioned Arnolt Bristol Deluxe is one of the Anglo-American collaboration’s most distinctive creations, combining British engineering with elegant Italian coachwork.
Alfa Romeo Sprint Berlinetta
Class: Celebrating 100 Years of Touring Design
Created by legendary coachbuilder Touring, this Alfa Romeo Sprint Berlinetta celebrates a century of one of Italy’s most influential design houses. Its lightweight construction and timeless styling helped shape sports-car design for generations.
Maserati 3500GT Spyder Prototipo by Vignale
Class: La Dolce Vita – Italian Glamour of the ’50s & ’60s
A one-off prototype, the Maserati 3500GT Spyder Prototipo embodies the glamour and sophistication of post-war Italy. Penned by Vignale, it represents the golden age of open-top grand touring and remains one of Maserati’s most striking creations.
Porsche 901
Class: Early Air-cooled Porsche Icons
Before it became the legendary 911, it was the Porsche 901. Produced before Porsche changed the name following a trademark dispute with Peugeot, surviving examples are exceptionally rare and hugely significant in the marque’s history.
Ferrari 166MM by Touring
Class: Sports Racers
One of Ferrari’s earliest competition cars, the 166MM helped establish the marque on the world stage, with victories in endurance racing including the Mille Miglia and Le Mans. Today, it remains one of the most historically significant Ferraris ever built.
Lamborghini Miura P400S
Class: 60 Years of the Lamborghini Miura
Widely regarded as the world’s first true supercar, the Miura changed automotive history with its mid-engined layout and dramatic Marcello Gandini styling. Sixty years after its debut, the P400S remains one of the most influential and captivating cars ever produced.
Ferrari 328 GTS
Class: Never Mind the Weather – Cabriolets & Convertibles
One of Ferrari’s most recognisable and usable classics, the 328 GTS captures the spirit of open-top motoring in the late 1980s. With its removable targa roof and timeless Pininfarina design, it remains a firm favourite among collectors.
Ferrari 250 GT Series 1 Cabriolet
Class: Passione Ferrari
Elegant, rare and effortlessly desirable, the Ferrari 250 GT Series 1 Cabriolet is regarded as one of Maranello’s finest grand tourers. Combining V12 performance with beautiful coachwork, it represents Ferrari at its most refined.
Bugatti EB110 Prototype
Class: Supercar Icons
A pioneering supercar ahead of its time, the Bugatti EB110 showcased advanced engineering, including four-wheel drive and a quad-turbocharged V12. As a prototype, this example offers a fascinating glimpse into Bugatti’s ambitious revival during the 1990s.
Aston Martin Valiant Prototype
Class: Limited Production Supercars
One of Aston Martin’s most extreme road cars, the Valiant was developed with an emphasis on driver engagement. This prototype offers a rare opportunity to see the engineering behind one of the world’s most exclusive modern supercars.
Bugatti Bolide
Class: Hypercar Heaven (2006–2026)
Designed with virtually no compromises, the Bugatti Bolide pushes automotive engineering to extraordinary limits. Built around uncompromising, track-focused performance, it represents the extreme end of modern hypercar design and is among the most anticipated cars at this year’s Concours.
Oxford Events
Stage Watch: Now You See Me, Comedy About Spies, Standard Of Living, Every Woman & Silence of Lambs
Welcome to our latest selection of unmissable West End theatre and regional productions.
Stage Watch brings together a curated selection of upcoming theatre, musicals and live performances from London and across the broader Oxfordshire region – from major West End productions and spectacular live entertainment to comedy, new writing and gripping stage adaptations.
This week’s line-up moves between high-stakes illusion, Cold War farce, a major new political drama, the extraordinary life and music of Chaka Khan, and a chilling new interpretation of one of the world’s best-known psychological thrillers. These five productions offer plenty to put on the theatre calendar over the coming months.
Now You See Me Live
London Coliseum, London. Booking from 02 Jul to 19 Sep 2026.
Inspired by the global Now You See Me film franchise and created by the producers of The Illusionists, Now You See Me Live brings the world of high-stakes illusion to the stage in a spectacular five-week London season.
Four internationally acclaimed illusionists — Enzo Weyne, Andrew Basso, Gabriella Lester and Matthew Pomeroy — come together as The Horsemen, combining high-tech illusions, solo stunts, psychological misdirection and theatrical spectacle. Special guest performers include Britain’s Got Talent acts Eden Choi, Fraser Penman and Rafferty Coope.
Rather than relying on cinematic trickery, the production promises to put the magic directly in front of the audience, with the performers creating apparently impossible feats in real time. The result is designed as a theatrical event as much as a magic show, drawing on the fast-paced, spectacular spirit of the films.
With a running time of around 2 hours 10 minutes including an interval, it is a chance to see some of the world’s leading illusionists in an iconic London venue.
Best for: Magic fans, families, lovers of spectacle, and anyone who enjoys a show where you genuinely have no idea how they did it.
Tips: Expect big visual effects, audience participation and plenty of moments designed to leave you questioning what you have just seen. Running time is approximately 2 hours 10 minutes, including an interval.
The Comedy About Spies
Adelphi Theatre, London. Booking from 01 Aug to 26 Sep 2026.
Mischief, the company behind The Play That Goes Wrong and The Comedy About a Bank Robbery, returns with The Comedy About Spies — a riotous Cold War farce involving British agents, CIA operatives, KGB spies and one very confused London hotel.
Following its sold-out 2025 season, the award-winning Best New Play at the 2026 WhatsOnStage Awards returns for a limited summer run, with the original West End cast joined by Bryony Corrigan.
The plot begins when a rogue British agent steals plans for a top-secret weapon, sending rival spies converging on the Piccadilly Hotel in pursuit of the missing file. Unfortunately, a young British couple and an older actor hoping to land a role in the first James Bond film also find themselves caught up in the increasingly chaotic mission.
Expect mistaken identities, bungled espionage, crossed wires and escalating mayhem as the production sends up the glamorous world of 1960s spy thrillers.
Best for: Fans of The Play That Goes Wrong, classic farce, slapstick comedy and anyone looking for an uncomplicated night of laughs.
Tips: This is broad, energetic comedy rather than subtle espionage. Allow 2 hours 20 minutes, including a 20-minute interval, and expect the plot to become progressively more ridiculous.
The Standard of Living
Theatre Royal Haymarket, London. Booking from 21 Sep to 12 Dec 2026.
A brand-new world-premiere play from Olivier Award-winning playwright James Graham, The Standard of Living brings together an extraordinary creative team for a strictly limited 12-week West End run.
Directed by multi-award-winning Nicholas Hytner and starring Olivier Award winner Rory Kinnear alongside Royal Ballet principal Natalia Osipova in her West End debut, the play tells the story of economist and Bloomsbury Group member John Maynard Keynes.
Keynes lived at the intersection of politics, economics and the radical artistic world of early 20th-century Britain. Husband to ballerina Lydia Lopokova, lover to Duncan Grant and friend to Virginia Woolf, he moved between the corridors of Whitehall and a bohemian circle of artists, writers and thinkers determined to challenge conventional ideas about how to live.
As markets crash, established systems begin to crumble and Britain faces an uncertain future, Graham’s new play explores the collision between personal freedom, political power and economic upheaval.
With a substantial ensemble cast and a creative team behind some of the West End’s most acclaimed recent productions, The Standard of Living promises a timely exploration of a remarkable historical figure and the society he helped to shape.
Best for: Fans of intelligent political drama, historical stories, James Graham’s work and substantial new West End plays.
Tips: This is a new play rather than a musical or spectacle-driven production, so expect a more dialogue-led evening centred on character, ideas and the tensions between politics, economics and personal freedom. Age recommendation 12+.
I’m Every Woman – The Chaka Khan Musical
Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, London. Booking from 22 Jul to 27 Sep 2026.
The life and music of Chaka Khan take centre stage in I’m Every Woman – The Chaka Khan Musical, starring Alexandra Burke as the multi-Grammy-winning global icon.
Spanning five decades, 22 albums, 25 chart hits and more than 70 million records sold, Khan’s career provides the soundtrack to a story of extraordinary success, personal struggle and resilience. The production explores the woman behind the music, from her rise to international stardom to the battles that took place away from the spotlight.
The musical features songs including I Feel for You, Tell Me Something Good, Ain’t Nobody, Sweet Thing and Through the Fire, while bringing figures from Khan’s musical world — including Prince, Joni Mitchell, Stevie Wonder and Steve Winwood — into the story.
Directed by Racky Plews and choreographed by Ebony Clarke, with music supervision by Mark Crossland and a book by Nia T. Hill, the production aims to combine concert spectacle with a more personal portrait of one of music’s most distinctive voices.
Best for: Chaka Khan fans, lovers of soul, funk and R&B, and audiences who enjoy jukebox musicals with a strong biographical element.
Tips: At 2 hours 40 minutes including an interval, this is a substantial evening of music and storytelling. Alexandra Burke does not play Chaka Khan at Thursday evening, Saturday matinee or Sunday 23 August performances, where Jordan Frazier takes the role.
The Silence of the Lambs
New Theatre Oxford. 19 to 24 Oct 2026.
One of the most famous psychological thrillers of the modern era comes to the stage as The Silence of the Lambs makes its world stage premiere in 2026.
Based on Thomas Harris’s acclaimed novel, the production stars John Partridge as the notorious Dr Hannibal Lecter, with Clarice Starling tasked with extracting information from the imprisoned psychiatrist to help the FBI catch serial killer Buffalo Bill.
Written by award-winning playwright Gina Gionfriddo and directed by Nikolai Foster, the new stage adaptation promises to bring audiences closer to the disturbing relationship between Clarice and Lecter. As another young woman disappears and the investigation closes in, Clarice must decide how far she is prepared to enter Lecter’s mind in order to catch a killer.
For audiences familiar with the celebrated novel and film, the attraction lies in seeing these iconic characters and scenes reimagined for live theatre — where there is no screen between the audience and the action.
Best for: Fans of psychological thrillers, crime drama and Thomas Harris, particularly those intrigued by how such a famous story translates to the stage.
Tips: This is emphatically not a family show. Content warnings include threat, violence and murder, strong language, sexual references, harassment, mutilation, body horror, childhood trauma and onstage prosthetic human remains. Performances run from Monday 19 to Saturday 24 October, with evening and selected matinee performances.
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