Oxford Events
What’s on in Oxford & Oxfordshire this July
What’s on in Oxford and across Oxfordshire this July
Hello and welcome to your invaluable guide to the best events, exhibitions and things to do throughout July 2026 in Oxford and across Oxfordshire.
Summer is well and truly here. And so are the festivals. Not just the music festivals, but there are gatherings galore for petrolheads, art lovers, fun lovers and food lovers. There’s even a festival devoted to dogs and their owners. July is, indeed, a brilliant time to be in Oxfordshire.
Make time for brunch at one of the many local restaurants with outdoor seating, or grab a blanket, pack a picnic basket and find yourself a coveted spot at any of the numerous outdoor theatre events across the county.
And if you fancy venturing further afield, consider taking a cultural day trip to London’s west end – the capital city is relatively calmer then for a matinee in one of London’s theatres.
Need we say again that this is a curated list of things to do in Oxford and across Oxfordshire this June. 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 place in Oxfordshire. Once again, welcome to your invaluable guide to what’s on in Oxford and across Oxfordshire this July.
The North Wall Arts Centre
Join Creative Writers Group to learn skills in Spoken Word, Performance Poetry and Playwriting and create your own works to be presented as part of OxBright Festival in July.
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
Join Story Time Adventure around the theatre space for interactive storytelling session for ages 2 to 4 and their parent/carer!
The Oxford Shakespeare Festival is back for its 16th year! This outdoor theatre experience that takes place in the castle yard of Oxford Castle & Prison will see Wild Goose Theatre, BMH Productions, Siege Theatre, and Greensleeved will be putting on marvellous performances of Shakespeare’s finest classics.
Join a Real Alice in Wonderland Tour to see fiction, fantasy and history come to life through the eyes of a local expert in Oxford’s history.
The hit musical comedy Waitress returns for a UK tour, telling the heartwarming story of Jenna, a talented pie-maker searching for happiness. Featuring music by Grammy-winner Sara Bareilles, this five-star show celebrates love, laughter, and friendship in delicious style.
Henley Royal Regatta is undoubtedly one of the best-known regattas in the world; and a highlight of both the summer sporting calendar and the English social season. The Regatta attracts thousands of visitors over the six days of action-packed racing. Spectators are thrilled by over 200 races of an international standard which can include Olympic rowers, as well as crews new to the event.
Songs of the Bulbul, a captivating new dance work by Rani Khanam, inspired by the Sufi myth of a caged songbird. Featuring choreography by Rani Khanam and music by Rushil Ranjan, this exquisite performance blends Sufi Kathak, orchestral and Indian classical traditions, and Islamic poetry.
The Oxford Festival Fringe Preview Comedy Festival (Oxford Comedy Festival) is a month-long comedy festival that takes place in Oxford throughout July. The festival brings the best comedians headed to Edinburgh and other large festivals to the Oxford community, with a particular focus on amplifying traditionally underrepresented voices.
Join Museum of Oxford Walks: Shakespeare and Oxford, and experience Shakespeare’s journey in Oxford during his lifetime. This is an opportunity to pause and look carefully at Oxford city centre, noticing Elizabethan and Jacobean details you might pass by every day. The tour includes a unique Tudor bedroom above Cornmarket Street, the famous Painted Room, which will be opened specially by Oxford Preservation Trust.
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.
Silverstone Circuit, Northampton
The excitement starts early at Silverstone with Thursday’s Opening Concert, headlined by David Guetta. Book the standalone event or stay for the full British Grand Prix weekend as major artists, surprise guests, and high-energy entertainment set the stage for 2026.
It has long been an MCS tradition that the Trinity term comes to an end with a concert of Madrigals performed from punts on the river. This hugely popular event will feature a variety of madrigals and folksongs from different periods of musical history interspersed with some instrumental items.
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
Get ready for an electrifying night as the UK and Europe’s Biggest, best and longest-running Neil Diamond tribute show returns — bigger, bolder, and more breathtaking than ever before.
University Church of St Mary the Virgin
Experience Spanish Renaissance choral works and a wellbeing workshop with The Sixteen at Choral Pilgrimage: Lead, Kindly Light. The range of emotion covered by composers in the Spanish Renaissance is demonstrated beautifully in the selected works by Cristóbal de Morales and Sebastián de Vivanco that form the basis of this Choral Pilgrimage.
Various venues across Oxford
Alice’s Day is the annual city-wide celebration of all things Alice in Wonderland, and it is marked on the first Saturday in July, in commemoration of the afternoon on the 04 July 1862 when the Christ Church mathematician Charles Dodgson took the Dean of Christ Church’s daughters (Lorina, Alice, and Edith Liddell) on a boat trip, from Folly Bridge to Godstow, where they had a picnic.
Join this first ever Classy Clown Custard Pie masterclass! Whether you love panto, circus, theatre slapstick or film, this is a unique opportunity to have loads of fun while learning about clowning technique, prop management, and delivering the perfect pie.
Come and have a go at handling some of the museum objects at Alice’s Day, special edition of hands-on history drop-in session at the Museum of Oxford.
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
APAC Presents ‘Dancing Through Life’, a vibrant evening of dance and musical theatre where performers bring all their hard work to the stage.
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
Kandeez Dance Presents Chapter 1 ‘A Dream in Motion’ at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre on Sunday 05 July 2026 by 5.30pm.
Find out what is actually the best job in the world as Michelle Wolf delivers a hilarious deconstruction of society, gender roles and testicles.
The Gigspanner Big Band bring together some of the biggest names in British folk music for an evening of high-energy performance rooted in tradition yet boldly experimental in spirit.
Henley Festival is an exclusive boutique black-tie festival that takes place over five days, celebrating the best of the UK and International music and arts. The festival is a truly unique event. It embraces a vibrant programme from pop to world music, classical to jazz where art and gastronomy share equal billing with music.
Festival lineup includes: Boy George & Culture Club / Sugababes / Lulu / Björn Again / Alex James’ Britpop Classical / Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra with very special guest, Laura Mvula / Bootleg Beatles / Alan Davies / Shappi Khorsandi / Russell Kane / Geoff Norcott / Suzi Ruffell / Julian Clary
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
Bring your favourite book or book character to the Academy Masterclass: From Page to Stage and explore how to adapt them for the stage.
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
The Divine Comedy’s hits include National Express, Something for the Weekend, A Lady of a Certain Age and Our Mutual Friend.
Following sold-out performances in London’s West End, a Worldwide tour and standing ovations at every performance, The Simon & Garfunkel Story continues to stun audiences across the globe, making it a must-see international sensation that features hits including Mrs Robinson, Cecilia, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Homeward Bound and many more.
Learn the principles of transcription and editing in the Storytelling Evaluation Method – how to turn an audio file into a written story on two sides of A4 that preserves the authentic voice and key insights of the storyteller.
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
Discover the magic behind the curtain with behind-the-scenes theatre tours, featuring history, architecture, and backstage stories, and gain a unique insight into the hidden spaces that bring each performance to life.
Celebrate the music of George Michael with Rob Lamberti, whose uncanny vocals and stage presence bring hits from Wham! to George’s solo career to life, including timeless hits like ‘Careless Whisper’, ‘Faith’, ‘I’m Your Man’, ‘Club Tropicana’, and so many more.
Within These Walls is a compassionate play about those who have lived within the walls of an institution and the people who care for them and about the timeless healing power of human connection.
Lord of the Dance is set to return to the United Kingdom in 2026 to celebrate its 30th Anniversary with an extraordinary new tour. Expect a dazzling combination of precision dance, powerful music, pyrotechnics, and emotional storytelling.
An evening of Baroque mastery awaits as the Oxford Philharmonic welcomes celebrated harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani. A perfect concert for both Baroque enthusiasts and new listeners alike.
The Leys Festival is back and bigger than ever! Get ready for an unforgettable day full of music, food, and fun for all the family, created and planned by over 60 passionate residents and community organisers from Blackbird Leys and Greater Leys. This isn’t just any festival – it’s one of Oxford’s most beloved free community events and this year’s festival promises more excitement than ever before.
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
Prepare for a show-stopping performance as The Princess Proms pay tribute to the iconic, heartwarming and nostalgic songs from animations including Frozen, Wicked, K-Pop Demon Hunters, Moana, The Wizard of Oz, Beauty & The Beast, Anastasia, Pocahontas, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory and more!
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
Exhibition on Screen: Frida Kahlo returns to cinemas with new footage, exploring the life, art and legacy of the iconic artist through expert insight, personal letters and exclusive access ahead of the Tate Britain exhibition.
A summer celebration of vintage motoring returns to Adwell House, featuring classic vehicles, a rare Formula 1 display, live music, family activities and new interactive show elements, all set within picturesque private parkland near Thame in Oxfordshire.
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
The British Festival of Performing Arts (BFOPA) is a live performing arts event celebrating young talent from across the UK, featuring performances in dance, musical theatre and singing.
We all want to meet people from history. The trouble is everyone is dead! Horrible Histories brings Awful Egyptians to the stage with dazzling 3D effects, exploring pharaohs, pyramids and mummies in a fun, fast-paced show packed with gruesome facts and humour for audiences of all ages. Historical figures and events will come alive on stage and hover at your fingertips!
We all want to meet people from history. The trouble is everyone is dead! Horrible Histories brings Terrible Tudors to the stage with thrilling 3D effects, exploring Henry VIII, Bloody Mary and the Spanish Armada in a fun, fast-paced show packed with gruesome history and humour for all ages. Historical figures and events will come alive on stage and hover at your fingertips!
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
This screen acting workshop for ages 7 to 11 introduces young performers to acting for camera, exploring performance techniques, text analysis and on-screen confidence while offering a taste of the Academy’s regular term-time drama sessions.
Cornerstone Arts Centre, Didcot
Featuring over 100 incredible young dancers from the local area, this fast-paced, feel-good show is packed with powerful performances, show-stopping routines, and plenty of wow moments.
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
Bluey’s Big Play is the theatrical adaptation of the Emmy® award-winning children’s television series packed with music, laughter, and fun. Join the Heelers in this live theatre show made just for you, featuring brilliantly created puppets.
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
Celebrating the 250th anniversary of their births, this unmissable new documentary explores Turner and Constable’s intertwined lives and legacies alongside the groundbreaking Tate exhibition.
Party in the Paddock returns in 2026 with two massive weekends of racing and live music at Newbury Racecourse. With world-class racing, unforgettable performances, and an electric summer atmosphere, this is a series you won’t want to miss.
Festival lineup includes: Gipsy Kings featuring Nicolas Reyes / Ronan Keating / Tinie Tempah / Jessie J.
The North Wall Arts Centre
Join this very special night of stand-up that is headlined – with an extended set – by a certified comedy superstar, Ed Byrne. With legions of fans both in the UK and abroad, Ed remains the observational stand-up to see.
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
Celebrating the incredible music of Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton & Cream – Voodoo Room is a stunning high energy ‘Power Trio’ featuring some of the U.K.’s finest musicians whose credits include: Steve Winwood, Massive Attack, Arthur Brown, Fish, Thunder, Lulu etc.
The North Wall Arts Centre
Blake’s Heaven Big Band is a 17-piece modern ensemble delivering funk, pop, jazz and swing styles influenced from all genres of music. The Band’s repertoire ranges from classic big band to fun cartoon, TV and film themes and popular time-honoured hits from the 60s through to the 90s and beyond.
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
Return to the cosmos – or discover it for the first time – with Wonders of Our Universe – The Next Chapter: a brand new, stand-alone instalment in the acclaimed live series from astrophysicist Ian Hall FRAS.
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
The Playboy of the Western World by John Millington Synge, directed by Caitríona McLaughlin, is a darkly funny tale full to the brim with secrets filmed live on stage at the National Theatre.
The North Wall Arts Centre
The inaugural OxBright Festival will bring together young performers from the UK and around the world for a celebration of creativity, featuring workshops, performances, Q&A sessions and opportunities to showcase work on a professional stage.
Join Spread the Joy: Marmalade Stitching and learn about Sarah Cooper, whose 1874 marmalade recipe became a huge hit in Oxford and beyond. Use hessian from another thriving local business as the blank canvas on which you’ll stitch your own marmalade-inspired picture using yarn and pipe cleaners.
Truck Festival takes place in the picturesque Oxfordshire countryside, offering a long weekend of live music, camping and community spirit. Family-friendly and inclusive, the festival features multiple stages, arts, workshops, food and bars, along with full campsite facilities, making it one of the region’s most cherished independent summer festivals.
Festival lineup includes: The Maccabees / Two Door Cinema Club / CMAT / The Libertines / The Wombats / Primal Scream / Kaiser Chiefs / The Vaccines
Guiting Power Village Hall
Guiting Music Festival continues to grow its reputation as one of the leading music festivals in the Cotswolds, offering a superb eclectic mix of artists and genres of music at its annual event in the Cotswold village of Guiting Power. Over 10 days it will play host to world-renowned, international, European and UK artists.
The Oxford Piano Festival was founded in 1999 by Marios Papadopoulos, renowned pianist and Music Director of the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra. Each year, the Festival welcomes piano players and pedagogues, experts and enthusiasts, to some of Oxford’s most historic venues, such as Sir Christopher Wren’s Sheldonian Theatre, the Holywell Music Room, and Christ Church Cathedral.
The remarkably talented participants of the Oxford Piano Festival receive masterclasses from acclaimed pianist Alon Goldstein and fellow piano masters.
The remarkably talented participants of the Oxford Piano Festival receive masterclasses from acclaimed pianist Kathryn Stott and fellow piano masters.
Festival favourite Paul Lewis returns with a programme framed by two of Mozart’s most appealing piano sonatas – one known for its charm and grace, the other for its intensity and restlessness.
Our Man in Havana follows the hilarious exploits of James Wormold, a British vacuum cleaner salesman in pre-revolutionary Havana, Cuba. Jack Ashton, Bob Barrett, Leon Ockenden, and Jodie Steele play over 30 characters to bring 1950s Havana vividly to life in this wonderfully funny and fast-moving romp!
The Masterclass Series is three introductory workshops in professional skills used by creatives across the industry, designed for both beginners and those looking to revisit foundational techniques, including Movement & Physical Theatre, Directing and Improvisation.
The remarkably talented participants of the Oxford Piano Festival receive masterclasses from acclaimed pianist Momoro Ono and fellow piano masters.
Wilderness festival is the multi-award winning 4-day festival combining live music, contemporary arts and an array of theatre, artisanship, late-night parties, outdoor pursuits and culinary experiences. It’s one festival where genres are redefined, identity is turned on its head, and arts from across the spectrum sit side by side.
Festival lineup includes: Scissor Sisters / Carl Cox / The Last Dinner Party / Sisters: curated by Annie Lennox / Soulwax / Baxter Dury / Saint Etienne / Good Neighbours / The Hot 8 Brass Band / Groove Armada (DJ Set) / Nic Fanciulli / Eats everything / Olive F / Dan Shake • Say She She / Demi Riquísimo / Delilah / Chloe Qisha / Mr Cutts and many more.
The remarkably talented participants of the Oxford Piano Festival receive masterclasses from acclaimed pianist Elisabeth Leonskaja and fellow piano masters.
The Oxford Piano Festival is thrilled to present one of the most exciting emerging instrumental talents, Greek pianist Theodosia Ntokou.
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
Suzanne Vega will perform a career-spanning show including favorites like ‘Tom’s Diner’, ‘Luka’, ‘Marlene On The Wall’, and many more, plus songs from her latest album, Flying with Angels
Every Saturday (Except 26 December)
Out of the Deep is a family-friendly specimen handling and exploration of the underwater world of marine reptiles.
Modern Art Oxford is delighted to present Little Fennel’s Complaint, a major solo exhibition by Olivia Plender (b. 1977, London), exploring historic and ongoing inequalities in women’s healthcare, from early modern witchcraft to contemporary debates on reproductive rights and medical authority. Plender developed the exhibition through research with leading Oxford institutions, including the Bodleian Library, Oxford Botanic Garden and John Radcliffe Hospital.
The exhibition displays a collection of work created using foraged plants, transformed through ancient techniques such as cordage and weaving, to reflect the raw beauty and cyclical nature of the natural world, that is both ephemeral and enduring.
In Bloom: How Plants Changed Our World at the Ashmolean Museum uncovers the hidden histories behind Britain’s most beloved blooms. Explore over 100 artworks and objects that reveal how plant exploration and trade shaped landscapes, cultures, and economies – from roses and tulips to camellias and peonies.
Anna Ridler’s A Perfect Language of Images is a digital artwork created with Oxford’s Dr William Poole, exploring systems of classification through AI. Inspired by John Wilkins and Jorge Luis Borges, it reflects on how machine learning both organises and destabilises knowledge.
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.
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.
Oxford Events
What’s on in Oxfordshire this September
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!
Oxford Events
13 remarkable cars to look out for at this year’s Salon Privé Concours
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
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.
-
Oxford News3 weeks agoTrain cancellation alert amid ‘fault’ near London Paddington
-
Oxford News2 weeks agoMuseum evacuated and Oxford University closed amid incident
-
Business & Technology4 weeks agoBritish Business Bank backs PhysicsX with USD $25 million
-
Business & Technology4 weeks agoMuscle Food at risk of closing after entering administration
-
Business & Technology4 weeks agoNuggit launches GBP £5 million fund for UK YouTubers
-
Business & Technology4 weeks agoHistoric town faces series of high street shop closures
-
Student Life4 weeks agoMy year of rest and rustication
-
Student Life4 weeks agoAcademic tourism: Oxford University and its summer schools
