What’s on in Oxford & Oxfordshire this March

Uncanny: Fear Of The Dark is a show with terrifying real-life stories and witness accounts that will have you gripped throughout the show. Whether you are team sceptic, team believer, or somewhere in between, everyone is welcome.

The NW Inventors youth theatre offers young people the chance to build confidence, make friends and develop drama skills, with a year-long journey that includes performance training, devising a show and rehearsing for a Summer Showcase at The North Wall.

Artist Peter Keegan returns to Aylesbury Waterside Theatre to lead intimate acrylic painting workshops, offering hands-on tuition, materials, and a tour of his residency artworks.

Experience the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra live at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre with cellist Sterling Elliot, performing Dvořák, Elgar, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 under conductor Kevin John Edusei.

The programme features Dvořák’s beloved Cello Concerto with Joshua Lynch, the rarely performed Lyadov Polonaise, and Dvořák’s American Suite from his New World period. Sullivan’s Overture di Ballo adds lively orchestral flair, and the concert concludes with Beethoven’s spirited and charming Eighth Symphony.

Luther Live & Velvet Voices is a high-energy celebration of the golden era of R’n’B, bringing the timeless music of Luther Vandross, Alexander O’Neal and other soul legends to life with powerhouse vocals, a live band and unforgettable grooves from the 80s and 90s.

The Beekeeper of Aleppo brings Christy Lefteri’s bestselling novel to the stage—a moving story of love, loss, and hope amid war, adapted by Nesrin Alrefaai and Matthew Spangler.

Hannah White, CEO of the Institute for Government, joins former Cabinet Secretary Simon Case to examine whether the British government is broken, exploring the pressures, decisions and structural challenges shaping public services and the state over the past decade.

One of Oxford’s two bumping boat races, the Torpids takes place annually around the seventh week of Hilary Term, running from Wednesday to Saturday. The racing occurs on The Isis, a stretch of the River Thames in Oxford that is generally too narrow for side-by-side competition.

Using the distinctive ‘bumps’ format, crews race in single file, aiming to catch and ‘bump’ the boat ahead to climb the rankings. Spectators line the riverbanks to enjoy the thrilling racing and cheer on college crews in this celebrated intercollegiate tradition.

Downton Abbey returns to the big screen as the Crawley family and their staff step into the 1930s. Experience the much-loved characters’ final chapter at Beacon Cinema, with relaxed screenings and refreshments available.

Senbla presents Ellen Kent’s Farewell Opera Tour featuring Opera International Kyiv, Ukraine with Highly-Praised Soloists and Full Orchestra, in av evening of passion, sexual jealousy, death, and unforgettable arias.

Xperience Live presents The Music of Adele – The Candlelight Concert at Oxford Town Hall, featuring Natalie Black performing Adele’s greatest hits, from ‘Set Fire to the Rain’ & ‘Make You Feel My Love’ to ‘Someone Like You’ & ‘I Drink Wine’, in a stunning candlelit setting for an intimate and emotional live music experience.

Senbla presents Ellen Kent’s Madama Butterfly featuring Opera International Kyiv, Ukraine, with Highly-Praised Soloists and Full Orchestra. Highlights include the melodic ‘Humming Chorus’, the moving aria ‘One Fine Day’, and the unforgettable ‘Love Duet’.

Embark on a thrilling night of adventure with a brand-new collection of short films from the world’s most prestigious mountain film festival. Witness epic human-powered feats, life-affirming challenges and mind-blowing cinematography – all on the big screen. This an adrenaline-fuelled, not-to-be-missed event with free prize giveaways.

Russell Hicks returns with This Time It’s Personal, a new standup show reflecting on his life and career, blending sharp observations, humour and storytelling.

Ross Noble is the Wizard of Waffle, The Rambler Royale, The Noodlers’ Noodler, and he’s back live on stage to tour a tornado of tangents.

Two days of free fitness taster sessions, classes, events and more, for the whole family to enjoy. The weekend will offer exclusive deals and children’s activities such as free taster swimming lessons, free pool inflatable sessions, free family fun swims and children’s activities. Also, there will be taster skate lessons at Oxford Ice Rink, as well as free soft play and Tag X sessions at Leys Pools and Leisure Centre.

Buddy Holly and the Cricketers deliver a thrilling live celebration of rock ’n’ roll, performing Buddy’s greatest hits with raw energy, humour and heart. A feel-good show that has audiences worldwide singing along and dancing in the aisles.

Award-deserving German Comedy Ambassador Henning Wehn brings his comedy show Acid Wehn with an unbiased look and talks about climate change.

With their current show, ‘Wish You Were Here’, the eight-piece band provide a two hours plus set, showcasing Floyd’s seminal/homonymous album ‘Wish You Were Here’.

The Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra presents Brahms’s German Requiem, a profoundly consoling choral masterpiece. Featuring Fflur Wyn, James Atkinson and the Crouch End Festival Chorus, the concert is conducted by Music Director Marios Papadopoulos.

Legendary rock & roll band Showaddywaddy celebrate over five decades of music with a dynamic, feel-good live show. Featuring classic hits including Under the Moon of Love and Three Steps to Heaven, the concert promises dancing, nostalgia and timeless pop energy.

Helen & Douglas House is back with another star-studded evening of comedy, hosted by Matt Richardson and friends. This one-night-only event brings together a stellar lineup of the country’s finest comedians, all performing for a fantastic cause.

Cheltenham Racecourse presents the Cheltenham Festival, four extraordinary days of racing featuring 14 Grade One races as the best horses, trainers and jockeys go head to head. Each of the races at The Cheltenham Festival is a chance to be part of history. It creates memories that last a lifetime. You don’t want to miss it.

Olivier Award-winner Hiran Abeysekera stars in NT Live’s sharp and contemporary Hamlet, directed by Robert Hastie. This darkly funny and stylish reimagining explores duty, doubt and power as the young prince confronts life’s biggest question.

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.

Renowned pianist and conductor Christian Zacharias presents an intimate recital spanning Haydn, Schubert, Couperin, Scarlatti and Poulenc, revealing his distinctive artistry, intellectual depth and expressive clarity across centuries of keyboard music.

A high-energy tribute celebrating the music of Michael Jackson, starring acclaimed tribute artist CJ. Featuring iconic hits, dazzling choreography and stunning visuals, Man in the Mirror delivers an electrifying live concert experience honouring the King of Pop’s extraordinary legacy, featuring a lineup of timeless hits including Thriller, Billie Jean, Beat It, Smooth Criminal and Man in the Mirror.

Mischa Maisky joins Christoph Eschenbach and the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra for an evening of Romantic masterpieces, from Mendelssohn and Tchaikovsky to Bruch, Respighi and Schumann, showcasing the cello’s expressive power and orchestral warmth.

Internationally renowned Motionhouse arrives in Aylesbury with Hidden, a powerful dance-circus production blending gravity-defying choreography, circus feats and immersive digital design to explore hope emerging from darkness in a divided world.

The Radiohead Project delivers a powerful live tribute to one of modern music’s most influential bands, recreating every era from OK Computer to In Rainbows with striking authenticity, immersive visuals and meticulous musical detail.

Budapest Café Orchestra delivers an exhilarating blend of gypsy, folk and classical music, transforming global traditions and Romantic masterworks into a vibrant, genre-defying live experience led by founder Christian Garrick.

This smash hit ABBA tribute returns with a brand new show, celebrating the band’s greatest number one hits in a dazzling, high-energy production touring nationwide.

The Rod Stewart Songbook returns to Banbury with an electrifying live tribute starring Pete McCall, delivering decades of Sir Rod Stewart’s biggest hits with a full live band.

Richard Chappell Dance’s BLOOM marks 20 years of Dancin’ Oxford with a powerful triple bill exploring nature, connection and modern life through contemporary dance, poetry and live music.

Experience Patti Boulaye live in Here I Am, a one-woman show featuring music, stories, and dance – a celebration of songs and hilarious stories from her life and all the shows that she has done in the West End and on tours.

The Sound of the 60s brings legendary hits to life with The Zoots, performing classics from The Beatles, The Stones, Elvis and more. A high-energy, family-friendly show that’s thrilling audiences worldwide with authentic 60s sounds and irresistible grooves.

Michelle de Swarte brings her sharp wit and brutally honest storytelling to Oxford in The Afters, sharing hilarious reflections on life, youth, wellness, and premenopause, following her acclaimed work on BBC’s Spent and appearances on Netflix and Sky/HBO.

Hollie McNish brings her much-loved poetry as she reads from this brand-new collection about love, loss, wolves, and warm morning croissants.

Josh Widdicombe presents his comedy show – Not My Cup of Tea. Expect a funny stand-up with a lot of references to tea.

Join Susie for a hilarious one-woman comedy show that tackles the wild world of parenting with humour and heart! With sharp and relatable stories, she highlights the absurdity of everyday life, from the awkward puberty talks to the baffling moments that make you wonder if you are raising children or more of a referee.

Celebrating their 50th Year, The Arcadian Singers are pleased to announce their Spring Concert – Scarlatti x Bach in the glorious surroundings of Keble College Chapel on Sunday 15 March 2026 at 7.30pm. The evening concert will feature Stabat mater dolorosa (Scarlatti) and Jesu, meine Freude (Bach) together with music by Kuhnau and Telemann.

This dazzling production with orchestra features Bizet’s unforgettable melodies including ‘The Toreador’s Song’, Carmen’s enticing ‘Habanera’, and Don José’s lyrical ‘Flower Song’ in a setting evoking the stunning architecture of Seville and its main square with Roman and Moorish influences.

Don’t miss your chance to see 10cc at New Theatre Oxford and celebrate the hits that made them art pop and soft rock legends. Expect a hit-packed setlist including era-defining anthems like ‘Rubber Bullets’, ‘Donna’, ‘Art for Art’s Sake’, ‘Dreadlock Holiday’, and, of course, the eternal ‘I’m Not In Love’, accompanied by the BBC Concert Orchestra to mark the 50th anniversary of their classic album ‘The Original Soundtrack’.

Legendary satirical comedian Harry Enfield looks back on four decades in comedy, bringing much-loved characters to life on stage and answering audience questions in a rare, funny and revealing evening with one of Britain’s most distinctive comic voices.

Joel Dommett returns to his stand-up roots with Happy Idiot, a brand new show packed with glamorous behind-the-scenes TV stories and less glamorous first-time fatherhood moments, delivered with the charm and self-deprecating humour that have made him one of the UK’s most loved entertainers.

Chris Ramsey brings his brand new stand-up show, ‘Here Man’, the hotly anticipated follow-up to Chris’ last sell-out stand-up tour ‘2020’.

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.

Mark Watson marks 20 years in stand-up with a frantic, funny new show inspired by a chance encounter that sparked thoughts about humanity’s future. Expect his trademark wit on everything from awkward confessions to the state of the UK sausage industry

Judi Love is back with All About The Love, a brand new stand up show sharing honest, hilarious insights into juggling parenting, work and everyday pressures, celebrating resilience, humour and the belief that even when adulting gets tough, it’s always all about the love.

Oxford Playhouse Young Company returns with Education, Education, Education, The Wardrobe Ensemble’s sharp and funny love letter to 1990s Britain, exploring classroom chaos, political promises and youthful rebellion in an intimate, fast-paced production staged with the audience on stage.

Experience 65 years of Sir Cliff Richard’s greatest hits in a joyful, two hour celebration starring acclaimed tribute Jimmy Jemain, backed by a live band honouring Cliff and The Shadows in an energetic, nostalgia-filled night of British pop music history iconography.

Foil Arms and Hog are back with their brand new show, Skittish. A mix of sketch comedy, audience participation, and improvisation.

Diversity brings Soul 2026 based on technological advancements of artificial intelligence and what it means to be human in the digital age. The future is now!

The Oxford Literary Festival offers nine days of talks, debates and cultural events across Oxford’s most iconic venues. Celebrated for its world-class lineup, the festival nurtures open dialogue and welcomes thinkers, writers and performers from around the globe.

Blackwell Hall at the Weston Library will host the festival hub, complete with bookshop, café and exhibitions. With international programmes, accessible venues and expanded schools outreach, the 2026 festival promises an exceptional celebration of literature and ideas.

Award-winning tribute artist Ben Portsmouth brings This Is Elvis to Aylesbury Waterside, delivering an authentic, high-energy journey through Elvis Presley’s legendary career – from rockabilly roots to Vegas glamour – backed by the Taking Care of Elvis Band.

Since forming in 1990, The Brand New Heavies have blended classic ’70s funk with contemporary soul, producing chart-topping albums and enduring hits. Their evolving sound continues to resonate with audiences worldwide, most recently through acclaimed releases and sell out orchestral tours.

Lee Mead takes centre stage as P.T. Barnum in this spectacular circus musical, blending show-stopping songs, daring acrobatics and live musicians into a dazzling celebration of ambition, imagination and the birth of show business.

Shakespeare’s most-loved comedy returns in a darker, dreamlike reimagining as Headlong and Shakespeare’s Globe uncover the shadowy heart of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, where love, power and illusion collide beneath falling summer snow.

Marking its 10th anniversary, Meet Fred returns to the UK with its darkly comic story of a two-foot-tall puppet navigating love, work and independence, blending sharp political satire with inclusive performance and global acclaim.

RABBLE Theatre’s Glitch tells the true story of sub-postmistress Pam Stubbs, whose life is upended by accounting errors that expose the Post Office scandal, one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in English legal history.

Ruby Wax joins lifelong collaborator Clive Tulloh on stage to relive unforgettable interviews, unseen clips and behind-the-scenes stories from her groundbreaking TV career, offering audiences a bold, funny and revealing journey through fame, controversy and insight.

Join Sue in her show – The Eternal Shame of Sue Perkins, as she delivers a hilarious treatise on stigma, humiliation, and misunderstanding.

Scouting For Girls commemorate the album’s 15th anniversary with a special celebratory tour which will see them mix songs from the album with all of their biggest hits.

Abingdon Drama Club presents Andrew Bovell’s Things I Know to Be True at the Unicorn Theatre this March — a powerful and moving exploration of family, love and identity.

Desperados bring the timeless sound of the Eagles to life, delivering flawless harmonies and classic West Coast rock hits including Hotel California, Lyin’ Eyes and Take It Easy, alongside songs from Don Henley, Glenn Frey and Joe Walsh’s solo careers.

Moscow Drug Club deliver a rich fusion of world jazz, folk, French musette, Latin grooves and New Orleans swing, combining original songs with reimagined classics from artists like Jacques Brel, Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen for an unforgettable live experience.

Aisling Bea brings her show, Older Than Jesus, with tales of travel, home, immigration, history, sex, babies, music, lovers, and enemies.

Monty Don brings his British Gardens journey to the stage, sharing stories and images from across the UK that reveal how our gardens reflect our history, character and deep connection to the natural world and the landscapes we cherish most.

The English Chamber Orchestra, with soloist Harriet Mackenzie, presents a classical programme including Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, Bach, Mozart, and Purcell, in the beautiful candlelit University Church, Oxford—perfect for first-time and seasoned concert-goers alike.

Oxford Harmonic Choir performs J. S. Bach’s monumental St. Matthew Passion, widely regarded as the greatest sacred choral work ever written, bringing its powerful storytelling, inventive harmony and dramatic intensity to audiences in a moving English-language performance.

King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys bring their powerhouse jump, jive and swing sound to the stage, backed by 35 years, 7,000 performances and a reputation as the leading swing, blues and R&B band with decades of performances worldwide.

Join legendary comedian Harry Enfield for an unforgettable evening of laughter and reflection as he revisits 40 years of comedy, revives classic characters like Loadsamoney and Kevin the Teenager, and answers audience questions with trademark wit and charm.

Sue Caroline presents The Timeless Songs of Barbra Streisand, featuring a fantastic live band and captivating showcase of the iconic singer, featuring hit songs The Way We Were, Evergreen, People, Guilty, Woman in Love, Don’t Rain on My Parade, You Don’t Bring Me Flowers Somewhere and many more!

The Bootleg Shadows bring the legendary sound of The Shadows back to life, performing a fantasy concert packed with classic hits from 1960 to the early 80s, complete with signature moves, timeless melodies and plenty of humour.

In celebration of performing together for over 30 years on stages across the world, Fisherman’s Friends are going on tour! Having sold out every venue on their last tour including the Royal Albert Hall, the band look forward to performing old songs and new across the UK’s most prestigious venues, including New Theatre Oxford.

YouthLab: Monologues & Music Masterclass explores actor-musicianship, combining drama and music to bring monologues to life. This three-day workshop at The North Wall ends with a sharing of work and welcomes participants of all experience levels.

NW Inventors: Make a Musical is a three-day creative course where participants explore music-making and storytelling, working together to create an original mini-musical in The North Wall’s Dance Studio with experienced, fully supervised facilitators.

Work In Theatre is a two-day course introducing young people to backstage careers, covering sound, lighting, technical skills and theatre management, with a guided technical tour and insight into non-performance pathways from experienced professionals.

Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical is a hit musical that tells the true story of a secret British operation during World War II, a fast-paced, hilarious, and unbelievable true story of the twisted secret mission that won us World War II.

Images of Authority: Portraits Between Iran and Europe explores how Fath Ali Shah Qajar, King George III, and Napoleon Bonaparte used portraiture to convey power and personality. Featuring works from Iran, Britain, and France, the exhibition includes restored Qajar paintings and reveals the strategies behind these rulers’ compelling visual representations.

Pat Suet-Bik Hui & the Three Perfections showcases the Hong Kong-born artist’s mastery of painting, calligraphy, and poetry, presented alongside works by her teacher Lui Shou-Kwan and other historical examples. The exhibition highlights Hui’s contemporary approach, blending abstract ink and colour washes with poetic inscriptions exploring love, loss, and life’s quiet joys.

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.