2026 has a whole lot of entertainment in store for you as we divulge a huge host of the theatre, festivals, musicals, exhibitions, kids shows and comedy taking place in Oxford, Chipping Norton, Didcot and Banbury. So fill your boots and get booking. Don’t miss out on the incredible cultural treats on offer!
Oxfordshire Mind Comedy Gala, Jan 10, (2.30pm and 7.30pm) Oxford Playhouse. Jericho Comedy returns for another year of big laughs and brilliant talent, all in support of local mental health services. Expect a stellar mix of top comedians and exciting new voices in a feel-good celebration packed with punchlines, improv and comedy gold. Acts include Jenny Eclair, Glenn Moore, Chelsea Birkby, Finlay Christie, Hassan Al Habib, Amelia Hamilton, Ian Smith and Alex Farrow as MC. BOOK HERE
Black is the Color of My Voice, Jan 13-14. Oxford Playhouse. Inspired by the life of Nina Simone, and featuring many of her most iconic songs performed live, Apphia Campbell’s acclaimed play follows a successful singer and civil rights activist reflecting on the journey that took her from a young piano prodigy destined for a life in the service of the church, to a renowned jazz vocalist. BOOK HERE
OXOPS’ The Sound Of Music., New Theatre, Jan 13–18 Join the van Trapps in this rousing adaption of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s classic musical with timeless classics like My Favorite Things, Do-Re-Mi, Climb Ev’ry Mountain and Edelweiss. With a huge ensemble cast, an Alpine set, romance, humour and an enemy to fear, Oxford looks set for a huge musical boost. BOOK HERE
Nowhere, January 22 to 24, Oxford Playhouse. In this intricate and playful solo show, inspired by his involvement in the Egyptian revolution of 2011, and his experience of the counter-revolution that followed, actor and activist Khalid Abdalla (United 93, The Kite Runner, The Crown) takes us on a surprising journey into his own history, set against a cartography of seismic world events. BOOK HERE
Museum Late: Burns Night, Story Museum, Jan 24, 7pm-10.30pm. Get your ceilidh on in this unmissable night honouring Scotland’s national poet Robert Burns. Complete with traditional piper and Address to the Haggis, explore The Story Museum’s interactive galleries after dark. From snowy Narnia in The Enchanted Library to the atmospheric Whispering Wood, where you’ll experience award-winningCreation Theatre’s performances of Burns’ poetry, come face to face with mythical beasts in ‘Here be Dragons’ in The Treasure Chamber and dance the night away with contemporary folk-band Sunbird in the Woodshed Theatre. BOOK HERE
The Littlest Yak, The North Wall, Jan 24. This musical adaptation of the award-winning children’s book will delight audiences young and old with beautiful puppets, catchy tunes and an uplifting tale of self-acceptance for all the family. Nominated for a YAKTASTIC 4 OffWestEnd Awards! BOOK NOW
William Shakespeare’s ‘Walking With Dinosaurs’, Museum of Natural History, Jan 30, 7.30pm-9pm. Celebrate the 25th anniversary of ‘Walking with Dinosaurs’ with a new theatrical production combining the prehistoric and the renaissance, adapting two episodes of the TV series into Shakespearean drama. There will be comedy, tragedy, heroes, villains, dinosaurs, and maybe even an asteroid. The end result is sure to be up-roar-ious! https://oumnh.ox.ac.uk/event/william-shakespeares-walking-with-dinosaurs
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment brings Mozart’s World in Oxford to Oxford’s Sheldonian Theatre on January 30 with Katherine ‘Waffy’ Spencer, the internationally renowned classical clarinetist, newly appointed principal clarinet of the Handel and Haydn Society, Principal Clarinet for the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment (OAE) and City of London Sinfonia (CLS). Enjoy two of Mozart’s most loved works – the Clarinet Concerto and Eine kleine Nachtmusik (A little nightmusic). BOOK HERE https://oae.co.uk/event/mozarts-world-in-oxford/
The Constant Wife, Oxford Playhouse, Feb 2-7. The Royal Shakespeare Company production of W Somerset Maugham‘s classic, brings the glittering comedy to Oxford, having originally opened in Stratford to marvellous reviews and a sell out run. Meet Constance, a very unhappy woman, despite her seemingly idyllic existence. Constance is the perfect wife and mother, and her husband is as devoted to her as he is to his mistress, who just happens to be her best friend. Adapted by Olivier Award-winner Laura Wade. BOOK HERE
The Woman in Black, Oxford Playhouse, Feb 10 to 14. The legendary production of Susan Hill’s chilling ghost story returns to Oxford, in this gripping production, adapted by Stephen Mallatratt. One of the most successful and longest running theatre shows in the history of London’s West End, enjoy a brilliantly successful study in atmosphere, illusion and controlled horror. BOOK HERE
Lucy Porter: Let Yourself Go!, Didcot Cornerstone on February 13 – a brand new show about the power of letting yourself go – in every sense. Whether that means embracing your wrinkles and love handles whilst living in a slanket, or having a couple of Babychams and dancing like nobody’s watching (and if you’re a middle-aged woman, they’re probably not). It’s also about letting go of the person you’ve always thought you are, and using your midlife crisis to pursue new goals and reinvent yourself. BOOK HERE
OSJ brings BEETHOVEN with RYAN WANG, February 14, Dorchester Abbey. Don’t miss the BBC Young Musician of the Year 2024, playing The Overture of 1807 vividly shows Coriolanus’s conflicted inner state, Piano Concerto No 1 of 1798 is a work of youthful energy and classical poise and Symphony No 7, composed in 1812 – an energetic, rhythmically driven masterpiece often described as the “Apotheosis of the Dance”. BOOK HERE
The Complete Works Of William Shakespeare (abridged), Feb 18-28, The Theatre Chipping Norton – a new version of the West End classic rebooted and reimagined for 2026. The worldwide comic phenomenon returns with this updated and reinvented rollercoaster ride through all 37 of the Bard’s plays. After nine years in London’s West End, two TV specials, and performances in over 20 countries, Reduced Shakespeare Company is reinventing this classic comic masterpiece for the next generation of audiences. BOOK HERE
Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, OXFORD PLAYHOUSE, Feb 20 – March 7 – A tense, gripping and darkly funny exploration of truth and illusion and the lies we tell to keep up a façade. Welcome to the small hours at George and Martha’s – the alcohol is flowing, masks are off, and the mind games are just getting started. First staged in 1962, Albee’s masterwork remains a scorching exploration of marriage, ambition, illusion, and truth. An Oxford Playhouse Production directed by Mike Tweddle. BOOK HERE
Jessica Fostekew: Iconic Breath, The North Wall, February 21. Since debuting at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Jessica has garnered international recognition as a tour de force on the comedy scene. Iconic Breath is a monster’s guide to tolerance and temperance as Jessica wrestles with how to stay sane and vaguely nice in a world that’s on fire. There’s existential dread, reluctant self-reflection, accidental romance at airport security, and a chance encounter with a sensei half-way through a Hyrox. BOOK NOW
John le Carré: Tradecraft, Weston Library until April 6. Discover the enduring legacy of one of the greatest writers of the past century, otherwise known as David Cornwell. Held at the Bodleian Libraries, this material – much of which is displayed for the first time – spans Cornwell’s entire life and career, from his time as a student at Lincoln College, Oxford, to drafts penned in his final weeks, including annotated manuscripts of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Constant Gardener, and The Little Drummer Girl; previously unseen family photographs; original sketches, watercolour paintings and letters to fans and friends. DETAILS HERE
Rapunzel, Didcot Cornerstone, Saturday Feb 21, a bold, music-filled retelling where Rapunzel takes charge of her own escape. Golden-haired Rapunzel is trapped in her lofty tower by a wicked witch, who lops off the locks of her beautiful hair and sells them for a tidy profit. It’s time for Rapunzel to take charge of her own destiny and figure out a way to escape. This bold and funny adaptation of the much-loved storybook by Bethan Woollvin is brought to the stage by award-winning family theatre company Wrongsemble. Brimming full of music, magic and madcap schemes – and not a prince in sight! BOOK HERE
Alasdair Beckett-King: King Of Crumbs, Feb 28, The North Wall. The multi-award-winning stand-up comic, author, (occasionally), internet sensation and star of Mock The Week and 8 Out Of 10 Cats. In 2026, here blends his smart writing with his offbeat comic sensibility. Times are hard for a medieval whimsy pedlar. The milk of human kindness has curdled into the cheese of mistrust – hungrily devoured on the crackers of hatred. Which is bad news for everyone, especially the vegans. BOOK HERE
World Book Day: Half Price Entry at The Story Museum! Saturday March 7. Where else would you celebrate World Book Day but at the home of great stories? Explore the galleries, where you’ll find snowy Narnia, or fall down rabbit hole with Alice; for the littlest storytellers, book a visit to Small Worlds for under fives. Each hour-long session starts with a story and then explore each of the five story-zones. Play in Biscuit Bear’s kitchen, hide in the Night-Safe or meet Elmer! Plus it’s half price entry on World Book Day. Dressing up is encouraged! BOOK HERE
Tim Key: Loganberry, Oxford Playhouse, March 10. The Edinburgh Comedy Award-winner returns with a brand-new collection of poems, lager, and reflections. He’s bit older now, but still plugging away. Famed for his masterful blend of deadpan poetry, surreal storytelling, and mischievous charm, Key has carved out a unique space in British comedy – equal parts absurd, poignant, and painfully funny. BOOK HERE
Improbable Sessions: Music to the Dance, Oxford Playhouse, March 11. After their transcendental debut last year these incredible musicians improvise sumptuous music before your very ears. To celebrate 20 years of Dancin’ Oxford they will be joined by a dancer who will improvise movement in the moment to create a joyful one-of-a-kind evening of dance, music and ideas. BOOK HERE
Richard Chappell Dance: Bloom, Oxford Playhouse, March 13. To celebrate 20 years of Dancin’ Oxford, three compelling dance works come together to offer a bold reflection on the world we live in today. The three dance works forming the evening are Challacombe Chronicled, Ekledio’scritically acclaimed Splice, and The Skeleton is White by Divija Melally. https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/events/richard-chappell-dance-bloom
Museum Late: St Patrick’s Day, The Story Museum, March 14. 7pm-10.30pm. Step into a world of myths, music and mischief on St Patrick’s Day after dark. Transforming into a lively celebration of Irish legends, from giants and fairies to epic heroes. Enjoy after-hours access, live storytelling, music, and a dash of green-tinted magic. Tickets include exclusive all-evening entry to the Museum’s Galleries, including ‘Here Be Dragons’ in the Treasure Chamber! The café and bar are also open. BOOK HERE
Michelle De Swarte: The Afters, Oxford Playhouse, March 14 – back with her entourage of trademark razor-sharp wit and no-holds-barred storytelling. Th star and writer-creator of BBC’s critically acclaimed Spent, has been seen on Sky/HBO’s The Baby, Amazon’s Backstage with Katherine Ryan and The Duchess on Netflix, as well as, Live at the Apollo and Never Mind the Buzzcocks and you’re invited to the Queen of Comedy’s afterparty. BOOK HERE
In Bloom: How Plants Changed Our World. March 19 – August 16 The John Sainsbury Exhibition Galleries, The Ashmolean. This new exhibition will take visitors on a journey across the world and back, uncovering the stories behind some of Britain’s most beloved blooms. Featuring over 100 artworks including drawings, paintings, rare prints and ceramics, it will share the curiosity and ingenuity of early plant explorers and the networks that shaped global trade, to show how plants changed the world. BOOK HERE
A Grain of Sand, 20 – 21 March, North Wall – a one-woman show that takes an intimate look at war through the eyes of a child, blending Palestinian folklore with real-life testimonies from children in contemporary Gaza. Renad’s story is one of resilience, hope and the right of children to be children. Commissioned by London Palestine Film Festival. BOOK HERE
Access Friendly Day. The Story Museum, March 21. Enjoy a day of access to both the Galleries and Small Worlds with a single ticket and explore the Museum however best suits you and your family. The Museum’s access-friendly days are suitable for all families but particularly those who prefer a more relaxed experience as the museum spaces will run with adjusted lighting and sounds.  Tickets are limited and it’s timed entry to keep numbers small. http://www.storymuseum.org.uk
The Oxford Literary Festival, March 21-29 promises a vibrant celebration of ideas, knowledge and debate with more than 400 speakers, leading thinkers, writers, artists, and public figures exploring the most pressing issues of our time. Expect to see leading journalists, academics, and experts interviewing authors, writers, scholars, scientists, philosophers, artists, and poets. Highlights include three Booker Prize Winners and award winning novelists including Ali Smith, Patrick Gale, Jung Chang and Mick Herron. BOOK HERE
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Oxford Playhouse, March 24-28. Headlong returns with one of Shakespeare’s most loved plays as you’ve never seen it before. To escape a society ruled by tyrannical law, four young lovers flee to the forest beyond the city walls. Unbeknownst to them, the world of the woods has been unsettled by a fierce battle between the Fairy King and Queen, Oberon and Titania. Can anyone stop it from becoming a nightmare? BOOK HERE
Meet Fred, Didcot Cornerstone, March 24. This darkly hilarious, critically acclaimed show follows Fred, a two-foot-tall puppet navigating work, love, and society. Containing strong language and puppet nudity, the two-foot-tall puppet is just trying to live an ordinary life as he gets a job, finds love and becomes part of society. But with his Puppetry Living Allowance under threat, Fred’s world spirals out of control. With biting wit, razor-sharp political satire, and moments of unexpected tenderness, this unmissable comedy has resonated with audiences across the globe. Created by award-winning inclusive theatre company Hijinx, the show features a stellar cast of performers with and without learning disabilities and/or autism, and is as relevant today as ever. https://cornerstone-arts.org/show/meet-fred/
OSJ’s The Lost Music Of Auschwitz, Dorchester Abbey, April 3. How can there be music in the worst place in the world? Told through the words of victims of the camp who played and created music during the terrors of the Holocaust, the film The List by Leo Geyer shows how, in the most brutal and dehumanising situations, music could be a lifeline, a way to give testimony and even a way to resist. The second half shows Schumann’s Traumerei, Strauss’ Metamorphosen and Bloch From Jewish life. BOOK HERE
Dancing with Jane Austen, until April 12, Blackwell Hall, Weston Library. Marking the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth, examine how important dance was to Austen’s gentry society and its crucial role in her creativity and all of her novels. This display brings together items from the Bodleian’s collections and from Jane Austen’s House. See a reconstruction of Austen’s writing space at Chawton Cottage, Hampshire – now Jane Austen’s House – and details from a ball imagined through music, word, and dress. https://visit.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/event/display/dancing-with-jane-austen
Party Season, North Wall, April 28-May 1. From the multi-award-winning Wardrobe Ensemble comes a sugar-fuelled, bobbin-winding fever dream where class identities collide, social niceties unravel, and underslept parents do their best to hold it all together. Party Season is a razor-sharp new comedy about privilege, party rings and the pressures of being a parent. BOOK HERE
Jon Boden & the Remnant King, North Wall, May 13, Bellowhead frontman Jon Boden’s Waitsian parlour ballads and Napoleonic power-pop, are performed alongside the band’s sixteen-year back-catalogue of traditional and original songs and tunes. Featuring the enormous talents of Sam Sweeney (Bellowhead), Rob Harbron (Leveret), Ben Nicholls (Seth Lakeman Band), Sally Hawkins (Bellowhead) and the vocals and pedal-steel guitar of cult singer-songwriter M.G. Boulter. BOOK HERE
DANIEL FOXX ‘HOW LOVELY.’ May 15 Oxford, Old Fire Station – Expect a fresh dose of sharp wit, gorgeous chaos and soul-searching hilarity. Determined to handle his Big Breakup with the grace of Julia Roberts, Daniel… didn’t. Instead, he found himself navigating dating apps, 12-step skincare routines and a Le Creuset addiction all while trying very hard to emanate love and light. With his signature blend of biting humour Daniel brings audiences a show that’s equal parts absurd, relatable, and just a little bit unhinged. BOOK HERE
Blenheim Palace Festival – June 27-July 4. The new six day music festival in Woodstock sees headliners Katy Perry on 1 July, legendary singer-songwriter Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts with very special guest Elvis Costello & The Imposters with Charlie Sexton on 3 July, global superstar Michael Bublé on 4 July, Grammy-nominated vocal powerhouse Teddy Swims on 30 June, dance music iconPete Tong Ibiza Classics on 27 June and Alanis Morissette on Sunday 28 June. BOOK HERE
Alice’s Day: Saturday July 4. Snarks, Rhymes & Riddles. Coordinated by The Story Museum, Oxford will transform into a Wonderland for all to enjoy with an exciting programme of family-friendly events across the city. Expect storytelling, trails, games, crafts, talks and tours, mostly free and suitable for all ages. http://www.storymuseum.org.uk
Truck Festival, July 23-26  – a rite of passage for fans of all ages, headliners include The Maccabees, CMAT, Two Door Cinema Club, The Wombats and The Libertines alongside the likes of Kaiser Chiefs, The Vaccines, Primal Scream, English Teacher, Rizzle Kicks, The K’s, Lottery Winners, Keo, Florence Road, The Cribs, Everything Everything, Friendly Fires, The Royston Club, Getdown Services, Willie J Healey, Westside Cowboy, Black Honey, Radio Free Alice and many more. BOOK HERE
Big Feastival, August 28-30– Headliners for next summer include Basement Jaxx, The Streets and Bastille over the August Bank Holiday weekend at Alex James‘ farm alongside foodie feasts, fantastic comedy, theatre and kids’ shows, with an exciting culinary line-up of renowned chefs taking to the Big Kitchen stage, a full programme of family-friendly fun and an all-star mix of podcasts, comedy and late-night sets from superstar DJs in the legendary Cheese Hub and The Outpost. BOOK HERE
Harriet Kemsley: Floozy, Oct 3, The North Wall. Harriet’s life has been in constant chaos for as long as she can remember — but what happens when things finally start to go right for the multi-award-winning comedian in this brand-new show about dating, mushrooms, and her ongoing mission to embrace her inner chaos. Known for her infectious energy, self-deprecating humour and razor-sharp punchlines. Endearing, electric and utterly original, she’s one of the most exciting and distinctive voices in British comedy today. BOOK HERE
Oxford Botanic Garden’s Winter Lecture series – Jan to March. Five thought-provoking lectures about plants: Adam Frost (Jan 22) is an award-winning garden designer, bestselling author, and much-loved presenter on BBC Gardeners’ World. Martha Swales (Feb 5) is an urban gardener, author and influencer, Jon Dunn (Feb 19) is a natural history writer, photographer and orchid expert, Claire Ratinon (March 5) is a food grower and sustainability campaigner and Fergus Garrett (March 12), a plantsman and horticultural educationalist. BOOK HERE
Wednesdays in January, ‘Museum Highlights’ Tours, History of Science Museum. From awesome astrolabes to Einstein’s Blackboard, join a tour of the museum’s highlights and stories on each floor, find out about its original use, explore some highlight objects and stories, and hear about its plans for the future. https://www.hsm.ox.ac.uk/event/museum-highlights-tour-3.30
‘With These Hands’, Pitt Rivers. A wonderful new MultakaOxford trail co-curated with local communities, the trail has nine stops around the Museum galleries, with five of the nine stops on the ground floor, three on the first floor and one on the second floor. We encourage visitors to use the trail map, starting on the first floor, moving up to the second floor and then finishing on the ground floor. https://prm.ox.ac.uk/event/multaka-trail-2025
