With the summer holidays upon us, there is so much going on in Oxfordshire over the next few months, from Fringe previews to exhibitions, kids shows to theatre, festivals to young people’s activities, art, museums, concerts, music, gigs and more, the season is packed full of fun and entertainment.
So here is our BUMPER SUMMER GUIDE to everything going on, in chronological order, with booking links. Get planning and enjoy!
ZOG, until July 25, Oxford Playhouse. Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler‘s classic, feel-good story is brought to roaring, soaring life by Freckle Productions in this delightful musical for children. This charming smash-hit show, featuring joyful songs by Joe Stilgoe with beautiful puppets by  Little Angel, is a treat for children and adults alike. 3+. BOOK HERE
MACBETH, Oxford Castle & Prison, until August 1. Shakespeare’s darkest tragedy beneath the summer sky. Wild Goose Theatre returns for its 15th consecutive year with a haunting world of ambition, prophecy, and bloody consequence. READ ABOUT IT HERE As Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are drawn into a chilling spiral of guilt and violence, this bold, visceral production places audiences at the heart of the action. BOOK HERE
LEE MILLER: A WOMAN AT WAR, The Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum, Woodstock, ends September 13. There’s still time to catch this summer’s headline exhibition featuring 33 wartime photographs by Vogue model, surrealist photographer and photojournalist, Lee Miller. See stunning images from the 1940s, from her first snaps for British Vogue – taken at Oxford’s Churchill Hospital – to following US troops into the war in Europe. www.sofo.org.uk/visit-us
TWELFTH NIGHT (until August 16) AND MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (until August 14), Wolfson College. Creation Theatre has decided to go all out with two, outdoor, summer Shakespeare plays to celebrate its 30th anniversary. A Midsummer Night’s Dream has been brought back by popular request ‘READ OUR REVIEW HERE: A family-friendly triumph’; a wonderful, funny, uplifting production. As for Twelfth Night – Shakespeare’s classic comedy about mistaken identity, cross dressing, disguise, love and tomfoolery, it is a ‘joyful, fun and accomplished romp that’s impossible to resist’. MND has two tour dates at Harwell Campus, Didcot on July 23 and Rectory Farm, Stanton St John on July 25. BOOK HERE
LIFE, AS WE KNOW IT, Museum Of Natural History – an eight-year project to transform the presentation of the museum’s collections to visitors – has finished in time for the summer and features THREE Oxfordshire dinosaurs. Free.
ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL, Oxford University Parks until July 25. Oxford Theatre Guild takes one of Shakespeare’s lesser-known comedies and transports us to 1930’s France for a wonderful evening. READ OUR REVIEW HERE Think bed swapping, bribery, obsession, moral dilemmas and coercion in this witty and elegant adaption. Tickets at https://www.ticketsoxford.com/events/alls-well-that-ends-well
Mystery Academy: School for Young Detectives, The Story Museum. Recently opened and based around an original story by award-winning author Sharna Jackson, step inside a fictional boarding school to solve the mysterious disappearance of the Head Teacher. Follow clues, solve puzzles and attempt to the crack the case in this inventive exhibition that features a forensics lab, a library, and even a hidden door in a bookcase! Plus discover the history of the detective genre, favourite characters and authors from classics like Sherlock Holmes and Inspector Morse, to contemporary authors such as Robin Stevens, Mini Grey and Mark Haddon. BOOK HERE
Cally Trench and Tineke Bruijnzeels: Day after Day after Day, North Wall, until August 8. Daily drawings by the two artists lie at the heart of this exhibition: Tineke Bruijnzeels’ project ‘One more line a day’ using a wide variety of materials and Cally Trench’s ‘Left Hand, Right Hand’ drawings in ink. Both projects reveal the passage of time, and focus on the unit of the day – the most important measure of time in our lives, the unit that governs our routines of waking, sleeping, eating and work. https://www.thenorthwall.com/whats-on/cally-trench-and-tineke-bruijnzeels-day-after-day-after-day/
TRUCK FEST, Steventon, July 24-30. About to kick off in all its glory READ ABOUT IT HERE 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 and many more. https://truckfestival.com/tickets/
Youth Ambition’s Free Summer Programme, July 24- August 21, Oxford’s young people aged 11-17 can take part in a range of free summer activities including creative arts, multi sports and games, gaming, music, swimming, ice skating, cooking activities and team challenges. Taking place at Littlemore, Northway, and Leys Youth Hub and Leys Pool & Leisure Centre (registration in advance is recommended but not essential). Participants will be provided with a free lunch, but are welcome to bring their own food. And the Leys Youth Hub boasts creative writing, baking, art, music, nails and beauty, film nights, games, rock climbing, cooking, and more. No booking is required to attend and snacks are included. BOOK HERE.
Summer Family Fridays – Build, Make and Explore, Ashmolean. July 24- August 28. This free, drop-in Friday event is suitable for all ages and abilities. Enjoy a gallery adventure to discover extraordinary objects, gather inspiration, sketch your favourites, hunt for colours and patterns and uncover surprising textures along the way, guided by museum staff. Then bring your ideas to life by creating your own artworks and experiment with different materials inspired by treasures from across the museum. All materials provided. MORE INFO HERE
BAKER’S DOZEN, The Bullingdon, July 28 with mega-hits, sing-a-longs, big energy and a 13 piece band! READ ABOUT IT HERE Get ready for a night of irresistible sing-a-longs, modern day hits and the kind of crowd-connecting performance that keeps audiences coming back for more. https://www.fatsoma.com/e/hokfzd8s/summer-party-with-baker-s-dozen-live-the-bullingdon
OUR MAN IN HAVANA, July 28-August 1, Oxford Playhouse. The famous Graham Greene novel adaption follows James Wormold, a British vacuum cleaner salesman in pre-revolutionary Cuba, struggling financially to support his spoiled daughter. Recruited by MI6 to be a spy, despite lacking any actual spy skills or intentions, this wonderfully funny and fast-moving romp unfolds. The stellar cast: Jack Ashton (Call The Midwife), Bob Barrett (Holby City), Leon Ockenden, (Waterloo Road) and Jodie Steele (Heathers The Musical – New York & London) play over 30 characters to bring 1950s Havana vividly to life. 14+ BOOK HERE
FAIRE IS THE HEAVEN, SYDNEY PHILHARMONIA CHOIRS, Oxford Festival Of The Arts, July 30. Brett Weymark and 140 voices of Sydney Philharmonia Choirs present a stirring programme of inspiring hymns and anthems, including Parry’s I Was Glad and Gardiner’s Evening Hymn. alongside works by celebrated Australian contemporary composers, Joe Twist and Alice Chance. BOOK HERE
WOODHILL, July 30, North Wall. A Fringe Preview about the true story of three men found dead at Woodhill Prison. Lyrically told in their own words, three families investigate what happened to their boys. What they discover is so haunting, it turns their world upside down. Told with gut punching choreography and unflinching beats, it shines a light on the hidden story of HMP Woodhill in a call to arms about the current prison crisis by multi-award-winning LUNG, originally developed with The North Wall. 16+. BOOK HERE
SUMMER FAMILY FUN, July 30-31, August 4, 7, 11 and 20. Weston Library, To coincide with the current ‘Wonder of Birds’ exhibition https://visit.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/event/wonder-of-birds, the Bodleian will be exploring the seven wonders of birds. Explore our relationship with the creatures of the air through art, stories and creative writing. Suitable for all ages. Free, no booking required – just drop in. INFO HERE
OVERTONE, July 31-August 1, North Wall. Named by The Stage as one of the ‘must-see’ theatre shows of the Edinburgh Fringe, preview the premiere first with this intimate, funny and unflinching new play from Fringe First award-winning theatre-maker Tom Brennan. We meet two teenagers who get together after choir practice and begin the most important relationship of their lives. Two decades later, a chance encounter with their old teacher forces them to confront a past they thought was long buried. Addressing love getting older, the adventures promised, choices made, and the cost of finally being honest. 14+ BOOK HERE
MATERIALS MAGNIFIED, History Of Science Museum, every Thursday afternoon in August, 2-4pm. Borrow hand-held microscopes to follow a sensory trail and handle intriguing objects including some wonderful Victorian microscopes. SEND-friendly activities suitable for children age 4+ in family groups. Free, drop in.
Waterperry Opera Festival, 7-16 August. The flagship shows this season are Puccini’s La bohème and Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love, both performed in English. The 2026 programme will also include a range of free events, including a sing-along Come and Sing workshop, children’s Craft Workshops, and the Young Artist Gala, celebrating the work of the festival’s Young Artist cohort.
DEAR ZOO, August 7-8, The Mill, Banbury. The timeless children’s classic book by Rod Campbell returns to the stage alongside a cheeky monkey, a jumpy frog and of course a perfect puppy using child-engaging puppets, music and lots of audience interaction. But who will the zoo send next? 1+. BOOK NOW
Fame Jr. Summer Youth Production, August 15, New Theatre Oxford. After weeks of hard work, over 100 young performers, supported by Scott’s Performing Arts, will take to the stage in this iconic 80’s musical. Be ready for high energy numbers, powerhouse vocals and a performance to remember, in the high-energy coming-of-age musical following a diverse group of students at New York City’s High School for the Performing Arts. The show tracks their four-year journey, highlighting the struggles, friendships and sacrifices required to succeed in acting, music and dance. BOOK HERE
Snarks and Riddles, August 18-30, The Story Museum. Get ready for beasts and games galore and prepare to play an immersive boardgame inspired by the imaginary worlds of Lewis Carroll. Enter a giant games board and adventure through the mini worlds of Wonderland, Snark Island, the Tulgey Woods and The Looking Glass Garden – along the way you will answer riddles, solve puzzles, meet curious creatures, seek advice from a caterpillar and much more! https://www.storymuseum.org.uk/whats-on/snarks-riddles
Brilliant Birds – August 26, Oxford Botanic Garden & Arboretum. 11am −3pm. A day of bird-themed activities with trails and nature crafts for all ages, to help celebrate the Weston Library’, Oxford’s new exhibition ‘Wonder of Birds‘, and find out about what the trees, plants and animals are doing in summer. No need to book, pay on arrival.
FUN KIDS SCIENCE QUEST – LIVE! August 27, The Mill, Banbury. Prepare for BLAST OFF as the hugely popular, award winning Fun Kids Science Quest podcast brings an out of this world space adventure! Fun Kids radio presenter Dan Simpson brings the science of space to the stage, with hilarious experiments, exciting guests and the best space facts in the galaxy in this one hour journey into how space works. BOOK HERE
The Big Feastival, August 28-30, Kingham: With headliners Basement Jaxx, The Streets and Bastille kicking off the August Bank Holiday weekend at Alex James‘ farm READ ABOUT IT HERE, alongside big names from the worlds of music, comedy and cheffing, the three day Oxfordshire’s festival looks set to entertain as hard as ever. Tickets at www.bigfeastival.com
Schools Out Comedy Club in association with Rock the ATIC , August 28, New Theatre Oxford. Pop along to New Theatre Oxford’s air conditioned piano bar for a light-hearted escape and enjoy the best comedians from around the country. 18+. BOOK HERE
NICK COPE’S FAMILY SHOW, August 29, Oxford Playhouse, 11am and 3pm. Come and join  the family singer and songwriter and creator of Nick Cope’s Popcast, as shown on CBeebies,  for this brand new, delightful family concert, featuring all your favourite hits and more! 3+. BOOK HERE
Michael Ball, August 29, New Theatre Oxford. Britain’s leading musical theatre star will be hitting the road with his Glow UK headline tour. The double Olivier Award-winning, Grammy nominated, multi-platinum recording artist and hugely popular radio and TV presenter, has been at the top of his game for over 40 years, starring in musical theatre productions in the West End and on Broadway. BOOK HERE
RUBY WAX: ABSOLUTELY FAMOUS, September 3, Oxford Playhouse. It’s almost easier to say whom the famous comedian, writer, television presenter, and mental health campaigner hasn’t met on TV shows Ruby Wax Meets and Full Wax, including Donald Trump, OJ Simpson, Pamela Anderson, Madonna and many more. Her provocative, abrasive, incomparable style was just about kept in check by lifelong friend and A-list producer, Clive Tulloh. Together live on stage, they review clips from the extraordinary shows, tell scandalous stories never before heard – and take the audience along for the ride. 14+ BOOK HERE
K-POP KIDS PARTY, Sept 6, The Mill, Banbury. The ultimate event for all young K-Pop fans! Grab your friends, practice your moves, and prepare for a dazzling, high-energy afternoon packed with music, games, dance, and fun, with live K-Pop inspired vocalists hitting the stage to perform the biggest and best K-Pop Hits while learning some fierce choreography with their dance coach. BOOK HERE
