As the summer holidays loom, you’ll be relieved to hear that Oxfordshire is booming with entertainment over the next few months in all its guises from art to dance, exhibitions to outdoor theatre, festivals to family-friendly shows and so much more. So have a look and get booking to ensure a summer of fun!
DANCIN’ OXFORD’S SUMMER DANCE FESTIVAL. Until July 20 – A vibrant and diverse programme promising an eclectic mix of performances, workshops, and community events, celebrating dance in Oxford and beyond. Think aerial dance and community talent to eco choreography, workshops, parkour, immersive outdoor performances and wellbeing, with lots to try. http://www.dancinoxford.co.uk/whats-on/
Oxford Festival Of The Arts has announced a stunning line up this year with over 100 events to choose from, all based around this year’s theme Magnificent Oxford. And with a reputation for bringing some of the biggest names to Oxford and the most eclectic programming in town, we are in for a treat. From exhibitions and concerts, comedy and community experiences, to ceilidh and dance, running throughout June and July all over Oxford and beyond. https://artsfestivaloxford.org/whats-on/full-ofa-2025-listing/
Dinosaur World Live, Oxford Playhouse, August 5-7. Dare to experience the dangers and delights of this roarsome interactive show for all the family. Grab your compass and join our intrepid explorer across uncharted territories to discover a pre-historic world of astonishing (and remarkably life-like) dinosaurs. Meet a host of impressive creatures, including every child’s favourite flesh-eating giant, the Tyrannosaurus Rex, a Triceratops, Giraffatitan, Microraptor and Segnosaurus! With a Meet & Greet Post-show with the Dinosaurs for 15 mins. 3+. https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/events/dinosaur-world-live
St Hilda’s Crime Fiction Weekend, August 8-10. This year’s theme ‘Detecting the Gothic: tales from the dark heart of crime fiction‘ encompasses everything from The Woman in White and The Murders in the Rue Morgue, to more modern monsters and their makers. At this, the 32nd Crime Fiction Weekend, a dark gathering of glittering stars will do their best to send shivers down your spine. And with guest of honour Val McDermid (who’s sold over 19 million books) and speakers including Louise Welsh, Mick Herron, Olivia Isaac-Henry, Anna Mazzola, Stuart Neville, Ambrose Parry, William Ryan, Catherine Ryan Howard, Stuart Turton, Catriona Ward and Ruth Ware signed up, it looks set to be a huge draw for crime fiction lovers. https://www.st-hildas.ox.ac.uk/events/2025-crime-fiction-weekend
Chipping Norton Pride: ‘From Chippy with Love’, July 26 includes performances, market stalls and an evening of celebration and entertainment at the Town Hall. Set to be a colourful and fun day, celebrations will be accompanied by an unforgettable night at the Town Hall, brimming with entertainment, music and the best locally sourced tipples for those wishing to dance the night away whilst celebrating and supporting the LGBTQIA+ community.
Reverend Richard Coles: Borderline National Trinket, July 14, New Theatre Oxford. The only British vicar with a number one hit single, a stint on Strictly Come Dancing, and a recent star turn on I’m A Celebrity. A much-loved broadcaster and Sunday Times bestselling author, his new novel ‘A Death On Location’ is out this summer. A rare chance to spend an evening with one of the UK’s most distinctive voices, sharing stories, wit, wisdom, and a Q&A for those curious about life in the jungle. https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/reverend-richard-coles-borderline-national-trinket/new-theatre-oxford/
Twelfth Night, Oxford Castle until July 5 – There’s sword fighting, singing, love, comedy, humour, mistaken identity, family reunions and a happy ending. What more could you want? BMH Productions is back with the classic Shakespearian comedy in this fast paced adaption. Book here https://www.oxfordcastleandprison.co.uk/events/event/bmh-presents-twelfth-night/
This Is What You Get: Stanley Donwood, Radiohead, Thom Yorke, August 8 – Jan 11, Ashmolean. The first large-scale institutional show explores the visual art of Stanley Donwood and Thom Yorke and the iconic images of Radiohead. More than 180 objects will be on display from the artists’ 30-year collaboration, including original paintings for album covers, digital compositions, etchings, unpublished drawings, and lyrics in their sketchbooks. https://www.ashmolean.org/exhibition/this-is-what-you-get-stanley-donwood-radiohead-thom-yorke
CELEBRATE ALICE’S DAY: SATURDAY JULY 5, an annual celebration that transforms Oxford into a wonderland. This year’s theme Quests and Adventures will bring together street theatre, talks, storytelling, guided walks and a giant Wonderland Afternoon Tea. Look out for the Red Queen procession, a life-size pack of cards, or even Alice herself chasing the White Rabbit. Christ Church will host croquet in the Masters’ Garden and a performance of Lewis Carroll slides. Try a life-sized adventure game inspired by Lewis Carroll, or book a place at a giant Wonderland Afternoon Tea at The story Museum. www.storymuseum.org.uk
Big Feastival, Kingham, August 22 – 24. Blur guitarist and host Alex James is headlining with the brand-spanking-new Alex James’ Britpop Classical, with some very special guest appearances promised. Further headliners include Nelly Furtado and Faithless (Live), alongside Travis, The Wombats, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Rizzle Kicks, Tom Walker and Maxïmo Park. Food-wise Michelin-starred chef Raymond Blanc is in in the Big Kitchen, plus Hairy Bikers Si King, Simon Rimmer, Emily English, August Bernstein, DJ BBQ & Chops, Cherish Finden, Elizabeth Haigh (Mei Mei), Emily Scott and Gaz Oakley. www.thebigfeastival.com
Twelfth Night, Oxford University Parks, July 15-26. Join Oxford Theatre Guild this summer as it celebrate its 70th anniversary with a sizzling modern twist on one of Shakespeare’s best loved plays. With a soundtrack from the 1980s, you’ll be transported to Illyria for a night of love, mistaken identity, and trickery. Bring a picnic and rug, and then sit on chairs arranged in semi-circles, as the fun unravels and ‘midsummer madness’ takes hold. Book at https://www.ticketsoxford.com/events/twelfth-night-by-william-shakespeare
Book in at Harcourt Arboretum at the Go Wild for Wildlife Family Day on July 30 – a day of seasonal activities explaining what the trees, plants and animals are doing in summer with trails, tours and nature crafts for all ages. More info here or book the Jurassic Plants Family Day on August 27 – fun activities about the trees and plants that grew alongside the dinosaurs More info here
FLIP Fabrique Six ° at Oxford Playhouse, July 28. Dive into this astonishing acrobatic comedy by the Québec-based circus company renowned for its playful and moving performances. Join a team of master tricksters on a stormy night when five strangers are drawn to an old, abandoned house deep in the forest by a mysterious invitation. With surprises, challenges, and breathtaking acrobatics, the house transforms the mundane into the magical. Age guideline: 8+. https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/events/six-degrees
Oxford Operatic Society‘s Jesus Christ Superstar, Oxford Playhouse, July 8-13, brings Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic rock opera, featuring the climactic final days of Jesus of Nazareth, reimagined through electrifying music and captivating performances. Renowned for its dramatic intensity and timeless score, including hits like I Don’t Know How to Love Him and Superstar, it promises to be a compelling exploration of love, betrayal, and sacrifice. https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/events/jesus-christ-superstar
New Family Audio Tour: Myths and Reality, Ashmolean. Step into a world of epic stories, ancient heroes, and powerful gods narrated by local historian and broadcaster Professor Janina Ramirez, designed for curious kids (aged 8+) and their grown-ups. Bring your own smartphone, link up to the Museum Wi-Fi, download the tour and pick up a free printed map to help guide your quest and uncover legendary objects across the museum. More info here
Kinky Boots, July 22-26, New Theatre Oxford. Strutting back to Oxford in a brand-new production this joy-filled sensation, based on a true story and hit movie, featuring Tony and Grammy winning music and lyrics by pop icon Cyndi Lauper, the musical tells the story of Charlie Price, who inherits his father’s failing shoe factory and finds an unlikely partner in Lola, a drag queen, to help him turn the business around. https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/kinky-boots/new-theatre-oxford/
Much Ado About Nothing Oxford Castle Courtyard, July 7- to August 2. Wild Goose Theatre – Step back in time into a world of romance, mischief, and wartime intrigue as Shakespeare’s classic bursts onto the stage in a new 1940s-themed production. This dynamic two-hour performance brings together the golden age of swing and the timeless wit of the Bard in a celebration of love, deception, and redemption while remaining true to Shakespeare’s glorious language. https://www.oxfordcastleandprison.co.uk/events/event/much-ado-about-nothing/
Breaking Ground – until September 29. Museum Of Natural History Discover how William and Mary Buckland helped establish and illustrate new scientific methods and ideas which led to fascinating discoveries in palaeontology – including the first ever dinosaur to be named to science. A Breaking Ground Family Trail accompanies this free exhibition. More info here
Stand Up! A Night of Laughs for Lawrence Nurses at Oxford Playhouse on July 17. Don’t miss Miles Jupp, Adam Kay, Lucy Porter, Arthur Smith and Ria Lina for a night of sharp wit and big laughs for the Oxfordshire hospice-at-home charity. Join this fantastic evening of comedy and raise money for an incredible cause. https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/events/stand-up-a-night-of-laughs-for-lawrence-nurses
Material Interest, Irving Gallery, Cowley Road, July 5 – August 8. Bringing together Laura Porter, Helen Kincaid, Sun Ju Lee, Tamara Dubnyckyj, Rachael Causer and Penelope Brook, these six artists explore fabric, threads, and fibres in their work using different perspectives and practices. Assembling sculpture, painting, works on paper, and fibre works, this interdisciplinary show explores the possibilities of textiles both as a medium and as subject. https://www.irvinggallery.com
Escape to Treasure Island with Le Navet Bete and their swashbuckling, smash-hit comedy for all the family at Oxford Playhouse on July 4-5. Featuring dastardly pirates, tropical islands and a mermaid you’ll never forget, set sail on the Jolly Todger with Jim Lad, Long John Silver and a whole host of other characters for a hilarious voyage across the seas with the multi award-winning physical comedy company. https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/events/treasure-island
TRUCK FESTIVAL, July 24-27, Hill Farm in Steventon. One of the UK’s favourite festivals gears up for an epic 2025 with headliners Kasabian, Courteeners, Nothing But Thieves and Bloc Party, accompanied by The Last Dinner Party, Blossoms, Franz Ferdinand, Wunderhorse, CMAT, Sports Team, Reytons, Maximo Park, Corella, Fat Dog, Alfie Templeman or Lambrini Girls. Get ready for a weekend to remember! https://truckfestival.com
The History of (Almost) Everything, Oxford Playhouse, July 25-26. 7+. Expect free family-friendly activities, performances, taster sessions, craft activities, and a time-travelling scavenger hunt, whisking audiences through multiple chapters of history with a playful modern-day twist. The perfect way to kick off your summer holidays! https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/events/the-history-of-almost-everything
70s vs 80s Silent Disco, Sat July 5, The Theatre Chipping Norton. The theatre seats will be taken out to make way for a huge dance floor, with DJs on hand, armed with the biggest pop hits, electronic beats, sing-along anthems and classic rock bangers from two outstanding decades of music. Expect a veritable feast of tunes such as Queen, Abba, Blondie, Madness, Specials, David Bowie, Soft Cell, Madonna, so many bangers! So, gather your friends, grab a headset and rewind to the best of the 70s and 80s. https://www.chippingnortontheatre.com/events/the-theatres-silent-disco-70s-vs-80s-2
Festival of Archaeology, Ashmolean – Saturday July 19, explores being ‘Really Roman’, and celebrates the opening of the redesigned Rome Galleries. Enjoy a huge variety of arts and crafts, tours, demonstrations, and storytelling. Make your own Roman mosaics, meet Roman traders, explore and examine our Rome collections throughout the Museum. Free for all the family. details here
The Koala Who Could, Sat Aug 9, Oxford Playhouse. Based on the bestselling picture book, join Kevin, King of the staying-still-kings, and his friend’s kangaroo and wombat in an Australian Outback adventure, based on the book by Rachel Bright and Jim Field. 3+. https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/events/the-koala-who-could
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Creation Theatre, July 16 – August 16, Wolfson College Sports Ground. Settle beneath the soft canvas of an open-air tent and let mischief, magic, and moonlight transport you. In true English summer fête style expect bunting, blossoms, and a hint of fairy dust as Shakespeare’s most playful comedy comes to life on the picturesque lawn of the cricket ground. Wander into a world where lovers get lost, fairies meddle, and nothing is quite as it seems. Bring a picnic, grab a Pimm’s, and prepare for a beautiful evening of laughter, wonder, and theatrical magic. Suitable for the whole family. https://creationtheatre.co.uk/show/midsummer/
BAMPTON CLASSICAL OPERA 2025, Antonio Salieri La locandiera (‘The Landlady’), The Deanery Garden, Bampton. July 18-19. This comic opera in three acts commemorates the 200th anniversary of the composer’s death, sung in a new English translation by Gilly French and Jeremy Gray. This witty and tuneful comedy of manners is based on one of Carlo Goldoni’s finest-crafted plays, in which the feisty innkeeper Mirandolina determines to ‘educate’ an arrogant and dismissive Baron, whilst also playing off the ardent affections of a foolish Count and a timid Marquis. The strong cast includes two returning singers: Siân Dicker and Samuel Pantcheff, with Rosalind Dobson, David Horton, Osian Wyn Bowen and Aidan Edwards making their company débuts. https://www.bamptonopera.org/eventfuturedetail.htm?event=770
The Gingerbread Man, Oxford Playhouse, August 2. An adventure with the deliciously smelling Gingerbread Man. Meet the bravest biscuit of all time as Stuff and Nonsense apply their usual brilliance with a mix of puppetry, live action, great music, humour and a stunning staging of this well-loved classic tale. 3+ https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/events/the-gingerbread-man
Sarah Wiseman Gallery, Summer Group Exhibition, until August 2, featuring Daniel Ablitt, Bee Bartlett, Dan Parry-Jones, Alison Pullen and Martha Winter. Each artist investigates landscape and nostalgia through painting, printmaking and mixed media, distant figures engaging with their surroundings in Daniel Ablitt and Dan Parry-Jones work, the sculpted abstraction of the sea and land in Bee Bartlett and Martha Winter’s seascapes, and the ethereal precision of Alison Pullen’s collaged interiors. https://www.wisegal.com/exhibitions/119-summer-show/
Jason Manford – A Manford All Seasons, July 31, New Theatre Oxford. Back with his brand-new live show, his latest comic offering is sure to deliver his well known brand of ‘expert observational comedy’. https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/jason-manford-a-manford-all-seasons/new-theatre-oxford/
FRONTLINE: A Ten-Year Retrospective of Ryan Hawaii Opens at Fusion Arts until July 5, a landmark exhibition showcasing the first early-career retrospective of London-based interdisciplinary artist Ryan Hawaii. Spanning over a decade, the exhibition brings together work across textiles, fashion, music, sketchbooks and painting to highlight Hawaii’s visionary approach to contemporary creativity and culture. It invites visitors to explore the ever-expanding universe of Hawaii’s work fusing Afro-Cuban, Jamaican, and British influences whilst navigating themes of spirituality, modernity, identity, and place. https://fusion-arts.org/whats-on/frontline-ryan-hawaii
Bonding: The Myth, Legend and Legacy of Bond, July 9, The Theatre Chipping Norton. Cyril Blake’s sell-out hit from the Edinburgh Fringe explores the myth, legend and legacy of Bond. Stephen has always wanted to be James Bond. He’s got a tux, a fancy watch and he shakes everything he drinks. But is this a good idea? Bond is a misogynist dinosaur, right? Journey through 60 years of Bond and 30 years of Stephen as we find out if he can fulfil his father’s idea of masculinity without becoming toxic. This sellout hit is directed by nine-time nominee and two-time OFFIE winner, Matthew Parker and stars Cyril Blake as Stephen. https://www.chippingnortontheatre.com/events/bonding
Wilderness Festival, July 31-August 3, Cornbury Park – hard to encapsulate, but expect a weekend of boundless escapism, daring adventures, joy, creativity, and the unexpected, via music, feasting and eccentricity alongside the likes of Basement Jaxx, Supergrass, Wet Leg, Air , Orbital, Aurora, Berlioz, Angela Hartnett Prue Leith, Rohit Ghai and Monica Galetti. https://www.wildernessfestival.com
Movements for Staying Alive, Modern Art Oxford until September 7. This group show explores movement as a means to learn, connect and foster a sense of community. Featuring three new site-specific commissions from Jane Castree, Estampa and Leap Then Look, as well as works by VALIE EXPORT, Ana Mendieta, Harold Offeh and Yvonne Rainer, amongst others, Movements for Staying Alive foregrounds and celebrates the vital movements of life. https://www.modernartoxford.org.uk/whats-on/movements-for-staying-alive
HENLEY FESTIVAL, July 9–13 . The UK’s only black-tie music and arts festival, brings a world-class music programme of pop, world, classical, folk and jazz set alongside stellar comedy and cabaret, stunning art galleries and sculpture installations, roving performers, as well as dining, drinks, dancing and jaw-dropping fireworks. Expect a stunning programme of world-class talent with headliners including Diana Ross, McFly, Rick Astley, Matteo Bocelli, Jamie Cullum and Haçienda Classical. www.henley-festival.co.uk
Treasured until October 26, Weston Library, Bodleian What makes a treasure? Is it age, rarity, beauty – or something else? Shining a light on the human stories behind some of the world’s most remarkable books and manuscripts in the Bodleian collections that shaped our intellectual heritage, and the hearts and minds of those who cherish them. The exhibition ranges from illuminated medieval texts to modern photography, including works by Jane Austen, Mary Shelley and JRR Tolkien. Free. Treasured
Calendar Girls, The Players Theatre, Thame, OX9 2DP, July 8-12. Thame Players bring the story of a group of friends who attend a Yorkshire Women’s Institute and are inspired by a personal tragedy to pose for a charity calendar with a difference. Tim Firth’s hilarious play is based on the true story of eleven WI members who posed nude for a calendar to raise money for the Leukaemia Research Fund. But as media interest snowballs, the Calendar Girls find themselves exposed in ways they’d never expected, revealing more than they’d ever planned. https://www.thameplayers.co.uk/events/calendar-girls
Saturday Night Comedy, Glee Club, Oxford throughout July – Treat yourself to an evening of award-winning comedy with four superb stand-up comedians popping up in stage every Saturday night that will keep you laughing until Monday, or book tickets to see Troy Kinne: Made Wrong on August 12 – as the Aussie comedian keeps you in stitches. 18+ https://www.glee.co.uk/oxford/comedy/
