Best Christmas Carols and Concerts in Oxfordshire

James B Partridge’s The Big Christmas Assembly 2025 brings festive nostalgia and heartwarming joy to Aylesbury Waterside Theatre. Join the beloved singer and BBC favourite for a night of Christmas classics, singalongs, and childhood memories, celebrating music, community, and the magic of the season.

This winter, discover the magic of the festive season with The Christmas Orchestra, a unique concert experience touring the UK this Christmas. Experience uplifting nostalgia with compositions from your favourite Christmas films, as well as popular sing-along classics to ignite your festive spirit. The concert is performed live by a chamber orchestra supported by a full sound production and lighting show.

Handel’s Messiah lies at the very heart of Christmas musical festivities. The oratorio follows Christ’s life from the prophecies of the Old Testament through to his birth, passion and resurrection, and the final conquest of sin with the promise of eternal life. This concert continues the acclaimed collaboration between the Choir of The Queen’s College, Oxford and the world famous Academy of Ancient Music.

Join The Mulberry Bush for a very special carol service and enjoy a wonderful evening of champagne, canapés and carols in the splendour of St Barnabas Church, Jericho, Oxford. All the money from ticket sales, as well as the donations made, goes to The Mulberry Bush.

Kick off your Christmas season with a very special evening of favourite carols, including choral music performed by the world-class voices of the Oxford Bach Soloists. Join the wonderful actors Shaun Evans, Jason Isaacs, Toby Jones and Gugu Mbatha-Raw* for a festive collection of literary readings at this magnificent annual Christmas fundraiser that will take place in the splendour of Christ Church Cathedral.

*Please note, all performances are subject to change.

The Boys of Christ Church Cathedral Choir warmly welcomes those of all ages for a family-friendly, relaxed, fun and informal daytime celebration of the festive season at Christ Church Cathedral. The programme will be interspersed with audience carols, so make sure you come ready to sing and thoroughly immerse yourself in this seasonal treat for all the family.

Ring in the festive season with the City of Oxford Choir at the University Church of St Mary the Virgin. This uplifting Christmas celebration features beloved traditional carols, reflective seasonal music and exquisite contemporary works, creating an evening filled with warmth, joy and wonder.

The Oxford Bach Choir opens its season with Mozart’s Great Mass in C minor, thought to be written in celebration of the composer’s marriage to Constanze, and full of thrilling music for his new wife to sing. The work will be performed alongside the London Mozart Players, who will also perform Mozart’s Symphony No. 36 in C major,known as the Linz Symphony.

Join the Arcadian Singers and alumni for a special 50th anniversary Christmas concert featuring music by Byrd, Mendelssohn, Poulenc, Charpentier, Attwood, Beach, McDowall, Victoria, Finzi, and Rubbra, alongside traditional carols.

Commotio – Music for Advent and Christmas is a programme of seasonal music for Advent, primarily from the 20th and 21st centuries, from Oxford’s Contemporary Voice Choir.

Handel’s oratorio Messiah changed the landscape of vocal music in Britain and has provided a soundtrack to the festive period for the nearly three centuries since. Join Marios Papadopoulos and the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir for a Yuletide rendition of this rousing celebration of celestial joy and human togetherness.

This festive season, Candlelight®, the globally acclaimed series of live concerts presented by Fever, will transform The Sheldonian Theatre with thousands of flickering candles to host an unforgettable performance featuring classic Christmas carols and festive holiday melodies, performed by a talented local string quartet.

Seasonal choral music from the 20th Century, including Britten’s Ceremony of Carols with solo harpist Lucy Nolan, Poulenc’s Un Soir de neige and an array of Ave Maria settings. Along with audience carols Of the Father’s Heart, The First Nowell, O little town of Bethlehem and more.

The Cathedral Singers will sing a selection of Christmas music, including Benjamin Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols. Ralph Vaughan Williams – Fantasia on Christmas Carols, Carl Rütti – Three Carols, plus a range of Christmassy choral treats and carols for all to sing. Drinks will be served to audience members during the interval.

Music at Oxford’s famous annual celebration of Christmas music from the world-class choir, a popular mix of festive cheer and seasonal nostalgia with readings from the creators of theatre company Box Tale Soup, Antonia Christophers and Noel Byrne, and the chance for to join in with the audience carols under the expert direction of Steven Grahl.

Please be sure to select the correct date for your booking.

Orchestra of St John’s Handel’s Messiah at Dorchester Abbey is a seasonal classic performed by renowned soloists, backed by the full forces of the Orchestra of St John’s and the OSJ Voices. Join the Orchestra of St John’s and the OSJ Voices for a festive performance of Handel’s great oratorio, The Messiah.

The annual Lord Mayor of Oxford’s Christmas carol concert is a wonderful tradition, with people returning year after year to experience the sights of the building’s grand Main Hall at Christmas time. The programme will feature the usual array of festive Christmas carols, many of which will encourage the audience to join in.

Celebrate the festive season with Christmas – The Candlelight Concert. Enjoy live performances of classic carols like ‘White Christmas’ and ‘Winter Wonderland’ in a magical candlelit setting for the whole family. Prepare to be immersed in the holiday spirit as incredible singers and a live band deliver fresh, vibrant renditions of timeless seasonal favourites.

Step into G4’s world of vocal enchantment as they take you on an awe-inspiring musical journey – from traditional carols to sacred contemplations, classical classics and popular favourites, all the way to modern festive hits. G4’s extraordinary and unique vocal renditions will leave you with chills of delight and a heart full of Christmas spirit.

See in the New Year with Orchestra of St John’s at Dorchester Abbey with a selection of joyful overtures and dances eaturing Derek Paravicini and Ashleigh Turley on piano, with Poppy McGhee on violin. With Lydia Kavina theremin.