Arts & Culture
Discover the best news and stories about art, music, theatre, film, entertainment, and cultural events in Oxford and across Oxfordshire.
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Stowe House calendar celebrates local photography and supports conservation
Stowe House has unveiled its 2026 calendar featuring winning photographs from its 2024 competition. Priced at £10, proceeds support vital conservation projects, while a special exhibition of the images will run from October 2025 to February 2026.
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DogFest returns to Blenheim Palace for an autumn extravaganza
DogFest returns to Blenheim Palace this October with pumpkins, Halloween fun, acoustic music, and plenty of tail-wagging activities. Oxfordshire’s ultimate autumn festival for families and their dogs promises seasonal magic in the palace grounds.
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WolvLitFest returns with Oxfordshire book launches and family workshops
WolvLitFest returns to Wolvercote on 18 October with a free day of books, workshops and talks. Partnering with Oxfordshire charity ARCh, the festival celebrates the joy of reading while showcasing local authors, illustrators and publishers.
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A ghastly time awaits as Oxford Ghost Tour returns for its fifth year
The Oxford Ghost Tour returns for its fifth year this Halloween, with chilling tales, eerie alleys, and family-friendly frights across three nights.
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O2 Academy Oxford to host Summer in Nashville’s Country Roadshow
Oxford welcomes a taste of Nashville this December as the Country Roadshow arrives at the O2 Academy. Expect tribute acts, line dancing, competitions, and more – with the first 100 guests receiving a free cowboy hat.
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Cotswold Farm Park’s Pumpkin Patch promises spooky trails and seasonal treats this Autumn
Cotswold Farm Park’s Pumpkin Patch returns this October with pumpkin picking, spooky trails, animal encounters and family fun, alongside evening events featuring live music and local food.
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Christ Church celebrates 500 years of music with landmark festival
Christ Church celebrates its 500th anniversary this autumn with a landmark music festival featuring concerts, recitals, and special events. Highlights include Haydn’s The Creation, Walton’s Façade, and performances by world-class ensembles and distinguished Christ Church alumni.
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Oxford Half marathon unveils new route with Mansfield Road start and finish
The Oxford Half marathon will introduce a redesigned route this year, featuring a Mansfield Road start and finish, extended loops in Summertown and Banbury Road, and new logistics aimed at easing congestion for runners, spectators, and Oxford businesses.
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Paddy Summerfield’s first photography retrospective opens at the Bodleian
The Bodleian Libraries will present The Camera Helps, a retrospective of photographer Paddy Summerfield from 11 October to 30 November 2025. The exhibition will highlight published and unseen works, capturing his deeply personal explorations of family, memory, and Oxford life.
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Leys Pools & Leisure Centre hosts free Splash and Play Weekend for families
Leys Pools & Leisure Centre is launching its first Splash and Play Weekend on 20 to 21 September, with free swimming, soft play, and family activities. The event is open to all, offering a chance to explore the centre’s facilities at no cost.
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Waterperry Opera Festival celebrates record-breaking season ahead of 2026 launch
Waterperry Opera Festival welcomed a record 7,700 audience members in 2025, with Don Giovanni and Semele setting new milestones. With over half of visitors new to Waterperry, the Festival looks ahead to announcing its 2026 programme this autumn.
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Flight Club to bring fire engine tour and prizes to Oxford this October
Flight Club’s 10th anniversary fire engine tour will stop in Oxford on 21 October, with giveaways in Westgate and a charity darts tournament in the evening. The event will support 21 charities, including Oxford’s Yellow Submarine.
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Oxford musician among nominees in Youth Music Awards 2025
Oxford musician Rebecca Tunley has been nominated for the Inspirational Music Leader award at the 2025 Youth Music Awards, recognising her dedication to supporting learning-disabled young people and grassroots music projects.
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Autumn magic and Halloween thrills at Sudeley Castle this October Half Term
Sudeley Castle is hosting a week of Halloween and autumn festivities, including a pumpkin trail, Tudor ghost stories, and a new Phantoms & Fireworks evening. Families are invited to explore the historic grounds and enjoy seasonal magic in the Cotswolds.
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Half term and Halloween adventures at National Trust in Bucks, Berks and Oxfordshire
This October half term, National Trust places across Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire are bringing autumn to life with Halloween adventures for all ages.
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Cliveden’s reimagined Long Garden celebrates past while embracing future
Cliveden’s historic Long Garden has been reimagined with climate-resilient planting, improved accessibility, and year-round biodiversity. The restoration honours designer Norah Lindsay’s 1930s vision while creating a sustainable, immersive space for visitors to enjoy for generations.