The Haunted House, Christ Church, Oxford
2 June and 3 June
This June, undergraduate theatre company Turtle Theatre Productions brings The Haunted House to life – a new comedy-mystery by Louise Guy involving suspicious neighbours, a possibly haunted property and gothic chaos that's tailor-made for an Oxford summer evening. Performances take place on 2 and 3 June within Christ Church's atmospheric grounds, adding an extra layer of drama to proceedings. Tickets are pleasingly inexpensive too, making this one of the more charming cultural outings of the month. Who knows, you might even clap eyes on star of the future.
Jimmy Carr At The New Theatre, Oxford
June 5
If your comedy tastes run towards the quickfire and unapologetically biting, book quickly for Jimmy Carr's latest Oxford date. The Last One Laughing comedian brings his new tour Laughs Funny to the New Theatre Oxford this June, promising ninety minutes of trademark one-liners, audience interaction and jokes that should probably come with a fairly robust warning label attached.
Merry Wives Of Windsor, Unicorn Theatre, Abingdon
June 13
Shakespeare gets a local twist this summer as The Merry Wives of Windsor: Abingdon Edition arrives in town. Performed outdoors beside the Abbey Buildings, this playful reworking of the Bard's comedy relocates the action to Abingdon itself, with familiar local references woven into the tale of mischief, matchmaking and the spectacular humiliation of Sir John Falstaff. Bring a blanket, settle in with a drink and revel in the knowing laughs from the local crowd.
A Thousand Days of Awkwardness, Old Fire Station, Oxford
14 June
Expect glorious social awkwardness, improvised chaos and second-hand embarrassment aplenty at this sharply funny night at Oxford's Old Fire Station. A Thousand Days of Awkwardness sees local improv troupe The Awkward Actors spin audience suggestions into entirely unrehearsed comedy, with every painfully familiar interaction – bad dates, cringeworthy encounters, conversational disasters – fair game.
Richard Ayoade At The New Theatre, Oxford
June 19
This June, the BAFTA-winning actor, writer and perpetual cult hero brings Afterthoughts to Oxford's New Theatre – a live version of his latest book, Afterthoughts, or Some Pistachios Won't Open: Wisdom for the Unreflective. You'll be in for a night of gloriously pedantic observations, deadpan philosophising and the sort of dry intellectual silliness that has earned Ayoade a fiercely devoted following ever since The IT Crowd.
The Marquise, Oxford Playhouse, Oxford
9 – 13 June
Noël Coward's deliciously sharp comedy The Marquise arrives at Oxford Playhouse this June in a glamorous new 1930s-set production. Starring Juliet Aubrey, Simon Shepherd and Tristan Gemmill, the play follows a tangle of romantic schemes, old flames and aristocratic chaos, all delivered with Coward's trademark wit and sophistication. We'll be there for the champagne-dry dialogue and art deco glamour.
Venus & Adonis, Oxford Playhouse, Oxford
17 – 20 June
One of Shakespeare's most sensual and strange works is brought vividly to life at Oxford Playhouse this June in Sir Greg Doran's acclaimed production of Venus & Adonis. Narrated live by the extraordinary Simon Russell Beale and performed with intricate puppetry inspired by Japanese Bunraku theatre, the production transforms the Bard's narrative poem into something immersive and eerie. Live music, shadow puppets and Jacobean – what more could you want from a retelling of the doomed obsession between Venus and the beautiful Adonis? A rare chance to see one of Britain's great Shakespeareans at close quarters – and a magical choice for a midsummer evening.
Rare Plant Fair at Waterperry Gardens
7 June
Gardeners with a weakness for unusual plants should clear their diaries for Waterperry Gardens' annual Rare Plant Fair this June. Set within the famously beautiful ornamental gardens near Wheatley, the fair gathers together specialist growers and independent nurseries from across the country, offering everything from rare perennials and alpines to salvias, woodland plants and hard-to-find specimens you absolutely did not intend to buy when you arrived. The fact that entry also includes access to Waterperry's glorious gardens – herbaceous borders, rose gardens, waterlily canal and all – only adds to the temptation.
Handmade Oxford at Waterperry Gardens
12 – 14 June
If you emerged from Waterperry already mentally redesigning your own garden, what's stopping you from heading straight back for Handmade Oxford? Returning this June, the much-loved contemporary craft festival transforms the gardens into a sprawling celebration of British makers, with ceramicists, jewellers, textile artists, furniture designers and artisan food producers all gathered within the grounds. Refreshingly uncorporate, it strikes that sweet spot between country fair and design festival – perfect for interiors obsessives, craft lovers and anyone who enjoys wandering around beautiful gardens with a very good coffee in hand.
FloFest
June 20
Oxford's loveliest grassroots festival returns to Florence Park this June, bringing with it the sort of community-minded summer atmosphere that larger festivals spend millions trying to manufacture. FloFest – entirely volunteer-run and proudly local – combines live music, food stalls, workshops, dog shows, children's activities and community performances with a genuinely warm neighbourhood feel. Then, as evening falls, things shift into GloFest mode: DJs, live bands, lasers and dancing beneath the trees. It is gloriously unpretentious, cheerfully eclectic and one of the clearest reminders that Oxford's creative scene extends well beyond college walls. The fact that FloFest remains largely free only makes it more impressive.
Giffords Circus At Stonor Park
June 25 – 6 July
There are circuses, and then there is Giffords Circus – the glorious travelling spectacle that has become something close to an English summer institution. This year, the circus pitches its striped tent at Stonor Park with a brand-new show, Waterfield, described as a celebration of the English countryside complete with daring acrobatics and the theatrical romance Giffords does so well. It remains one of the most magical family outings of the season – nostalgic in the very best sense. Arrive early for wood-fired pizza, wandering peacocks and a drink in the evening sun before the show begins.
Blenheim Palace Festival
27 June – 4 July
Taking place across late June and early July within the palace's vast Great Court, the inaugural Blenheim Palace Festival brings a punchy line-up to Woodstock: Katy Perry, Alanis Morissette, Michael Bublé, Teddy Swims and Pete Tong's Ibiza Classics are all set to perform against one of Britain's grandest backdrops. Picnic hampers and champagne – what's not to love?
Oxford Pride
6 June
Oxford's streets will turn gloriously rainbow-hued once again this June as Oxford Pride returns for a city-wide celebration of LGBTQ+ community, visibility and joy. This year's event marks something of a return to roots, with organisers shifting the focus away from giant festival infrastructure and back towards local venues, community connection and the parade itself. There will be marching bands, banners and thousands gathering as the parade winds through the historic city centre before a programme of performances, talks, parties and events across Oxford's pubs, arts spaces and cultural venues.
Kira Freije in Conversation with Jennifer Higgie, Modern Art Oxford
13 June
Art, performance and collective storytelling come together at Modern Art Oxford this June with Un/Speak The Chorus, a live conversation between writer and critic Jennifer Higgie and artist Kira Freije. Part of Freije's wider exhibition programme, the event explores voice, performance, mythmaking and the idea of the chorus – both in art and in society – through discussion, readings and audience interaction.
Forest Bathing at Harcourt Arboretum
28 June
Oxford Botanic Garden's upcoming Forest Bathing session makes for the ideal early summer reset. Taking place at Harcourt Arboretum, the four-hour experience draws on the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku – mindful immersion in nature through slow walking, meditation, gentle yoga and quiet contemplation beneath the trees. There are invitations to pause and properly notice the landscape rather than simply rush through it, all within one of Oxfordshire's most beautiful green spaces.
Wonder of Birds at Weston Library
Until January 2027
Bird lovers should make a beeline for the Bodleian Libraries this summer. The Wonder of Birds explores humanity's enduring fascination with birds through rare manuscripts, scientific illustrations, art, literature and natural history treasures drawn from the Bodleian's extraordinary collections. Scholarly and deeply beautiful.
What's On In Oxford & Oxfordshire In June 2026
What are the biggest events happening in Oxfordshire in June 2026?
Highlights include the inaugural Blenheim Palace Festival, Giffords Circus at Stonor Park, Oxford Pride, Handmade Oxford and performances from Jimmy Carr and Richard Ayoade at the New Theatre Oxford.
Are there family-friendly events in Oxfordshire this June?
Yes — Giffords Circus, FloFest, the Rare Plant Fair at Waterperry Gardens and many outdoor theatre events are ideal for families.
What outdoor events are happening in Oxfordshire in June?
Open-air highlights include The Merry Wives of Windsor in Abingdon, Giffords Circus at Stonor Park, FloFest in Florence Park and Forest Bathing at Harcourt Arboretum.
Which Oxfordshire events are good for art and culture lovers?
Do not miss The Wonder of Birds at the Weston Library, In Bloom at the Ashmolean, and Jennifer Higgie in conversation with Kira Freije at Modern Art Oxford.
Are there any garden or craft events in Oxfordshire in June 2026?
Yes — the Rare Plant Fair and Handmade Oxford at Waterperry Gardens are two of the county's standout events for gardeners, makers and interiors enthusiasts alike.
What comedy shows are coming to Oxford in June 2026?
Jimmy Carr brings his new tour Laughs Funny to the New Theatre Oxford, while Richard Ayoade appears with Afterthoughts. There is also improvised comedy at the Old Fire Station with A Thousand Days of Awkwardness.
Is Oxford Pride happening in 2026?
Yes — Oxford Pride takes place on 6 June 2026 with a city-centre parade and a programme of performances, talks and celebrations across Oxford.
What are the best things to do in Oxfordshire in summer?
Outdoor theatre, stately home concerts, garden festivals, exhibitions, craft fairs and countryside events make June one of the county's liveliest months for culture and days out.
