What events are happening in Oxford for 2026?
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Things to do in Oxfordshire 2026: our top picks
From stately palaces and wildflower shows to festivals in farm fields, Oxfordshire packs a year’s worth of days out into one very green county.
Whether you’re planning a family weekend or a full summer trip, here’s a hand-picked guide to the headline events and unmissable attractions in Oxfordshire for 2026 – plus a shortlist of excellent campsites at the end (all findable via the free Out & About Live Campsite Finder).
Macaulay Nichol Content Editor: Caravans
Macaulay Nichol Content Editor: Caravans
Blenheim Palace events 2026
Blenheim Palace, Woodstock
In 2026 one of England’s grandest palaces is set for another season of eccentric days out on both the South Lawn and through its Capability Brown parkland.
Fun fact: Blenheim Palace is the only non-royal and non-episcopal palace in the UK
The Churchill connection
Here’s something you might not know, legendary wartime Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill, was actually born in Blenheim Palace in 1874. He was the son of Lord Randolph Churchill, whose father was the seventh Duke of Marlborough. Churchill also proposed to his future wife, Clementine, in the palace gardens – and with its beautiful scenery, I can see why he chose this spot.
The Jousting Tournament, 2026
- Friday 3 – Monday 6 April, 2026
Expect armour, banners and plenty of chivalry as costumed jousters charge with full medieval gear against that infamous palace backdrop.
Easter half-term at Blenheim, 2026
- Throughout Easter half-term, 2026
Trail through the palace gardens – where Churchill once proposed – and hunt for easter eggs, take part in family activities and get lost in between the extensive maze and the tropical butterfly house.
Giffords Circus, 2026
- Thursday 7 May – Monday 18 May, 2026
A classic Cotswolds tradition, the circus: horses, live musicians and bombastic clowns inside a vintage big top circus, shaded by the ancient trees of Blenheim.
The Blenheim Palace Flower Show, 2026
- Friday 19 – Sunday 21 June, 2026
Designers, growers and a chariot of colours fill the palace, where across the show gardens you can find talks, shopping and plenty of family workshops to take part in.
Oxfordshire’s wildlife, museums and stately homes
Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens, Burford
Cotswold Wildlife Park was once a stately countryside estate, but since 1970 the house transitioned into an animal park, where rhinos sit in front of the manor and lemurs can be seen on a walk through a “Madagascar” styled enclosure.
The 160-acre grounds are just as appealing as the 260+ species, but before you visit, keep an eye out for the daily events calendar, where you can attend several family-fun activities like penguin feeding and an adventure playground. You can even board a train which tracks across the entire park.
Oxford University Museum of Natural History
A glass-roofed, neo-Gothic cathedral to science filled with dinosaurs, the famous Oxford Dodo and cabinets of geological wonders.
Through the back is the Pitt Rivers: world culture, charms, masks and the sort of displays that spark hour-long detours. With free entry, it’s a must-visit.
Fun fact: This Oxford museum has been host to several major productions, such as a deleted scene for the superhero film Eternals, Transformers: The Last Night, His Dark Materials, Endeavour, Walking with Dinosaurs and many more
Greys Court (National Trust), Rotherfield Greys
A scenic Tudor house in the Chiltern Hills with a patchwork of walled gardens, a medieval tower and one of the most fascinating wisteria displays in England.
With quiet paths, perfect picnic spots and interiors which still feel like a family home, Greys Court makes an amazing day out in Oxfordshire.
Fun fact: If you're familiar with the Domesday Book of 1066, essentially a complete list of land ownership, wealth and habitants across England (commissioned by William the Conqueror), which would later lay the foundations for the introduction of tax across England – and what would become the UK, well, Greys Court was featured within this book, then owned by the de Grey family. This means that Greys Court dates all the way back to 1066.
Oxfordshire 2026 festivals
Truck Festival, Steventon
- 23 – 26 July, 2026
Billed as the "UK's most warped village fête", Tuck Festival mixes big headliners with local artists. With large firework displays, late-night dances at Palm City, child-friendly workshops and a dedicated live-in vehicle campsite with 16A hook-ups for caravans and motorhomes, it's a festival that will be the icing on the cake to any trip to Oxfordshire in 2026.
Stages to watch out for: Truck (main), Market (turns into Palm City after hours), The Nest (loud), The Rockin’ Chair (live music), This Feeling and V&V (electric bands and BBC Radio Oxford)
Wilderness, Cornbury Park
- 30 July – 2 August, 2026
Four days where music, food and the arts meet some of Oxfordshire's most picturesque lakes and woodlands. Except across these days the area is transformed into a party filled festival, with talks, comedy, features from star chefs, wild swimming and a dedicated sanctuary for wellness.
Campsites also include a live-in vehicle pass for tourers and motorhomes, alongside general – and quieter – family options.
Taking the next step for families: Wilderness is known for being a family-friendly event and even offers a dedicated nanny service on-site, plus a quieter family camping area.
Shopping in Oxfordshire 2026
Bicester Village
Bicester Village is an open avenue of 150+ designer shops, filled to the brim with big name restaurants, high-valued clothing manufactures and a wealth of luxury jewellery and accessories.
It's not your typically Oxfordshire rural retreat, or castle day out, but if you are keen to freshen up your wardrobe, spend your birthday money, or just treat yourself and your family then Bicester Village is a great to do that.
A tourist hotspot: Bicester Village has an extremely large tourism base, with around 60% of its visitors coming from outside of the UK, making it a significant contributor to tourism across Oxfordshire.
The top three campsites in Oxfordshire, 2026
Lincoln Farm Park (Oxfordshire) – High Street, Standlake, Oxfordshire OX29 7RH
A multi-award-winning campsite with 77 hardstandings (34 fully serviced), two heated indoor pools, spa/steam rooms, a small gym and a well-stocked shop on the campsite.
Additional features include amenity blocks with private showers, family rooms and accessible facilities. For local transport: buses stop outside for Witney, Abingdon and onto Oxford, all being just a short drive away.
Swiss Farm Touring and Camping – Marlow Road, Henley-On-Thames, Oxfordshire RG9 2HY
Swiss Farm is a well landscaped, five-star park located just 10 minutes away from Henley's bridges, cafés and scenic riverside.
When there, expect a seasonal outdoor pool, nearby fishing lakes, two play areas, EV charging (for those with electric cars), bar/restaurant and a shop on the campsite.
Swiss Farm makes a great base for the Thames Path miles, Chiltern lanes and close day trips to Windsor, or even London – if you fancy boarding a train.
Hurley Riverside Park – Hurley, Berkshire, South East SL6 5NE
A family-run campsite beside the Thames with four sheltered touring and camping fields, 10-16A, fully services pitches, heated facilties, family rooms, a nature trail and a riverside picnic area. EV charging is also available on the campsite.
Whilst there, you can visit the nearby Oxfordshire area, or perhaps take a detour, adventuring to Legoland, which only 11 miles away.
Top places to stay in Oxfordshire, 2026
FAQs
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when is the best time to visit Blenheim Palace events in 2026?
Spring for Easter family fun; midsummer for the Flower Show; April for the jousting show.
Check release dates and book ahead.
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Can I take a caravan or motorhome to Truck Festival or Wilderness?
Yes. Both offer live-in vehicle camping; Truck also offers 16A electric hook-ups in the campervan/caravan field. Passes are limited – secure your tickets early.
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What’s a good day plan with kids?
Start at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History (home to tonnes of dinosaurs), walk across the Pitt Rivers, then treat them at the Oxford Covered Market. Towards the evening, you can finish with the Cotswold Wildlife Park and aboard the park's railway loop.
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Are there easy riverside walks near the campsites?
Yes. Swiss Farm and Hurley Riverside are on/near the Thames Path; Lincoln Farm has gentle village loops and bus links to river towns.
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Did Winston Churchill own Blenheim Palace?
In short, no. Winston Churchill did not own Blenheim Palace. The palace was built as a gift to his ancestor, John Churchill, the first Duke of Marlborough and has remained in the Spencer-Churchill family ever since.
Although Winston Churchill was born there and spent time at the palace, it has never been his personal property. The current ownership lies with the Spencer-Churchill family, who – still to this day – lease the land from the Crown.
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