Oxford's Christmas Light Festival 2025 runs from 14-16 November with events, pop-ups, workshops and visual spectacles taking place all around the city.
The weekend is a special part of the city's cultural life marking the moment when the Christmas lights are switched on and our thoughts start to turn towards the festive period. Residents and visitors can enjoy the magnificent illuminations around the city, the pleasures of the traditional Christmas market in Broad Street and activities to join in for the whole family, in the city centre and close to where they live.
Creative organisations interested in being part of this seasonal celebration can register now. If you are planning an event or are inspired by the seasonal theme to create something for the public to share - perhaps with partners or community groups - you can contact events@oxford.gov.uk with your details to be included in this year's festival.
The Oxford Christmas Light Festival is a highlight of Oxford’s Christmas calendar. It offers an opportunity for communities and businesses to unite and create a magical display throughout the city. If you are a creative group or organisation interested in getting involved, then please get in touch.” Councillor Alex Hollingsworth, Cabinet member for Planning and Culture, Oxford City Council
Join the roster of leading cultural organisations that are making Oxford's Christmas Light Festival 2025 so special:
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Film Oxford - A creative arts charity that delivers projects in and with local communities, aiming to serve groups who are economically or socially disadvantaged or who are under-represented in the arts. Film Oxford will be working with Rose Hill Junior Youth Club and the Rose Hill and Iffley Low Carbon Group (RHILC) providing a day of activities inspired by ‘Brilliant Bugs’ celebrating British wildlife with a focus on insects. The evening will feature their signature lantern parade around Rose Hill.
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IF Oxford Science and Ideas Festival - A charity that works with hundreds of organisations and groups to capture interest in 'science and ideas' topics through educational projects and its annual festival that takes place every October. IF Oxford will be doing 'Glow Your Own', an online series of workshops to learn how to programme a simple robotic lantern and 'Glow Gallery', a playful exhibition of images of light made by the visitors, with Wolvercote Young Peoples Club, Storey Consulting, OVADA and Pegasus Theatre.
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Museum of Oxford - Based in the city's town hall, the Museum (MOX) has been sharing the amazing stories of the people who have lived and worked in Oxford for nearly 50 years. MOX offers talks, tours and workshops throughout the year and for the festival will be presenting a digital resource pack to create your own lantern inspired by an old-fashioned gas streetlamp that is part of the museum collection.
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The North Wall Arts Centre - An arts venue that supports visual and performance artists through residencies and mentorship, involves children, young people and families in its participation programme and shares inspiring theatre and exhibition shows with its wide-ranging audiences. The North Wall is creating a beautiful light trail, with theatre, music, craft and dance for the festival in Cutteslowe Park. The North Wall are working with Cutteslowe Community Centre, Cutteslowe Primary School, Cutteslowe Connected, Dancin' Oxford, St Michaels and All Angels Church, North Oxford Association and Sunnymead Minnows.
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Pegasus Theatre - An arts venue that creates and presents theatre for, by and with young people from diverse backgrounds. It regularly hosts productions from its young companies and the very best small-scale touring theatre as well as a range of drama and dance classes in partnership with Bristol School of Acting and their supported artists. Pegasus is joined by Wild Boor Ideas, WhatNot Theatre, T(Art) Productions and IF Oxford for a day of family fun and experiences at the theatre.
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The Covered Market - the world-famous city centre indoor market is home to over 50 independent specialist traders who play host to regular events from music and crafts to quizzes, talks and family workshops. The market is a regular stop for Santa during the Festival weekend, and he'll be on hand to help little ones write their Christmas wish letters.
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Oxford Bus Company - An award-winning service that operates a comprehensive network of bus routes in the city. Over half of their fleet is now fully electric making it one of the greenest bus companies in the UK. The fantastically decorated Christmas Light Bus will be visiting many locations around the city during the festival weekend, the first of several outings around the county in the weeks before Christmas.
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Victorian Christmas Market in Broad Street takes place throughout the weekend with live music, traditional artisan market stalls, delicious festive food, tasty refreshments and Victorian street entertainment.
The full programme will be published from October 2025 on www.oxlightfest.com
Oxford’s Christmas Light Festival
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Oxford's Christmas Light Festival
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Friday 14 - Sunday 16 November
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Locations across Oxford
The 2025 festival is delivered by a consortium of partners with Oxford City Council.
Oxford’s Christmas Light Festival has been held annually since 2009. Originally a one-day event it has, over the years, extended to a weekend involving more than 25 local cultural partners, more than 27,000 participants and giving 100,000 experiences to over 40,000 people. In 2020 the festival moved away from a mass gathering in the city centre to become centred in local communities and online with more involvement for residents, schools and community groups than ever before.
Oxford’s Christmas Light Festival has been funded by Oxford City Council with some events supported by Arts Council England.
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