A free community festival celebrating the culture, creativity and community spirit of Blackbird Leys and Greater Leys will return to Oxford this July.
At a glance
| Event | The Leys Festival 2026: One People, One Place |
| Where | Blackbird Leys Park, Oxford |
| When | Saturday 11 July 2026 |
| Time | 12pm to 7pm |
| Cost | Free entry, with no booking needed |
| Food | Main meals priced at £5 or under |
| Best for | Families, local residents, music fans, sports groups and anyone interested in community culture |
| More information | The Leys Festival website |
The Leys Festival will return to Blackbird Leys Park this summer with a full day of music, dance, sport, food, science, exhibitions and family activities.
The free festival, taking place on Saturday 11 July from 12pm to 7pm, is co-produced by residents of Blackbird Leys and Greater Leys with the Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities at the University of Oxford.
This year’s theme is One People, One Place, reflecting the organisers’ aim to celebrate the area’s cultural diversity, local talent and sense of belonging.
Organisers say more than 40 residents have helped plan the 2026 festival, which is expected to attract thousands of people from The Leys and across Oxfordshire.
A festival created by the community
The Leys Festival was revived in 2024 by local residents who wanted to tell a positive story about Blackbird Leys and Greater Leys.
Now in its third year, the event has grown into a major community celebration, with residents helping shape the programme, values and atmosphere of the day.
All activities will be free, and organisers have capped main meal prices at £5 or under so that cost is not a barrier to attending.
The 2026 festival is supported by MINI Plant Oxford, Oxford City Council, Activate Learning and Pride in Place.
Millie Khisa, Producer for Leys Festival 2026 community engagement, said: “The Leys Festival matters to me because it brings our whole community together in a joyful and meaningful way.
“It celebrates the many cultures and the different generations that make The Leys such a vibrant and resilient place to live.
“For our families, it’s a moment where everyone, from children to elders, feels seen, valued, and part of something bigger.”
Music, dance and spoken word
The festival will feature a packed music and performance programme, with local artists and community performers taking to the stage throughout the day.
Audiences can expect reggae, hip hop, spoken word, folk, Afrobeat, a Brazilian choir and East Timorese dance, alongside other music and dance from across the area.
Lionhaire will close the festival at 6pm.
The official festival programme also highlights a dance battle showcase, bringing together modern street styles such as hip hop, popping and breaking with swing dance styles including lindy hop, Charleston and vernacular jazz.
Affordable food from around the world
Food is one of the festival’s central features, with organisers placing a strong emphasis on affordability and cultural celebration.
Visitors will be able to try food from African, Caribbean, Malaysian, English and other traditions, with main meals priced at £5 or under.
The aim is not only to provide affordable food, but also to give residents a way to share stories, recipes and heritage through the dishes they serve.
Junior Bake-Off returns
The Leys Junior Bake-Off will return for young bakers aged eight to 18.
Young people from Blackbird Leys and Greater Leys will have the chance to show off their baking skills, with judging due to take place at the festival.
The festival’s official links say the bake-off activity is connected with City Farm Kitchen, giving young participants a chance to develop their skills before the public celebration.
Family activities, science and creativity
Families will find a wide range of free activities across the park.
Children and young people will be able to make carnival masks, create festival blackbirds, contribute to a graffiti wall, take part in craft activities and enjoy traditional games.
There will also be bouncy castles, spacehoppers, a cardboard city, face-painting and interactive science activities.
Visitors can learn about subjects including particle physics, chemistry and astronomy, with scientists and community groups helping make complex ideas accessible and fun.
MINI Plant Oxford will also return with classic Minis and current MINI models, adding a local automotive link to the day.
Sport across the park
Sport will be a major part of the festival programme.
Local football team the Blackbirds will run a tournament for young players, and there will be taster sessions in football, rugby, basketball and cricket.
Oxford City FC, Littlemore Rugby Club, The Hoops and Leys Cricket Club are among the groups listed in the festival programme.
This year, Leys Cricket Club will offer beginner sessions in the cricket nets and accessible walking cricket, opening the sport to people who may not have played before.
Bridges, Windrush stories and Leys icons
The 2026 programme will also include exhibitions and community history.
The Bridges project celebrates the area’s determination to build links across cultural, political and generational divides. Local schools have decorated specially commissioned Leys Festival bridges, sponsored by Activate Learning at The Leys College.
An exhibition tent supported by Peabody Community Trust will feature two exhibitions. One will celebrate nurses and healthcare professionals of the Windrush generation, while another will include a listening station with the voices of people who have made a significant contribution to the community or broken down barriers for the next generation.
The exhibitions are intended to help residents share stories about the people, histories and achievements that define The Leys.
New for 2026: Chill Zone and Big Bubble Rising
For the first time, the festival will include a quieter space called The Chill Zone.
The area will offer beanbags, benches and headsets for visitors who want to enjoy the day in a calmer way. It will include laid-back music, spoken word, dance, yoga and other workshops.
The festival will also feature The Big Bubble Rising, a large festival-wide bubble release sponsored by Pride in Place.
University partnership
The Leys Festival is being co-produced with the Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities at the University of Oxford, through the university’s cultural programme.
Professor Alexander Betts, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for External Engagement, Sport and Community at the University of Oxford, said the university was proud of its collaboration with residents across Blackbird Leys and Greater Leys.
He said: “We are deeply proud of our long-term collaboration with the incredible community across Blackbird Leys and Greater Leys and have learned so much from our work together over the last few years.
“The Leys Festival is a joyous day, which captures so much of what our new Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities represents, in terms of celebrating what it means to be human in this complex world.
“We hope people from across the community, including colleagues and students from the University, will join us on 11 July in Blackbird Leys Park.”
MINI Plant Oxford backs the festival
MINI Plant Oxford is also supporting the 2026 festival.
Kimberley Ragousis, Corporate Communications Manager at BMW Group, said: “MINI Plant Oxford has been part of the local community for 113 years, and we’re proud to support an event that celebrates the community, energy and passion that make this area so special.
“Last year’s festival was a great success, and it is fantastic to see it so well supported by the local community once again.”
Getting to Blackbird Leys Park
Blackbird Leys Park is a 9-hectare green space in the middle of the Blackbird Leys estate, next to Leys Pools and Leisure Centre.
Oxford City Council says the park is easily accessible on foot and by bike from surrounding residential streets.
Regular bus services also serve the park, including Oxford Bus Company route 5 and Stagecoach routes 1 and 12, with the nearest bus stop around a minute’s walk away.
For visitors arriving by car, there are car parks off Cuddesdon Way and next to Leys Pools and Leisure Centre off Pegasus Road, although people attending a large community event should allow extra time and consider walking, cycling or using public transport where possible.
Festival highlights
| Music | Reggae, hip hop, spoken word, folk, Afrobeat, choir, dance and Lionhaire closing the festival. |
| Food | African, Caribbean, Malaysian, English and other food traditions, with main meals at £5 or under. |
| Sport | Football, rugby, basketball, cricket, walking cricket and sports taster sessions. |
| Family fun | Crafts, masks, festival blackbirds, face-painting, inflatables, traditional games and interactive activities. |
| Science | Hands-on activities exploring astronomy, chemistry, particle physics and more. |
| Exhibitions | Windrush healthcare stories, Leys icons and community listening stations. |
| New for 2026 | The Chill Zone and The Big Bubble Rising. |
Why it matters locally
The Leys Festival arrives at a significant moment for the area.
Greater Leys has been chosen for the Government’s Pride in Place programme, which Oxford City Council says will bring up to £20 million of funding and support over 10 years to help residents shape improvements they want to see locally.
Against that backdrop, the festival gives residents a visible way to celebrate the strengths of Blackbird Leys and Greater Leys: creativity, resilience, food, sport, family life, youth talent and community leadership.
It also helps challenge outside perceptions of The Leys by putting local voices, local artists and local organisers at the centre of the story.
How to find out more
More information about the festival is available through leys-festival.com and the festival’s social media channels at @theleysfestival.
Press enquiries can be directed to Creative Lead Erica Whyman by emailing theleysfestival@gmail.com.
FAQs
When is The Leys Festival 2026?
The Leys Festival takes place on Saturday 11 July 2026, from 12pm to 7pm.
Where is The Leys Festival?
The festival is held at Blackbird Leys Park in Oxford.
Is The Leys Festival free?
Yes. Entry is free and no booking is needed. The festival says all activities are free, with main meals priced at £5 or under.
Who organises the festival?
The festival is co-produced by residents of Blackbird Leys and Greater Leys with the Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities at the University of Oxford.
Is the festival suitable for children?
Yes. The event is suitable for all ages and includes family activities, sports, crafts, food, music and science activities.
What food will be available?
Organisers say food will represent a range of cultures from The Leys, including African, Caribbean, Malaysian and English traditions, with main meals priced at £5 or under.
Can people still get involved?
The festival website invites people to get in touch if they want to volunteer, host a stall or run an activity. Details are available at leys-festival.com.
