The origin of Carnival in Oxford lie in the Caribbean Carnival in 1986.

Typically attended by around 50,000 people, including a third of the city’s population, the Cowly Road Carnival pulsates with rhythm, colour, performance, dance, art, creativity and most of all, full on joie de vivre as the East Oxford community comes together in celebration on the first Sunday in July.

The day brings together all the disparate groups and individuals from the many different ethnicities, heritage, and roots in one huge inclusively day packed with things to do, to watch and to enjoy.