The Ultimate Ball Guide for Trinity Term 2023

Michaelmas and Hilary are behind us, but we’ve still got one more term left of the year. It’s not all over yet, and there are no less than a dozen balls upcoming. Let’s dive into them.

Starting off early in -1st week for those in Oxford over the vac, Wolfson College is hosting a spring ball on Saturday 15th April, themed The Garden of Earthly Delights. The post-grads clearly know how to party, and it promises a blissful land where anything is possible, all the way until 4am in the morning. As of the time of writing, college and guest tickets are available on OXEX.

Next, we have Harris Manchester College’s Moulin Rouge themed Summer Party on Friday 21st April in 0th week. With an outdoor jazz performance and macaron towers, what’s not to love? Though early bird tickets have flown away, there are still tickets available on OXEX for college members, alumni and general release.

With collections done and 1st week firmly underway, Saturday 29th April brings us not only St Hilda’s College Ball but the New College Boat Party. Whether you’re more comfortable on the water with New’s Speak Easy Party Hard event, or tearing down the dance floor at St Hilda’s’ Moonshine ball, we’re sure you’ll have a great time. All tickets have been swept up and it sounds like preparations are well underway.

As we say au revoir to speakeasies and hello to the roaring 1920s of Paris, the Balliol College Commemoration Ball Les Années Folles promises to deliver a week later in 2nd week on Saturday 6th May. Tickets are all gone, but we’re looking forward to seeing the marvellous delights on offer as many months of planning culminate.

4th week brings us the Arab Society’s 1001 Nights ball on Monday 15th May at the Oxford Museum of Natural History. With tickets still available on OXEX, come to celebrate Middle Eastern and North African culture in black tie or traditional finery.

Another one at the Natural History Museum, the PPHs are back again in 6th week following a successful inaugural ball last year. They’ll be dancing with the dinosaurs on Saturday 3rd June, and tickets are coming out this Monday at noon.

Making a defiant stand on the last day of 7th week, Regent’s Park College is putting on its annual ball on Saturday 10th June: the Final Fling. This time round it’s themed Celestial Bodies and we’re excited to see what they’ll be putting on. After this, there’s a much-needed break as thousands of Oxford students file into Examination schools with white ties and flowers. But don’t put away the white bow ties just yet, because there’s more to come before the summer.

Wrapping up the year with a bang, we have no fewer than four balls coming up in 9th week, and they’re all big ones. Commemoration balls like these are known for their lavish festivities, luxurious settings, and fiery finishes to a long Oxford year. Normally commemoration balls are held every 3 years, but due to Covid the excitement has had to build for longer. It’ll be the first ball in 5 years for Oriel College, 6 for Worcester and John’s and a whopping 7 years since the last Magdalen Commemoration Ball in 2016.

On the Friday 23rd June, Oriel and Worcester kick off with Avalon and Gardens of Light themed balls respectively. Immediately after we have Magdalen and St John’s coming in on the Saturday 24th, themed Through the Wardrobe and Ethereal Illusions.

Sadly, if you’re looking to snag a ticket to the 9th week commemoration balls they’ve pretty much all sold out by now, but if you’re an Oriel student you can still grab a ticket on OXEX. For those who’ve got their tickets already, it’s looking to be a jam-packed end of the year to remember.

For a full list of upcoming balls and to purchase tickets, checkout the OXEX guide here.