Oxford Pride 2025: parade route, dates and events

Oxford Pride is the university town’s annual LGBTQ+ celebration, dating back to its first “Pride Day” in 2003. In 2025, Oxford Pride will mark 22 years with a circus-themed festival “The Greatest Show” on June 7. The events have outgrown the city centre: the parade will march through downtown Oxford starting at 10:30 AM (gathering at Radcliffe Square) and then everyone will gather at South Park for a free festival.

Parade and Festival

According to press, Oxford Pride traditionally begins with a parade in the morning. In 2024 the parade route wound through central streets (Radcliffe Square → Broad Street → Cornmarket Street → Carfax → Queen Street, etc.) before arriving in Castle Street and Paradise Square gardens. The exact 2025 route will be announced by organizers, but it will similarly showcase Oxford’s historic core.

Thousands of participants, including students, local LGBTQ+ groups, church and union allies, march with banners and costumes. By noon the parade reaches South Park or the Castle Quarter, where stages and stalls are set up.

The Pride Festival in South Park runs into the evening. It features multiple music and dance stages (the main stage and a community stage), dozens of information and craft stalls, and food traders representing the city’s cuisines. Headline acts (drag queens, pop stars, DJs) perform throughout the day on the main stage.

In 2024, several “live stages” were reported along the route, and performances were broadcast on big screens, making the event accessible. Evening street parties and dancing in the park cap off the celebration. The festival is very family-friendly, with many children and strollers seen in the parade, plus activities for all ages.