Reported by Hector Worsley and Guy Ward-Jackson
Cowley Road Carnival, one of Oxford’s most popular public events, will not take place in Summer 2022, organisers have announced. Its long-term future is also in question.
The Carnival, which has been running for over 20 years, usually attracts around 50,000 people. It is also widely acknowledged for its ability to unite Oxford’s diverse communities through music and dance, featuring performances by local community groups and artists.
Although the Carnival has not taken place since 2019 due to the pandemic, local groups hoped that the end of COVID-19 regulations would signal the its long-awaited reopening. For the past two years, the event has taken place ‘virtually’, but this will not be the case in 2022.
Cowley Road Works, the charity running the Carnival, has said it ‘is beginning a period of change’ and ‘will be taking the next few months to consider the future.’ In a statement, members of the CRW team wrote that they ‘wish to review why we exist, and who we exist for, to ensure a sharp focus on working with targeted groups within the context of shifting demographics in Oxford City.’