GTC Ball 2026
Friday 3 July 2026 to Saturday 4 July 2026Location: |
Green Templeton College |
Join us this summer for GTC’s biggest night of the year— The Nautilus Ball. Journey beneath the waves and explore college as it transforms into the fabled lost city of Atlantis. During your evening under the sea, you’ll enjoy a dazzling array of locally sourced gourmet food, irresistible signature cocktails, hours of live music, and a silent disco into the morning hours. Of course, so many more surprises await you in Atlantis—you’ll have to dive in to see for yourself.
Entering the Ball
Location: Guests will be admitted at the Green Templeton College front gate located at 43 Woodstock Road, OX2 6HG.
Start: Entry will begin at 19:00 on Friday 3 July with final admission at 21:30 sharp.
Guests who have not picked up their wristbands prior to the ball may collect their wristbands in the front courtyard next to the Lodge at GTC beginning at 6:30 PM to queue for 7 PM entry.
Early wristband pickup information is included later in this email.
End: The ball will end at 03:00 on Saturday 4 July .
Dress Code: Black Tie (creativity and dressing to the theme are encouraged!)
Your wristband is required for entry. Your wristband must remain on your wrist at all times during the ball. Loss or removal of your wristband could result in denial of entry or removal from the ball.
Upon entering the ball, there will be a brief security check including a bag search. Outside food and drinks (including alcohol) are not permitted at the ball.
Final admission is at 21:30. This is a strict cutoff, and no guests will be admitted to the ball after this time.
Entrance to the ball is final. After leaving the ball, guests are not permitted to re-enter.
Upon arrival, there will be two queues:
1. Guests with wristbands collected during early pickup: These guests will be fast-tracked and admitted following a security check.
2. Guests who need to collect a wristband: These guests will need to present (1) their OXEX ticket QR code and (2) a government-issued photo ID (Bod Cards will NOT be accepted). Guests will then be admitted following a security check.
Early Wristband Pickups
Early wristband pickups will be held at GTC in the front courtyard beside the Lodge. To ensure an expedited pickup process, all ticketholders should be ready to present (1) their OXEX ticket QR code and (2) a government-issued photo ID. National IDs, driver’s licenses, and passports will be accepted—Bod Cards will NOT be accepted.
The early wristband pickup slots are as follows:
1. Thursday 2 July from 11:00 to 13:00
2. Thursday 2 July from 15:30 to 17:00
3. Friday 3 July from 11:00 to 13:00
For security reasons, you may only pick up your own wristband. You cannot pick up wristbands for your guests, friends, partner, etc. When you pick up your wristband, a Ball Committee member will put the band on for you. You cannot take the wristband with you to put on later and you must not take the wristband off until you leave the ball. There will be no exceptions to these rules.
If you are unable to make it to an early pickup slot, you may pick up your wristband at the door beginning at 18:30 to queue for 19:00 admission. Wristbands will be available at the door until 21:30 (last admission).
Ball Map and Schedule
On Friday morning, an email including the site map as well as timings for music, entertainment, and dining will be sent to all ticketholders. The map will also be displayed around College, shared on our social media, and accessible via QR codes posted throughout the ball.
Reusable Cups
To reduce the amount of single-use plastic at the ball, reusable cups will be provided for guests. We ask our guests to please use these reusable cups at bars and vendors for alcohol, soft drinks, and water. There will be hydration stations throughout the ball where guests can rinse their cups between drinks. The hydration stations will be indicated on the ball map.
If you need a new cup for any reason, PLEASE DO NOT THROW AWAY YOUR REUSABLE CUP. There will be reusable cup return stations located throughout the ball where guests are welcome to swap old cups for new cups.
At the end of the night, all reusable cups should be returned to the cup return station at the exit gate. Please do not take your reusable cup with you when you leave the ball.
Health, Safety, and Welfare
Dietary Requirements: There will be a wide range of delicious food and drinks available at the ball, including multiple options for guests with the most common dietary requirements (vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, halal). All common allergens will be clearly indicated. However, if you have a severe or uncommon allergy you feel we should know about, please send an email to ball@gtc.ox.ac.uk.
Welfare and First-Aid: On the night of the ball, the Porter’s Lodge will be your first point of contact for any access, welfare, or first aid issues. The Lodge will be clearly indicated on the ball map.
Access: We are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all our guests. If you have any specific needs or conditions that require extra assistance in case of an emergency, please reach out to us at ball@gtc.ox.ac.uk. We understand that everyone’s situation is different, and we are here to help.
For the most up-to-date information and for easy access to the ball map on your phone, follow us on Instagram @gtcball2026.
What’s included in your ticket?
Entertainment
🎤 Garfunkel: A five-time GTC Ball headliner! Pop, funk, and soul covers
🎸 The Carnations: Indie classics + pop rock favourites
🎹 Oxford Keytones: Jazzy covers perfect for dancing
🎺 Rough Edge Brass Band: Classic, high-energy hits performed by a full band
🎧 DJs Until Late
Food and Drinks
Ali’s Kebab Truck 🚚
Experience the beloved Woodstock Road classic with late-night falafel, kebabs, chicken, and fries right at our doorstep.
Freshly Baked Pizzas 🍕
Made-to-order wood-fired pizzas that will delight your taste buds, featuring vegan and gluten-free options
Vaults & Garden Cafe 🥗
Savor the flavours of this Radcliffe Square institution with sustainable dishes including carnitas, lentil coconut curry, and flavourful spiced chicken.
Barbecue on the Quad 🍔
Freshly grilled hotdogs, beef burgers, and vegan burgers with all the toppings and salads you can eat!
Jessecco Crepes + Prosecco 🥂
Indulge in sweet crepes from this charming miniature horsebox, serving late into the night.
Churros + Chocolate Fountains 🍫
Treat yourself to a variety of sweets including a chocolate fountain, cakes, brownies, cookies, and more!
Late Night Mac + Cheese Bar 🧀
Back by popular demand, your choice of hot and cheesy standard or vegan mac with a wide variety of toppings, from pulled pork to jackfruit to bacon and more!
Survivors’ Breakfast 🥐
Celebrate making it until 3 AM with warm, sweet pastries and croissants.
Alc Au Lait Alcoholic Milkshakes 🥤
Enjoy indulgent dairy and non-dairy milkshakes spiked with Bailey’s, Kahlua, and more!
Signature Cocktails + Mocktails 🍸
Sip on delicious and creative cocktails mixed just for The Nautilus Ball, available at cocktail stations scattered throughout the ball.
Just In Time Coffee + Affogatos ☕
Stay energised with barista-made espresso drinks and affogatos all night long. Perfect for guests looking to survive until 3 AM!
Mixed Cocktails, Wine, + Beer @ Stables Bar + The Grotto Speakeasy 🍹
The amazing team at Stables will be with us all night, serving mixed cocktails and mocktails at our beloved College bar as well as a late-night speakeasy hidden somewhere inside college.
Activities
🎪 Full-Scale Carnival Rides
🔮 Tarot, Astrology, + Aura Readings in the Observatory Tower
🎧 Silent Disco until 3 AM
🎲 Vintage Casino
📸 Classic Photo Booth
🎈 Light-Up Balloon Art
🎯 Giant Garden Games
✨ Glitter Tattoos
🖌 Professional Henna Artist
🐬 Mermaid Beading
🎨 Live Drawing by GTC Artist-In-Residence Weimin He
Location
All guests will be admitted at the Green Templeton College front gate located at 43 Woodstock Road, OX2 6HG.
Dress Code
The dress code of this year’s ball is Black Tie.
Dietary Requirements
There will be a wide range of food available at the ball, including multiple options for guests with the most common dietary requirements (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal). All common allergens will be clearly indicated. However, if you have a severe or uncommon allergy you feel we should know about, please send an email to ball@gtc.ox.ac.uk.
