Jesus & Exeter Turl Street college-ball party

Turl Street in central Oxford will close overnight on Saturday for a street party tied to a joint college ball hosted by Jesus and Exeter. (oxfordclarion.uk) The closure is scheduled from 6pm on Saturday, 25 April 2026, until 5am on Sunday, 26 April 2026, according to the Oxford Clarion’s 21 April newsletter. The event is described as a joint ball for the two neighboring colleges. (oxfordclarion.uk) Jesus College’s main address is on Turl Street, and Exeter College’s historic site is also on Turl Street, with its main entrance about 30 metres north of Brasenose Lane. That puts the party on one of Oxford’s narrowest and busiest central streets, between two long-established colleges. (jesus.ox.ac.uk) (exeter.ox.ac.uk) Exeter says it has occupied its Turl Street site since 1315, one year after the college was founded in 1314. Jesus College says it is located in the heart of historic Oxford on the same street. (exeter.ox.ac.uk) (jesus.ox.ac.uk) That makes the closure unusual less for its length than for its location: Turl Street sits beside the Bodleian Library, Radcliffe Square and some of the city centre’s busiest pedestrian routes. Exeter says its site is flanked by the Bodleian, the Sheldonian Theatre and the Museum of the History of Science. (exeter.ox.ac.uk) Oxford colleges regularly hold black-tie balls, but a street party between two neighboring Turl Street colleges turns a private student event into a temporary change to the public street outside. Exeter’s website shows a long history of college balls, including its 700th anniversary ball in 2014 and earlier annual events. (exeter.ox.ac.uk 1) (exeter.ox.ac.uk 2) For residents, visitors and late-night deliveries, the practical effect is simple: a central stretch of road will be unavailable for 11 hours overnight at the start of the weekend. The Oxford Clarion said more details were available in its 21 April 2026 edition. (oxfordclarion.uk)