The Oxford Literary Festival

Analysis

The Oxford Literary Festival is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Oxford. It was registered in March 2009, 17 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training and arts/culture/heritage/science, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 04339438). It says it other charitable activities.

In the financial year ending June 2025, The Oxford Literary Festival reported income of £849k and spending of £612k, leaving 28% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from June 2021 to June 2025, income grew from £29k to £849k (+2865%), an average of +133% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to June 2022, when income rose by 1368%. Over the whole period it spent 94% of the income it received.

Among 17,634 England and Wales charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, The Oxford Literary Festival sits at the 94th percentile: it is larger than about 94% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 93rd percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The Jewish Museum London (£848k), The Albany Theatre Trust (£849k) and Institute of Conservation (£847k).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 54% and charitable activities 46%. Charitable activities took 100% of spending and raising funds 0.0%. It employed 2 people.

Data notes from the register: The latest annual return was received after its deadline.