May Week and May Balls
May Week is Cambridge's end-of-year celebration: a week of parties, concerts and riverside gatherings after the examinations finish. The balls that anchor it are all-night black-tie events in College courts and gardens, with music running to breakfast.
In practice
The name is a leftover: the balls and other celebrations moved from May to June in 1882, and they still take place after examinations, but the old name stuck. The classic May Ball is a formal overnight black-tie affair, while cheaper alternatives have grown alongside it: June Events with lower prices and simpler dress codes, plus garden parties at several Colleges. Dates, prices and line-ups change yearly and sell out fast, so treat any specific figures from past years as history, not booking advice.
Why it matters to newcomers
May Week changes the rhythm of the city centre for a few days in June, with events running late into the night. If you live near a College, find out which night its ball runs. If you are offered a ticket, check the price, dress code and finishing time first: a ball is a long night, not an evening out.
Related
- Formal hall - the everyday version of College ceremony
- College - the institutions whose courts host the balls
- Cambridge cultural weekend guide
Sources: May Ball; The rise of the June Event, Varsity.