The Bodleian Libraries is hosting a free public display called Dancing with Jane Austen at the Weston Library in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The exhibit is a central part of the FT Weekend Oxford Literary Festival; Blackwell Hall at the Weston Library will serve as the festival hub during the festival (March 21–29, 2026). The display celebrates the 250th anniversary of the writer’s birth and explores how social dancing was used in her famous stories.
Visitors to Blackwell Hall on Broad Street can see a reconstruction of Austen’s Chawton writing space, including a replica of the small walnut tripod table associated with her writing. The exhibition also features rare items from the library collections, including the autograph manuscript Volume the First. This project was created in partnership with Jane Austen’s House to show the public how the author lived and worked.
The exhibition aims to bring more visitors to the city centre to support local shops and businesses on Broad Street. It provides an easy way for families and students to enjoy local culture without having to buy a ticket for the main festival events. The display is currently open to the public and will stay at the library until April 12, 2026.
