The Oxford Union

The Oxford Union linktr.ee/theoxfordunionsociety
www.oxford-union.org

The Oxford Union is the world's most prestigious speaker and debating society, with an unparalleled reputation for bringing international guests and speakers to Oxford. It has been established since 1823 and aims to promote debate and discussion not just in Oxford University, but across the globe. In the past few years alone, the Oxford Union has hosted Morgan Freeman, Dame Judi Dench, Sir Ian McK

ellen, Natalie Portman, Johnny Depp, Stephen Fry, Anna Wintour, Buzz Aldrin, Michael Jackson, Shakira, Senator John McCain, General David Petraeus, Malala Yousafzai, Sepp Blatter and David Cameron, to name but a few. There is nowhere else in the world where students can dine with heads of state, grill them in debate, and then have a drink with them afterwards. Visit our website on www.oxford-union.org which contains information about our Members' Bar (the cheapest bar in Oxford), our own nightclub (free entry to Members), our Library, speakers and debates.

Trinity Term Special Debate: This House Believes That AI Can Attain Personhood | Saturday 13th June, 8:30pmWhat does it ...
08/06/2026

Trinity Term Special Debate: This House Believes That AI Can Attain Personhood | Saturday 13th June, 8:30pm

What does it mean to be a person? Since Descartes declared cogito ergo sum, thinkers have wrestled with the boundary between mind, consciousness and moral worth. Today, generative AI reopens that question with new urgency. These systems can produce poetry, reasoned argument and eerily human conversation, leading some to argue that personhood need not be uniquely biological. Others maintain that fluency is not consciousness, and that no artificial system, however convincing, can possess the inner life, subjective experience or moral agency that personhood demands.

Please note: Non-members are welcome to attend as a guest of a member for a guest fee of £12.50

John Waldron | Thursday 11th June, 3pmJohn E. Waldron is president and chief operating officer of Goldman Sachs, where h...
08/06/2026

John Waldron | Thursday 11th June, 3pm

John E. Waldron is president and chief operating officer of Goldman Sachs, where he plays a central role in overseeing the firm's global operations and strategy. A veteran investment banker, he has advised major corporations on mergers, acquisitions, and financing. Waldron is known for his leadership within one of the world's most influential financial institutions, helping guide its direction across investment banking, markets, and global client services.

Please note: Non-members are welcome to attend as a guest of a member for a guest fee of £12.50

Paul Graham | Wednesday 10th June, 5pmPaul Graham is a programmer, writer, and investor best known as the co-founder of ...
08/06/2026

Paul Graham | Wednesday 10th June, 5pm

Paul Graham is a programmer, writer, and investor best known as the co-founder of Y Combinator, which has backed thousands of startups including Airbnb, Dropbox, Stripe, and Reddit. Previously, he co-founded Viaweb, one of the first software-as-a-service companies, later acquired by Yahoo and rebranded as Yahoo Store. He is the author of influential essays and books such as Hackers & Painters, and his writing has shaped how founders around the world think about startups, innovation, and technology.

Please note: Non-members are welcome to attend as a guest of a member for a guest fee of £12.50

John Logan | Wednesday 10th June, 2pmJohn Logan is one of the rare writers to have shaped both prestige theatre and mode...
08/06/2026

John Logan | Wednesday 10th June, 2pm

John Logan is one of the rare writers to have shaped both prestige theatre and modern blockbuster cinema at the highest level. A three-time Oscar nominee and Tony Award winner for Red, he has written films as varied as Gladiator, The Aviator, Hugo, and Skyfall, moving with unusual ease between historical epic, psychological drama, and franchise storytelling.

Please note: Non-members are welcome to attend as a guest of a member for a guest fee of £12.50

Gypsy Rose Blanchard | Tuesday 9th June, 5pmGypsy Rose Blanchard became a public figure through one of the most troublin...
08/06/2026

Gypsy Rose Blanchard | Tuesday 9th June, 5pm

Gypsy Rose Blanchard became a public figure through one of the most troubling and morally complex abuse cases in recent American history. Since her release from prison in December 2023, she has re-entered public life through interviews, documentaries, and memoir, including The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, Gypsy Rose: Life After Lock Up, and My Time to Stand. What makes her story so compelling is not simply its notoriety, but the way her post-prison life has continued to raise difficult questions about trauma, agency, exploitation, and the uneasy relationship between justice and public fascination.

Please note: Non-members are welcome to attend as a guest of a member for a guest fee of £12.50

Trinity Term 2026 Speaker Event | Julian Casablancas
04/06/2026

Trinity Term 2026 Speaker Event | Julian Casablancas

Trinity Term 2026 Speaker Event | Steve Kerr
04/06/2026

Trinity Term 2026 Speaker Event | Steve Kerr

Trinity Term 2026 | SBS Debate
04/06/2026

Trinity Term 2026 | SBS Debate

Trinity Term 2026 Speaker Event | Martin Wolf
04/06/2026

Trinity Term 2026 Speaker Event | Martin Wolf

Trinity Term 2026 Speaker Event | Robbie Lyle
26/05/2026

Trinity Term 2026 Speaker Event | Robbie Lyle

Address

Frewin Court
Oxford
OX13JB

Website

, ,

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Oxford Union posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share