Over the summer, Oxford United brought together art, performance and culture to tell one story about three different kits - each linked by a shared colour palette.
The three-part Inspires Series, a campaign which launched the 2026/27 home, away and third kits, was created to celebrate the people, places and creativity that make Oxford such a unique city.
The series began with Art Inspires, which focused on one of the local artists shaping Oxford’s creative identity today.
Lifelong Oxford United supporter, Andrew ‘Mani’ Manson, took centre stage as he painted a large ballerina artwork at OVADA, an arts centre in the city. The artwork, which is now on display in the Exhibition Bar at the Kassam Stadium, became an important visual link to the next chapter of the series as the ballerina then ‘came to life’.
Filmed at the New Theatre Oxford, the Performance Inspires away kit campaign featured Oxford School of Ballet’s Heather Knight delivering a specially choreographed dance routine. Created and played by local artist project Mount St. Helen, the performance was set to a reimagined orchestral version of What Went Down by Foals, as theatre, ballet and music came together in a stunning launch video.
The story then moved from the stage to Cowley Road for Culture Inspires, the third and final chapter of the three-part series.
Shot at Kazbar, the Spanish Moroccan tapas bar, Culture Inspires shone a light on the people and communities that make Oxford such a diverse and vibrant city. Oxford United players enjoyed food, drink and conversation with Cowley Road locals, Mani the artist and Aris from Mount St. Helen as we explored the impact of fashion and culture on football kit designs.
Throughout the Inspires Series, music provided a continuous thread with tracks from Mount St. Helen featuring across the three launches, including Pariahs soundtracking the home kit campaign and Nineteen featuring within the third kit launch.
From an artist’s studio to the stage of the New Theatre and finally to the heart of Cowley Road, the Inspires Series has connected three different worlds through one shared story.
This series has been all about Oxford and its people - working with local artists, performers, musicians, businesses and communities to showcase the creativity, character and culture that exists across our amazing city.
Watch the Inspires Series wrap-up video below.
Oxford United’s 2026/27 replica kits are now on sale online and in-store:
For more information on the local people and businesses featured throughout the Inspires Series, see below:
Art Inspires Home Kit:
- Andrew ‘Mani’ Manson - https://www.thebigorangem.com/
- OVADA - https://www.ovada.org.uk/
Performance Inspires Away Kit:
- Oxford School of Ballet - https://www.oxfordschoolofballet.co.uk/home
- Mount St. Helen – https://www.instagram.com/mount.st.helen/
- Oxford New Theatre - https://www.oxford-theatre.com/
Culture Inspires Third Kit:
- Kazbar - https://kazbartapas.co.uk/
- Spiced Roots - https://spicedroots.com/
