General questions
What is ORFC? ORFC is the UK’s largest gathering of the agroecology movement. Across two action-packed days every January ORFC is held across 19 venues in Oxford, and approximately a third of the 150+ sessions are available to watch live via YouTube for online delegates. Run by the Real Farming Trust, Oxford Real Farming Conference (ORFC) explores the questions at the forefront of the alternative food and farming movement, from farm practice deep-dives and the latest agroecological research, to exploring our reciprocal relationship with Nature and marginalised perspectives on food sovereignty and land. Farmers, growers, landworkers, chefs, food processors, policymakers, activists, students and artists come together to connect, be inspired and build a shared vision for a better food system.
What type of sessions should I expect at ORFC? ORFC talks and workshops span across the most pressing questions facing alternative farming. Our farm practice sessions cover the realities, challenges and innovative solutions of farmers, growers and landworkers across horticulture, arable and livestock. Sessions on policy discuss planning, advocacy and government lobbying. Led by wisdom keepers and human and more-than-human voices, our sessions on Listening to the Land understand agroecology and our food system through the lens of reciprocity with nature. Our justice strand sessions ask how we can build a more equitable food system that centres those systematically oppressed by power structures around who owns and works the land. You’ll also find discussions on nutrition, ethical retail, land access and more, as well as book talks, performances, seed exchanges, networking sessions and music! With over 150 sessions to choose from across the conference, anyone with an interest in good food and farming will find something to inspire them.
Is ORFC holding a Listening to the Land Day? This year, Listening to the Land talks and workshops are incorporated within the main ORFC programme. Booking a ticket to ORFC 2027 will give you access to our full programme of sessions, including our Listening to the Land strand, exploring all things related to our relationship with the more-than-human and our reciprocal interdependence with the land. Most of these sessions will be held at Wesley Memorial Church.
I’m a farmer – can I get a discount? Yes, we offer a number of tickets at a reduced price for farmers, growers, land-workers and/or food producers. See our ticket page for more information and to book your spot.
Do you offer subsidised ticket rates? Yes, we offer a limited number of subsidised tickets for students; part-time, low-waged, or unpaid workers; new entrant farmers; and all those who would not otherwise be able to attend. See our ticket page for more information and to book your spot.
Are bursaries available to support me in attending? We are committed to making ORFC an equitable and radical space, and offer a number of bursaries to support members of underrepresented groups in the agroecology movement with ticket costs, accommodation and travel. Please note that applications for bursaries closed on Thursday 3rd September 2026.
Can I volunteer with ORFC? You can apply to volunteer to support the conference in-person and online, with a number of different roles from stewarding conference sessions and assisting speakers, to producing creative content and welcoming attendees. Volunteering at ORFC is a great way to meet people across food and farming, learn tons about agroecology and gain valuable skills in event production and communications. Food is provided and you can apply for support towards accommodation and travel. For more information, and to apply to volunteer at ORFC, please see our volunteering page. Please note that the deadline to apply is Thursday, 29 October 2026, 11:59 GMT. We review applications on a rolling basis so we encourage you to get your application in as soon as you can.
Do you offer press access to ORFC? For questions related to press and media, please contact lucy@orfc.org.uk.
In what language is the conference held? The conference is held in English as the primary language.
What’s different about ORFC 2027? Every year we listen to your feedback about the conference. We’re committed to making changes to improve your experience and enable you to gather together with the agroecology movement with ease, accessibility and joy. Check out our blog to find out about some of the changes we’re making this year including capacity and venue updates.
What is ORFC in the Field? ORFC in the Field brings the conference onto the farm through in-depth, practical events held at outstanding agroecological farms across the UK throughout the Spring and Summer. Our 2027 programme of In the Field events will be announced at ORFC 2027.
In-person conference
Where is ORFC held? ORFC takes place across a range of venues in central Oxford, all of which are located just off the High Street in the centre of Oxford and within a 7-minute walk of each other. For more information see our venue information page.
How can I get to ORFC?
By train: The main train station is Oxford Railway Station.
By liftshare: A self-organising liftshare spreadsheet is included in the ticket order confirmation email and will also be included in emails to delegates. We encourage delegates to use the ORFC 2027 liftshare spreadsheet to travel to the conference in groups. If you are planning to drive to ORFC make sure to coordinate with other delegates and offer lifts to people in your area so you don’t have an empty car.
By bus: The main bus station is Oxford Bus Station (Gloucester Green). For information on travelling within Oxford by bus, please visit the Oxfordshire County website. You can also view bus timetables here.
By car: We recommend you use the Park & Ride or leave your vehicle at your accommodation if possible. If you plan on parking in Oxford, you can browse city centre parking. However, please be aware that parking in the city is difficult and there is no parking easily available near the venues. You can also look at the Town Hall website for detailed information on how to get there.
Oxford has implemented bus-only lanes and gates, and only buses and taxis are permitted on the High Street from 7:30am – 6:30pm. Details are available on the Oxfordshire County Council site, including this interactive map to view the restricted streets. Please check these carefully to avoid being fined.
If you are driving and have extra space, please consider offering a lift to other delegates en route using the liftshare spreadsheet included in the ticket order confirmation email.
Where do I go when I arrive? First stop is registration at the Catholic Chaplaincy (open from 4pm on Wednesday and again at 8am on Thursday). Here you’ll also find the main social hub including food, exhibitors, the bar, bookshop and evening entertainment. Once you’ve registered and picked up your lanyard and programme, find the handy map inside to help you find your way around. We’ll be hosting our plenaries at the Main Hall at the Town Hall, and this will also be our Speaker’s Hall.
Do you provide childcare? Childcare is available in the Story Museum for children ages 3+ on both days. Childcare spaces are available through the ticketing page for £40 per child (plus booking fee). Childcare is subsidised by ORFC to support parents in attending the conference; however, if the fee is still a barrier to attending, please do get in touch at caitlin.osborne@orfc.org.uk. The deadline to book childcare is Wednesday, 16th December 2026. Spaces are limited, so book early to guarantee your spot.
Is the conference accessible? All venues are fully accessible, except for the Merton Room in St Aldate’s Tavern, which unfortunately does not have lift access. Hearing loops are available in the Main Hall, Assembly Room and Old Library (Town Hall), The Sanctuary (Wesley Memorial Church), Cheng Building and Ship Street (Jesus College) and The Sanctuary (St Columba’s). Delegates with accessibility needs are entitled to a free carer ticket for one personal assistant/carer who accompanies any delegate with access needs. All delegates except for the carer require a purchased ticket. Please contact caitlin.osborne@orfc.org.uk to request a carer ticket by Thursday, 3rd December 2026.
Where can I stay in Oxford? Please see our attendee information page for further details on accommodation options.
Is food and drink available? Tea and coffee will be available at the Catholic Chaplaincy. You can purchase lunches (Thursday 7th and Friday 8th) and evening dinners (Wednesday 6th and Thursday 7th) from the food and drink stalls at the Catholic Chaplaincy, catering to a wide range of dietary requirements. You can also purchase drinks from the bar. As ORFC is held across a number of venues in Central Oxford, you can also easily pop out to purchase food and drink from external vendors on the High Street.
Will I be able to get into my chosen session? As capacity at sessions is limited, we recommend leaving plenty of time to arrive at the session venue. Sessions will always fill up, but come with an open mind: if you can’t get into one room, head to another and be prepared to learn something unexpected! Everything is within a few minutes walk. In addition, for the first time ever, you will be able to get live updates on sessions, including capacity numbers, as they fill up directly to your phone. We’ll be sharing more about this exciting development soon!
Are there other events I can attend alongside the main ORFC programme? Keep your eyes peeled for details on the Listening to the Land Feast, as well as a joint dinner with the Oxford Farming Conference, and additional fringe events organised by movement allies.
Can I access the online conference with an in-person ticket? All in-person tickets include full access to the online conference. Details on how to join the online conference will be sent to all delegates nearer the event. Please note that access to the online conference is linked to your email address. If you need to update your registered email address, please contact caitlin.osborne@orfc.org.uk by Thursday, 3rd December 2026.
I can’t attend anymore, can I get a refund or transfer my ticket? From Thursday, 5 November 2026, refunds will incur an administrative fee of 20% of the ticket price. Refund requests must be submitted in writing to caitlin@orfc.org.uk by Thursday, 3 December 2026. No refunds will be provided after this date, without exception. Please note booking fees are non-refundable. If you would like to transfer your in-person or online ticket to another attendee, please contact caitlin.osborne@orfc.org.uk no later than Thursday, 3rd December 2026.
Online conference
What does a ticket to the online conference include? An online ticket will give you access to 50+ sessions livestreamed from Oxford, including the opportunity to participate in session Q&A’s as well as accessing our online noticeboard.
How will I access the online conference? The online conference can be streamed via a delegates-only section of our website. We will email you a code to access the content and a link to our website, along with an online programme ahead of the conference, so keep your eyes peeled for emails from us in the lead up.
What if I can’t make an online session at that time? We record all livestreamed sessions and the content is available to delegates for immediate replay. In February, we make session recordings publicly available.
Do you offer subsidised tickets for the online conference? Yes, we offer discounted online tickets for farmers as well as subsidised tickets for students, part-time, low-waged or unpaid workers, new entrant farmers. We also offer bursary tickets for delegates from majority world countries and all who would not otherwise be able to attend. See our ticketing page for more information.
I need technical support for the online conference – who can I contact? Please contact support@orfc.org.uk. We cannot respond to technical support queries via social media.
Further questions
Can I watch the sessions back after the event? Delegates will be able to watch recordings of livestreamed sessions immediately after the conference. Recordings of livestreamed sessions will be publicly available to watch on our website in early 2027.
My question hasn’t been answered – who can I contact? For further questions, please contact info@orfc.org.uk and we’ll be happy to help.