In pictures: University of Cambridge students celebrate in style at their May Balls

University of Cambridge colleges’ May Balls have been in full swing.

The Trinity May Ball – described on its website as “one of the most sought-after tickets to be had in May Week” – took place on Monday night (17 June) – for which tickets cost £480 a pair.

Well-dressed students enjoyed music from headliner Ella Eyre, as well as a spectacular firework display, and were also treated to an impressive five-course meal, with wine pairings, served in Trinity Great Hall.

They then enjoyed oysters, a hog roast and a chocolate fountain.

The first official May Ball in Trinity College’s grounds was held in 1866, with the tradition quickly spreading to the other colleges.

One of these other colleges, Jesus College, also held its May Ball on Monday. A description on the college’s website read: “Journey Into the Surreal with us at Jesus May Ball 2024.

“Surrender to automatism, delve into the realm of dreams, and embrace a reality unshackled by the constraints of logic, reason, and convention”.

Despite being a tradition with students, not everyone was thrilled by the staging of the May Balls, with some residents taking to social media to complain they or their children were being kept up by the noise.

One self-described “furious resident” called the late-night antics “outrageous”, writing to the Cambridge Independent and city council to say: “I look forward to having my own party to celebrate my kids’ end of exams.

“I’ll fly Jay-Z or Taylor Swift in to disturb the entire northern side of a city of 120,000 citizens who look to the city council to maintain order and responsibility.

“This after half an hours fireworks earlier. And they have the audacity to say they’re going to be ‘environmentally conscious’.”

Although the balls now take place in June, they are still called the May Balls, as that is when they were originally held.