Overview
- St Catherine’s College at the University of Oxford announced in mid‑June that Cate Blanchett will serve as the Cameron Mackintosh Visiting Professor of Contemporary Theatre for the 2026–27 academic year.
- As visiting professor she is to lead a programme of lectures, conversations and direct engagement with students and the wider university community, with detailed dates and formats to be published by the college.
- The Cameron Mackintosh Visiting Professorship was created in 1990 to bring leading theatre and performance practitioners into direct dialogue with Oxford; past holders include Sir Ian McKellen, Sir Tom Stoppard and Dame Diana Rigg.
- Blanchett brings a multi‑faceted career to the role, including two Academy Awards, work as a producer and arts advocate, and a past term as co‑artistic director and co‑CEO of the Sydney Theatre Company.
- Her visiting year will overlap with confirmed projects such as her National Theatre engagement Electra/Persona (Aug. 19–Oct. 10, 2026) and several film roles, and the college says it will announce the full programme in due course.