The May ball is an event particularly associated with the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. In Oxford it is known as the Commemoration ball or Commem. because it is usually held around the same time as the university Encaenia (or Commemoration of benefactors). Some other educational establishments have also adopted the practice.

Many individual colleges of the universities host balls which originally were held during the month of May, but now often occur in June following the end of exams (in Cambridge, May Balls start in May Week, the week starting usually on the second Thursday of June and which includes Suicide Sunday). Such events typically last all night (9pm to 6am) and include dinner and a selection of different types of entertainment, which may include classical music, rock bands, magicians, fireworks, etc. They are usually very expensive to attend (prices range from £80 to £140 per single ticket depending on whether guests wish to eat at the formal meal and are often only available to members of the College, and in pairs), and require formal evening dress - several balls require, or prefer, white tie. Irrespective of whether guests have decided to eat at the formal meal, balls will usually provide free food and drink all night.

First and Third Trinity Boat Club May Ball (http://www.trinityball.co.uk) - otherwise known as Trinity Ball (in Cambridge) - is one of the most popular balls of the year, recurring yearly and always being held on the first Monday of May Week. Tickets are bartered across the University as very few are available to students who are not members of Trinity College. When these tickets go on sale, in late February or early March, often students camp outside Trinity College overnight in order to be first in the queue when the College gates open at 6am. The Trinity ball has the largest budget of any Cambridge college ball, and tickets are generally very expensive.