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When is The Boat Race 2026? Start time, date and schedule
Your guide to The Boat Race 2026 including date, start time and TV coverage details.
(Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)
- Ned Holmes
Published: Friday, 27 March 2026 at 11:13 am
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The Boat Race returns to the Thames – and our screens – in early April as Cambridge and Oxford resume their battle for ascendancy.
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Two boats of eight rowers, including some of the best and brightest from the UK and further afield, will tear along the 4.2-mile Championship Course between Putney and Mortlake in pursuit of glory.
Cambridge, donned in their usual duck egg blue, completed the clean sweep last year, earning their 88th victory in the men's event and 49th in the women's to extend their recent dominance and move further clear of their rivals in the all-time charts.
This 2026 event, the 171st men's race and 80th women's race, will attract thousands to the banks of the South West London stretch of the Thames as well as viewers across the UK and around the world.
Without the controversy that dominated the build-up 12 months ago, all the talk this year is about whether Oxford can end Cambridge's recent dominance.
RadioTimes.com brings you all the details we know about The Boat Race 2026, including date and start time.
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When is The Boat Race 2026?
The Boat Race 2026 between Oxford and Cambridge will take place on Saturday 4 April 2026.
This year marks 197 years since the inaugural showdown between these historic rivals.
The Boat Race 2026 start time
The Boat Race start time has been confirmed, with the men's race taking place at 3:21pm UK time.
Check out the full schedule of events on the day:
- 2:21pm – Women's Boat Race
- 2:36pm – Women's Reserve Boat Race
- 2:51pm – Men's Reserve Boat Race
- 3:21pm – Men's Boat Race
How to watch The Boat Race 2026 on TV and live stream
The Boat Race will be shown live on Channel 4.
BBC have historically been in charge of coverage but from 2026 onwards, Channel 4 is the new home of the event.
Coverage starts at 1:30pm – and will be available on Channel 4, online and on a range of platforms, including mobiles and tablets.
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Authors
Ned Holmes
Ned is a sports writer at RadioTimes.com. He has covered a host of sports from EFL football, international cricket and golf all the way through to bike polo and triathlon.
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