Head-to-head (Oxford vs Cambridge) · The Boat Race

The Boat Race

3:21 PM GMT+1 · The Championship Course · London

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The Championship Course

London, United Kingdom · Europe/London · River Thames (Putney to Mortlake)

The Boat Race

The Boat Race is the oldest rowing rivalry in the world, first contested between Oxford and Cambridge on 10 June 1829 on the River Thames at Henley. The 2026 edition marks the 171st men's race and the 80th women's race, held over the 4.2-mile (6.8 km) Championship Course from Putney Bridge to Chiswick Bridge via Mortlake.

Cambridge lead the overall men's series 87-83 (with one dead heat in 1877). The course record belongs to Cambridge, who completed the 2024 race in 16 minutes 8 seconds. Crews train year-round for this single race; most athletes are full-time students who row twice daily alongside degrees in everything from medicine to philosophy.

When is The Boat Race? The race starts at approximately 15:30 BST on Saturday 4 April 2026. That translates to 16:30 CEST in Berlin, 10:30 EDT in New York, and 23:30 JST in Tokyo. BBC One typically broadcasts live from 14:45 BST.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was The Boat Race 2026?

The Boat Race took place on 2026-04-04 at The Championship Course in London, United Kingdom.

Where was The Boat Race held?

The Boat Race was held at The Championship Course in London, United Kingdom. The racing took place on River Thames (Putney to Mortlake).