Channel 4 wins Boat Race broadcasting rights

Channel 4 has won the rights to be the exclusive broadcaster of the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race for the next five years.

The new agreement will see the broadcaster provide coverage of both the men’s and women’s boat race from next year.

The event attracted record viewing figures in 2025, with the women’s race the most-watched female sporting event of the year at the time.

The 2026 edition will take place on Saturday April 4 during the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.

First raced by crews from Oxford and Cambridge universities in 1829, the annual race on the River Thames is one of the oldest and most famous amateur sporting events in the world.

The deal will see Channel 4 cover the centenary of the Women’s Boat Race in 2027 and bicentenary of the Men’s Boat Race in 2029.

The races were previously broadcast by the BBC.

Channel 4 head of sport Pete Andrews said “We are thrilled to have secured the rights to one of the most iconic amateur sports events in the British calendar.

“The Boat Race is rich in tradition and history and British interest in the event has never been stronger.

“We are committed to bringing the very best sports events to our audience, both from the UK and around the globe, and the Boat Race is the perfect example.

“It’s the crown jewel of the rowing calendar and consistently captures the imagination of the British public year after year, both on the side of the Thames and in living rooms across the country.

“In recent years, it has delivered some truly unforgettable moments, and we can’t wait to bring that excitement to our viewers next year.”

Channel 4 said its current portfolio of major sports events includes live matches from the Adobe Women’s FA Cup, Formula 1 highlights, the Uefa Under-21 Championship, and England’s home matches in Uefa Nations League and European qualifiers.

Siobhan Cassidy, chairwoman of The Boat Race Company, said: “We are delighted to work with Channel 4 to broadcast our unique, iconic and intensely British event between our two world-leading universities.

“We know that this is a huge day out for Londoners, and our independent research has shown that Boat Race Day generates £13-15 million in economic impact for London.

“We are grateful to the support of our previous broadcast partners and have come a long way since our first radio commentary in 1927 and television pictures in 1938.

“We look forward to seeing how Channel 4 can portray the drama, excitement and heritage of the event on Easter Saturday 2026!”

Cambridge University, known as the Light Blues, won both races in 2025.