Big news for rowing fans! 🎉 The legendary Boat Race, a historic sporting event showcasing a fierce rivalry between Oxford and Cambridge on the River Thames, is switching channels after nearly a century! Since its first TV broadcast in 1938, the BBC has brought this iconic event to our screens. But that’s about to change as Channel 4 takes the helm from 2026. 🚣♂️
Channel 4 promises to deliver five years of thrilling Boat Race action, marking some incredible milestones: the Women’s Boat Race centenary in 2027 and the Men’s bicentenary in 2029. 📅
The move follows a massive surge in viewership, with last year’s women’s race becoming 2025’s most-watched female sports event, drawing 2.8 million viewers! 📺 With interest at an all-time high, Pete Andrews, Channel 4’s Head of Sport, is over the moon about showcasing this crown jewel of British rowing. He says, “It’s rich in tradition and always captures the British public’s imagination.”
Even Siobhan Cassidy from The Boat Race Company is on board, eager to see how Channel 4 will bring the drama, excitement, and heritage of this uniquely British event to viewers. 🎥
As anticipation builds for the next race on Easter Sunday, April 4, 2026, Cambridge is gearing up for a potential fourth consecutive win on the men’s side while Oxford looks to change the current in their favour. Meanwhile, Cambridge dominates the women’s competition with an impressive lead. Will the Light Blues continue their streak, or can Oxford strike back?
Stay tuned for more unforgettable moments and mark your calendars for a spectacular showdown on the Thames! 🏆💥