Boat Race 2026: Oxford vs. Cambridge clash on River Thames—what's at stake?

The Chanel J12 Boat Race 2026 is back with a bang as Cambridge is set to go head-to-head with Oxford today, Saturday, April 4, 2026, on the River Thames.

The big clash on the Thames with Cambridge out to dominate again and Oxford vows a comeback in London.

While Oxford has been on shaky ground, they’ve struggled to win big since 2017.

Cambridge women remain victorious and Cambridge men complete a hat trick of victories.

Where to watch Boat Race 2026?

The Boat Race 2026 has entered into its 80th edition for women and 171st edition for men, set to commence today on the River Thames, in London.

Traditionally, the race is held on Sunday, but this year it’s happening on Saturday, April 4, 2026.

The women’s race stretches for two and a half hours before high tide, following the men an hour later.

Both teams get a shot to row in the fastest possible current.

Both races start along a 4.2-mile stretch of the river Thames—the Tideway—starting in Putney and ending in Mortlake.

Women’s Boat Race 2026 sets off at 2:21 pm BST, while women’s reserves will get underway at 2:36 pm BST.

For the men’s Boat Race 2026, the starting time is 3:21 pm BST, and for men’s reserves, 2:51 pm is the cutoff time.

Where to watch the Boat Race 2026 live?

To catch all the live action, you can watch it on Channel 4, which has secured the rights for the next five years, with broadcast starting at 1:30pm BST.