The Boat Race / Channel 4
Channel 4 has poached the exclusive broadcast rights to The Boat Race from the BBC in a five-year deal.
The annual event first took place in 1829 and sees the Cambridge University Boat Club and the Oxford University Boat Club go head to head in a rowing race down the River Thames.
The BBC has aired the race since 1938, apart from a brief period where it was shown on ITV from 2005 to 2009, but has now been usurped by C4 in a “competitive rights bid”.
The broadcaster will show both the Men’s Boat Race and Women’s Boat Race every year from 2026 to 2030, encompassing the centenary of the Women’s Boat Race in 2027 and bicentenary of the Men’s Boat Race in 2029.
“We are thrilled to have secured the rights to one of the most iconic amateur sports events in the British calendar,” said Pete Andrews, head of sport at Channel 4. “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.”
The next race, in which Cambridge will seek to defend their 2025 triumph, is due to take place on Easter Saturday, April 4, 2026.
