Boat Race coverage to move from BBC to Channel 4

As part of a new five-year rights agreement, the BBC will no longer air the annual Boat Race on television.

Beginning in 2026, Channel 4 declared it would be “thrilled” to announce that it would cover both the Men’s and Women’s Boat Races for the next five years.

The BBC stated that it has been “proud to broadcast the Boat Race for many years” and that its decision to stop would “represent the difficult choices we need to make to ensure we get the best value for our money.”

The Boat Race will continue to be broadcast live on air, according to the BBC’s statement, and we wish everyone involved a long-long success.

Most of the last 87 years, the BBC has broadcast the race, but between 2005 and 2009, ITV lost control of the rights.

The broadcaster is “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.

He continued, describing the Boat Race as the “crown jewel of the rowing calendar,” noting that the event is “rich in tradition and history and that British interest in the event has never been greater.

Easter Sunday, April 4, 2026, will host the next edition.

The coverage will continue to be produced by the specialized sports production company FilmNova.

The Boat Race Company’s chair, Siobhan Cassidy, expressed his delight at working with Channel 4 to show our unique, recognizable, and intensely British event between our two world-class universities.

We have made great strides since our first radio commentary in 1927 and television shows in 1938. We are grateful for the support of our previous broadcast partners.