Here’s the schedule for today’s Oxford vs Cambridge men’s and women’s boat races
11:21, 04 Apr 2026Updated 11:25, 04 Apr 2026
Cambridge University Boat Race crew getting ready by the river at Putney in 2023(Image: Hugh R Hastings/Getty Images)
Forget about University Challenge for a bit. There’s another big student showdown happening this Saturday in London that’ll pull huge crowds along both sides of the Thames. Yep, it’s the Oxford vs Cambridge Boat Race.
The 171st edition kicks off today (Saturday, April 4), with separate races for both men’s and women’s rowing teams from Oxford and Cambridge going head-to-head on those choppy waters. The excitement is building as they race toward the finish line near Chiswick Bridge in Mortlake.
If you want to watch without leaving your couch, Channel 4 will be broadcasting live from 1:30pm. Just a heads up though – the actual races start a bit later than that.
Sisters Lilli (26) and Mia (24) face off representing opposing sides this year(Image: Press Association)
The women’s race is set to start at exactly 2:21pm with the men racing an hour later at around 3:21pm. Right now, Cambridge leads when it comes to wins – holding an edge over Oxford with an overall score of 88 to 81 in the men’s competition. They also lead among women with a tally of 49 wins compared to Oxford’s 30.
This year marks something pretty special for the women’s race – two sisters going head-to-head on opposite sides for the first time in over two decades. Lilli and Mia Freischem are aged 26 and 24 respectively and will battle it out on opposite boats for what they’re calling “ultimate bragging rights” as family rivalry meets university pride out there on Saturday.
Mia is hoping Cambridge can pull off their ninth win in a row while her older sister Lilli rows stroke seat for Oxford alongside Olympic medallist Heidi Long- aiming to change things up this year.
They even gave their parents custom-made half-Oxford half-Cambridge jumpers last Christmas but once they’re racing? No chance of shared loyalties then!
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“It ’ s been epic,” Mia said.“From th e moment we realised it could be a possibility that we were racing each other, I think we were both just so excited, and , if anything, it would make us work harder try make happen.
“ It ’ s such a special thing know get race against someone know so well. Since this is Lilli ’ s last year Ph D, this race ultimate bragging rights. This one get.”
Oxford v Cambridge Boat Race live Channel four from1 :30 pm. Women ’ s starts at2 :21 pm, mens event hour later3 :21 pm.
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