🕒 Last Updated: 4 April 2026 – Odds and market information correct at time of last update. Please check with your bookmaker for current prices.
The 2026 Boat Race takes place on Saturday 4 April as Oxford University Boat Club and Cambridge University Boat Club renew one of sport’s oldest rivalries. The 171st men’s race and 80th women’s race will be held along the famous Championship Course on the River Thames, covering the 4.25-mile stretch from Putney to Mortlake.
| Boat Race Outcome | Odds |
|---|---|
| Cambridge | 1/7 |
| Oxford | 7/2 |
| Dead Heat | 125/1 |
Thousands of spectators are expected to line the riverbanks, while millions more will tune in from around the world to watch one of the most iconic events in the sporting calendar. The tradition dates back to 1829 for the men’s race and 1927 for the women’s race, with both crews once again competing for bragging rights in this historic contest.
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This year’s schedule sees the women’s race get underway at 14:21, followed by the reserve events, before the men’s race takes place at 15:21. Cambridge head into the 2026 renewal with strong momentum. The men’s crew have won six of the last seven races, while the women’s side have dominated even further, winning the last eight consecutive editions.
Cambridge are the clear favourites to win the men’s race at 1/7. That strong position is backed up by both recent dominance and the quality of their squad, which includes returning Blues Noam Mouelle and Simon Hatcher, alongside elite additions like Frederik Breuer, who competed in the men’s eight at the Paris 2024 Olympics, and Alexander McClean, a World Cup medallist. Further strength comes from Gabriel Obholzer, an under-23 world champion with multiple gold medals, highlighting the depth across the Cambridge boat.
Oxford are priced at 7/2, reflecting a period of transition despite having several high-level athletes including Harry Geffen, a four-time under-23 world champion, as well as international competitors Julian Scholberl and Jamie Arnold. The lack of cohesion compared to Cambridge’s settled and experienced crew explains their outsider status heading into the race.
In the women’s event, the betting is much closer. Oxford University Women’s Boat Club are slight favourites at 2/5, with Cambridge University Women’s Boat Club priced at 15/8, reflecting Oxford’s consistency and recent performances.
