University Challenge
2026/27
202616 episodes
Episode 1
Bristol v Imperial
Jul 13, 202629m
The series kicks off with a match between students from Bristol and Imperial.
Episode 2
Durham v Manchester
Jul 20, 202628m
In another first-round heat, students from Durham take on defending champions Manchester.
Episode 3
University College, Oxford v St John's College, Cambridge
Jul 27, 202629m
In another first-round game, University College, Oxford play St John’s College, Cambridge.
Episode 4
Guildhall School of Music and Drama v Darwin College, Cambridge
Aug 3, 202629m
The Guildhall School of Music and Drama makes its University Challenge debut against Darwin College, Cambridge.
Episode 5
Magdalen College, Oxford v Warwick
Aug 10, 202629m
The heats continue, with Magdalen College, Oxford facing Warwick for a place in the second round.
Episode 6
Bath v City St George’s University
Aug 17, 202629m
Teams from Bath and City St George’s University play their first game in this year's first competition.
Episode 7
Pembroke College, Cambridge v St Andrews
Aug 24, 202628m
Pembroke College, Cambridge and St Andrews are the teams facing their first starters for ten.
Episode 8
LSE v King's College, Cambridge
Aug 31, 202629m
In another first round match, the London School of Economics face King’s College, Cambridge.
Episode 9
Birmingham v Leicester
Sep 7, 202628m
The first round of the competition continues with a Midlands derby. Students from Birmingham take on a team from Leicester.
Episode 10
UCL v Royal College of Art
Sep 14, 202629m
UCL begin their series campaign against the first team ever to qualify from the Royal College of Art.
Episode 11
Southampton v Queen’s University Belfast
Sep 21, 202629m
Southampton and Queen’s University Belfast go head-to-head for a place in round 2.
Episode 12
Emmanuel College, Cambridge v Somerville College, Oxford
Sep 28, 202629m
Teams from Emmanuel College, Cambridge and Somerville College, Oxford put fingers on buzzers for the first time.
Episode 13
Glasgow v Goldsmiths
Oct 5, 202629m
The University of Glasgow takes on Goldsmiths, University of London in the penultimate match of the first round.
Episode 14
SOAS v Edinburgh
Oct 12, 202628m
The first round of the competition concludes with a match between SOAS University of London and Edinburgh.
Episode 15
St John's, Cambridge v LSE
Oct 19, 202629m
Two of the highest-scoring losing teams from the heats get a second chance to qualify for the second round.
Episode 16
Bristol v Queen’s, Belfast
Oct 26, 202628m
In the second of the round one repechage games, Bristol and Queen’s University Belfast compete for the final place in the second round.