University Challenge - 2026/27

The series kicks off with a match between students from Bristol and Imperial.

In another first-round heat, students from Durham take on defending champions Manchester.

In another first-round game, University College, Oxford play St John’s College, Cambridge.

The Guildhall School of Music and Drama makes its University Challenge debut against Darwin College, Cambridge.

The heats continue, with Magdalen College, Oxford facing Warwick for a place in the second round.

Teams from Bath and City St George’s University play their first game in this year's first competition.

Pembroke College, Cambridge and St Andrews are the teams facing their first starters for ten.

In another first round match, the London School of Economics face King’s College, Cambridge.

The first round of the competition continues with a Midlands derby. Students from Birmingham take on a team from Leicester.

UCL begin their series campaign against the first team ever to qualify from the Royal College of Art.

Southampton and Queen’s University Belfast go head-to-head for a place in round 2.

Teams from Emmanuel College, Cambridge and Somerville College, Oxford put fingers on buzzers for the first time.

The University of Glasgow takes on Goldsmiths, University of London in the penultimate match of the first round.

The first round of the competition concludes with a match between SOAS University of London and Edinburgh.

Two of the highest-scoring losing teams from the heats get a second chance to qualify for the second round.