2026/27

Season 56 · 2026 · 14 episodes

Episodes

1Bristol v ImperialThe series kicks off with a match between students from Bristol and Imperial.
2Durham v ManchesterIn another first-round heat, students from Durham take on defending champions Manchester.
3University College, Oxford v St John's College, CambridgeIn another first-round game, University College, Oxford play St John’s College, Cambridge.
4Guildhall School of Music and Drama v Darwin College, CambridgeThe Guildhall School of Music and Drama makes its University Challenge debut against Darwin College, Cambridge.
5Magdalen College, Oxford v WarwickThe heats continue, with Magdalen College, Oxford facing Warwick for a place in the second round.
6Bath v City St George’s UniversityTeams from Bath and City St George’s University play their first game in this year's first competition.
7Pembroke College, Cambridge v St AndrewsPembroke College, Cambridge and St Andrews are the teams facing their first starters for ten.
8LSE v King's College, CambridgeIn another first round match, the London School of Economics face King’s College, Cambridge.
9Birmingham v LeicesterThe first round of the competition continues with a Midlands derby. Students from Birmingham take on a team from Leicester.
10UCL v Royal College of ArtUCL begin their series campaign against the first team ever to qualify from the Royal College of Art.
11Southampton v Queen’s University BelfastSouthampton and Queen’s University Belfast go head-to-head for a place in round 2.
12Emmanuel College, Cambridge v Somerville College, OxfordTeams from Emmanuel College, Cambridge and Somerville College, Oxford put fingers on buzzers for the first time.
13Glasgow v GoldsmithsThe University of Glasgow takes on Goldsmiths, University of London in the penultimate match of the first round.
14SOAS v EdinburghThe first round of the competition concludes with a match between SOAS University of London and Edinburgh.