The 56th series of University Challenge began on 13 July 2026 on BBC Two.
Results Winning teams are highlighted in bold. Teams with green scores (winners) returned in the next round, while those with red scores (losers) were eliminated. Teams with orange scores had to win one more match to return in the next round. Teams with yellow scores indicate that two further matches had to be played and won (teams that lost their first quarter-final match). A score in italics indicates a match decided on a tie-breaker question.
First round Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date University of Bristol 160220 Imperial College London 380 13 July 2026 Durham University190 University of Manchester 310 20 July 2026 University College, Oxford200170 St John's College, Cambridge 370 27 July 2026 Guildhall School of Music and Drama165 Darwin College, Cambridge 320 3 August 2026 Magdalen College, Oxford300 University of Warwick 340 10 August 2026 University of Bath215 City St George's, University of London 265 17 August 2026 Pembroke College, Cambridge180 University of St Andrews 270 24 August 2026 London School of Economics 160185 King's College, Cambridge 345 31 August 2026 University of Birmingham190 University of Leicester 315 7 September 2026 University College London210 Royal College of Art 325 14 September 2026 University of Southampton200195 Queen's University Belfast 395 21 September 2026 Emmanuel College, Cambridge190 Somerville College, Oxford 295 28 September 2026 University of Glasgow235 Goldsmiths, University of London 325 5 October 2026 SOAS University of London University of Edinburgh 12 October 2026
Highest scoring losers play-offs Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date 19 October 2026 26 October 2026
Second round Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date
Quarter-finals Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date
Semi-finals Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date
Final Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast date
References
External links University Challenge homepage Blanchflower Results Table