Over the next three months, UK viewers can look forward to a packed schedule of live sport and major broadcast events across BBC, ITV and Channel 4.
Spring begins with one of Britain’s most iconic sporting traditions: the Oxford–Cambridge Boat Race, airing live on Channel 4 on 4 April 2026. This marks a major broadcasting change, with Channel 4 taking over coverage of the historic event for the first time in decades, bringing the action from the River Thames to a wide free-to-air audience.
Just a week later, horse racing takes centre stage with the Grand National from Aintree on 11 April. As always, ITV will provide full live coverage and highlights of the world-famous steeplechase, making it one of the biggest annual TV sporting spectacles in the UK.
Football fans are also well served. The FA Cup continues through the spring with live matches shared between BBC One and ITV, typically broadcast across weekends and key midweek slots. Meanwhile, international football heats up with FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers, with England matches shown live on ITV1 and other home nations on BBC channels.
Looking ahead to June, attention turns to the biggest global event of the year: the FIFA World Cup 2026, kicking off on 11 June. BBC and ITV will share live coverage of matches throughout the tournament, ensuring every major game is available free-to-air, including group matches, knockouts and the final.
Beyond sport, viewers can also expect regular live entertainment across BBC and Channel 4, including flagship chat shows and event TV specials, often scheduled in prime-time evening slots.
Overall, the next three months offer a strong mix of tradition and global spectacle—whether it’s riverside rowing, horse racing drama or world-class football—all accessible without subscription on the UK’s main broadcast channels.
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