A record 862 entries came to Henley in 2026, and Great Britain met Italy in straight finals for both premier eights trophies.
Henley Royal Regatta drew a record 862 entries from 21 nations to Henley Reach at Henley-on-Thames, from Tuesday 30 June to Sunday 5 July 2026. Nine reigning Olympic champions raced among the crews.
A self-perpetuating body of Stewards, largely former rowers, organises the regatta. Its trophies include the Grand Challenge Cup, awarded since the first regatta in 1839, and the Ladies’ Challenge Plate, which dates from 1845.
Qualifying races cut the entry by nearly half, to 453, before the draw for 30 trophies. Three new women’s quadruple sculls events opened in the Intermediate, Club and Student categories, so women could race in 14 events.
On finals Sunday both premier eights events were straight finals between Great Britain and Italy. Great Britain, racing as Oxford Brookes University and Leander Club, took the Grand Challenge Cup by three lengths. Leander and Molesey took the Remenham Challenge Cup by the same margin.
Italy won the Queen Mother Challenge Cup, and Olli Zeidler took a fifth Diamond Challenge Sculls. Serbia’s Mackovic and Pimenov won the Double Sculls Challenge Cup, their country’s first Henley title.