University Challenge results, 2025-26

The 55th series began on 14 July 2025 and ended with the final on 20 April 2026, showing on Mondays on BBC Two at 20:30. Harper Adams University, which received university status in 2012, made its first appearance on the show in this series, as did Lincoln University and Green Templeton College, Oxford.

First round
14/07/2025Sheffield170210Warwick
21/07/2025University, London210170School of Oriental & African Studies
28/07/2025Bath70255Southampton
04/08/2025Newcastle105200Edinburgh
11/08/2025Manchester170150New, Oxford
18/08/2025Cardiff115180Bristol
25/08/2025Trinity, Cambridge210115Linacre, Oxford
01/09/2025Lincoln170145Lancaster
08/09/2025Green Templeton, Oxford130135Darwin, Cambridge
15/09/2025Trinity Hall, Cambridge135215LSE
22/09/2025Durham120235Merton, Oxford
29/09/2025Harper Adams45205Strathclyde
06/10/2025Imperial, London160175Churchill, Cambridge
13/10/2025Magdalen, Oxford245105Robinson, Cambridge
Highest-scoring losers
20/10/2025School of Oriental & African Studies115220Imperial, London
27/10/2025Sheffield175125New, Oxford
Second round
03/11/2025Magdalen, Oxford80190Darwin, Cambridge
10/11/2025Sheffield29060Strathclyde
17/11/2025Southampton180190Imperial, London
24/11/2025Bristol145180Warwick
01/12/2025Manchester160135LSE
08/12/2025Trinity, Cambridge150180Edinburgh
15/12/2025Lincoln85190University, London
05/01/2026Churchill, Cambridge115180Merton, Oxford
Quarter-finals
12/01/2026Manchester80195Edinburgh
19/01/2026University, London150160Merton, Oxford
26/01/2026Darwin, Cambridge115155Sheffield
02/02/2026Imperial, London190105Warwick
23/02/2026Edinburgh10585Merton, Oxford
02/03/2026Manchester150120University, London
09/03/2026Sheffield120160Imperial, London
16/03/2026Darwin, Cambridge175125Warwick
23/03/2026Manchester185135Sheffield
30/03/2026Merton, Oxford130175Darwin, Cambridge
Semi-finals
06/04/2026Edinburgh155110Darwin, Cambridge
13/04/2026Imperial, London70250Manchester
Final
20/04/2026Edinburgh105145Manchester

Bringing their series wins to five, equalling the record held by Imperial College, London, the team from Manchester University were Ray Power (Film Studies and English Literature), Kirsty Dickson (Medicine), Kai Madgwick (AI and Astrophysics), and Rob Faulkner (Physics with Astrophysics). They were presented with their trophy

As ever, winners are in bold, highest-scoring losers in italics. Italicised scores indicate the result was decided by a tie-break.

External links
Fingers on buzzers for Lancaster ‘University Challenge’ quad (Lancaster University)
Trinity returns to University Challenge (Trinity College, Cambridge)
University Challenge captain ready for final battle (BBC)
University of Manchester quizzers win University Challenge for fifth time (Manchester University)
University Challenge final, reviewed by last year’s winner (The Guardian)