Henley Royal Regatta has revised its 2026 qualifying timetable in response to forecast extreme heat, moving Friday’s races to a 6:30pm evening start and shifting the remaining programme to Saturday morning from 9:00am.

Qualifying had originally been set to begin at 1:00pm on Friday 26 June. The revised plan, published on 24 June, pushes racing away from the hottest hours and splits the schedule across two days. The revised timetable lists Friday evening races from the Thames Challenge Cup through the Princess Royal Challenge Cup, with Saturday morning races picking up from the Bridge Challenge Plate through to the Diamond Challenge Sculls groups.

Safety advice

The regatta said the change followed medical and safety advice and was aligned with governing-body guidance.

“The safety and welfare of competitors, staff and volunteers is of paramount importance,” the regatta said, adding that conditions on site and on the water were being monitored continuously and that welfare measures would remain in place.

The Met Office issued a Red Extreme Heat Warning on 24 June for Wednesday and Thursday, with June temperature records forecast to fall. Henley-on-Thames was under an amber extreme heat warning for Friday, with conditions described as “hot or very hot”.

Draw delayed

The timetable change also affects the competition draw, which had been due at midday on Saturday 27 June, on the balcony in the Boat Tent Area. The regatta said the Draw will be held later on Saturday afternoon, with further details to follow.

Crews, coaches and officials have been asked to check the updated timetable and follow hot-weather guidance issued by the regatta. The main competition runs from Tuesday 30 June to Sunday 5 July.