The Biggest Day in UK University Sport Returns to Loughborough University as BUCS Big Wednesday 2026 gets underway!
Over the next 24 hours, national champions will be crowned, trophies will be lifted and, for many university team sports, the season will reach its finale as BUCS Big Wednesday is here.
It is the culmination of a season that combines league campaigns with knockout competitions, where the teams who have performed when it mattered most now have the opportunity to represent their university on the national stage.
Across a packed 24-hour schedule of finals, over 50 matches across 16 sports will be played in front of packed crowds at Loughborough University, as students compete for national titles on the biggest stage in UK university sport.
With many of the finals streamed live on YouTube, you can find the complete BUCS Big Wednesday 2026 livestream schedule below.
BUCS Big Wednesday 2026 Livestream Schedule
Watch the day unfold with the full list of livestreamed finals below.
Morning (9:30 – 14:00)
| Time | Competition | Final |
|---|---|---|
| 09:30 | Badminton (Women’s Championship) | Loughborough vs Strathclyde |
| 11:00 | Fencing (Mixed Trophy) | Nottingham 2’s vs Manchester |
| 11:00 | Fencing (Women’s Trophy) | LSE vs Warwick |
| 13:00 | Squash (Men’s Championship) | UWE vs Birmingham |
| 13:30 | Tennis (Women’s Championship) | Loughborough vs Stirling |
Afternoon (14:00 – 17:00)
| Time | Final | Fixture |
|---|---|---|
| 14:00 | Netball (Trophy) | Bath 2’s vs Worcester |
| 14:30 | Fencing (Mixed Championship) | St Andrews vs Oxford |
| 14:30 | Fencing (Women’s Championship) | Nottingham vs Edinburgh |
| 14:30 | Wheelchair Basketball (Championship) | Loughborough vs Nottingham |
| 14:30 | Hockey (Women’s Championship) | Loughborough vs Nottingham |
| 15:00 | Badminton (Men’s Championship) | Loughborough vs Nottingham |
| 15:00 | Rugby League (Trophy) | Nottingham Trent vs Northumbria 2’s |
| 15:15 | Water Polo (Men’s Championship) | Durham vs Nottingham |
| 15:30 | Squash (Women’s Championship) | UWE vs Birmingham |
| 15:30 | Tennis (Men’s Championship) | Stirling vs Nottingham |
| 16:30 | Football (Men’s Championship) | Stirling vs Nottingham |
| 16:30 | Lacrosse (Women’s Championship) | Nottingham vs Exeter |
| 16:30 | Netball (Championship) | Loughborough vs Hertfordshire |
| 16:45 | Water Polo (Women’s Championship) | Durham vs Nottingham |
Evening (17:00 – 20:00)
| Time | Final | Fixture |
|---|---|---|
| 17:00 | Basketball (Women’s Championship) | Loughborough 2’s vs Essex |
| 17:30 | Hockey (Men’s Championship) | Exeter vs Loughborough |
| 17:30 | Rugby League (Championship) | Northumbria vs Leeds Beckett |
| 17:30 | Volleyball (Men’s Championship) | Nottingham vs Newcastle |
| 19:15 | Lacrosse (Men’s Championship) | Nottingham vs Durham |
| 19:30 | Basketball (Men’s Championship) | Loughborough vs Newcastle |
| 19:45 | Football (Women’s Championship) | Nottingham vs Northumbria |
| 20:00 | Volleyball (Women’s Championship) | Durham vs Essex |
Standout Fixtures
Across the two days of finals, several standout fixtures are expected to draw large audiences, with national titles on the line and some of the top university programmes in the country going head-to-head.
Football: Men’s National Championship Final
4:30pm, Loughborough University Stadium
The Men’s Football Championship Final sees Premier North rivals Stirling and Nottingham meet once again this season, with the two sides having already shared one win each during the league campaign.
The teams also finished level on points at the top of the Premier North table, with Stirling claiming the title on goal difference and setting up a fitting Championship final between two of the strongest university football teams in the country.
Hockey: Women’s National Championship Final
2:30pm, Loughborough University Hockey Pitch
The Women’s Hockey Championship Final sees Loughborough and Nottingham meet once again in a rematch of last year’s final, which Nottingham won 2–1.
Loughborough arrive as unbeaten Premier National league winners, while second-placed Nottingham are chasing a historic fifth consecutive national title, setting up a national final between two of the strongest programmes in UK university hockey.
Tennis: Men’s National Championship Final
15:30pm, Loughborough University Tennis Centre
The Men’s Tennis Championship Final sees Stirling and Nottingham meet in a rematch of last year’s final, where Nottingham secured their first Championship (tennis) title in 71 years.
Stirling arrive as back-to-back league winners and defeated Nottingham twice during the league season, setting up a national final between the league’s top two teams as Stirling look to reclaim the title from the defending champions.
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Results Coming Soon! We will be bringing you a full round-up of results, match highlights and national champions following the event, so keep an eye out for our BUCS Big Wednesday 2026 Results blog after finals day.
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