NSR 2026 Race schedule now published

The moment thousands of junior rowers, coaches, and supporters have been waiting for has arrived. The Draw for the National Schools’ Regatta 2026 is now live, and the full race schedule for this year’s regatta at Dorney Lake is available to view now here.

What the draw contains

The full NSR 2026 race schedule covers all events across the three days of competition at Dorney Lake — Friday 22 May, Saturday 23 May, and Sunday 24 May. With 1,174 crews from 163 clubs and schools representing 5,497 athletes, this year’s draw is one of the most substantial in the regatta’s history. Every event — from J14 through to J18 Championship — is included, covering sculling and rowing events for both girls and open categories across all boat classes.

Coaches are advised to check their event times carefully and share the information with athletes, parents, and supporters as soon as possible so that travel and logistics can be planned accordingly. With thousands of supporters making the journey to Dorney Lake across the three days, early planning always pays off.

A record entry

This year’s draw reflects what is shaping up to be an exceptional NSR. The 2026 entry figures are among the strongest the regatta has ever seen — 5,497 athletes from 163 clubs and schools across the United Kingdom, representing every corner of the junior rowing community from Scotland to the south coast, from club programmes to some of the country’s most established school rowing programmes.

The breadth of the entry — across age groups, boat classes, and ability levels — reflects everything NSR has stood for since Desmond Hill gathered four schools on the Thames at Godstow in 1947. From the J14 racing competitively for the very first time to the J18 Championship crew chasing the gold medal that defines their season, every athlete in the draw belongs here and has earned their place on the start line.

Plan your visit

With The Draw now published, supporters and families can begin planning their visit to Dorney Lake in detail. NSR 2026 takes place across three days at Dorney Lake, Windsor — the venue that hosted the rowing and canoe sprint events at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games — and entry for spectators is free across all three days.

New for 2026, a covered 181-seat grandstand will be in place at the 1500 metre mark of the course, offering elevated tiered seating with views across all six racing lanes. The grandstand is free to use on a first come, first served basis and will be open across all three days of the regatta.

Full visitor information — including site maps, parking details, and on-site facilities — is available here

Pre-order your NSR kit

With The Draw now live and race week approaching fast, there is one more deadline to keep in mind. Pre-orders for the NSR 2026 online shop close on Wednesday 20 May at 12pm. The NSR shop offers a range of official regatta kit, and every purchase directly supports the NSR Charitable Trust — which distributed a record £72,500 to junior rowing clubs and schools across the UK in 2024. Pre-ordering is strongly recommended as on-site stock is limited. Visit the shop here .

Good luck to all

From everyone at the National Schools’ Regatta, we wish every crew the very best as they make their final preparations for Dorney Lake. Whatever the draw holds — whatever the lane, whatever the opposition — the fact that you are here, racing at NSR, is something to be enormously proud of.

The water is waiting.