University Challenge: Have you got what it takes to represent Reading in 2026?
In 1962 Reading appeared in the first ever episode of University Challenge. Fast forward to 2025 and in the last few years alone we’ve made it to the final and taken on some valiant battles against our fellow competitors.
Now we’re looking for a team of four (plus a reserve member) to take us to the auditions for 2026.
How to sign up
You have two options:
Option 1
We will be hosting an in-person University Challenge-themed quiz in Flex on Friday 21 November at 6:30-7:30pm.
If you’d like to take part, please complete our sign up form.
Sign-ups will close at midnight on Thursday 20 November.
Option 2
If you can’t make it to the in-person event, please sign up for our online quiz, which will be open from 17-21 November.
The quiz will be emailed to you on 17 November, so keep an eye on your University emails.
Selection process explained
Once you have taken part in either option 1 or 2, we will contact the eight highest scorers to meet up with us for a Q&A session on Monday 1 December at 1pm on campus.
Please make sure you are free to attend on this day before you sign up.
We will then pick our final team and be in touch to share the decision.
Dates for your diary
Aside from the University selection process outlined above, you will need to confirm your availability on the following dates:
Interview with production company between Wednesday 7 and Tuesday 27 January 2026 (exact day and location to be confirmed). This involves a general knowledge quiz and chat with the TV production team.
Filming dates:
- Tuesday 24 to Friday 27 February 2026 (inclusive)
- Wednesday 25 to Friday 27 March 2026 (inclusive)
- Tuesday 21 to Thursday 23 April 2026 (inclusive)
As the programme is a tournament, with winning teams progressing, you will need to confirm availability for all of these dates as the team may be required for multiple days of filming.
Please note the studios are at MediaCityUK in Salford, near Manchester.
You’ll be able to claim back reasonable travel and food expenses incurred in the course of taking part in recordings, and we will arrange and pay for hotel accommodation for the recordings if you need it.
Still not sure?
We want to encourage as many people to apply for the team as possible, as that means we can get the best quizzers from across the University.
If you're not sure, or have any questions at all about applying, please feel free to email Sophie on s.c.anderson@reading.ac.uk and she will be able to help answer your questions.