The regatta, a staple in the summer sporting and social calendar, will run from Tuesday, June 30, to Sunday, July 5.

The event is set to draw thousands of visitors over its six-day duration, promising more than 300 races featuring international-standard competitors, including Olympic rowers and newcomers to the regatta.

The Henley Royal Regatta, with a history spanning more than 185 years, is known for its tradition and lively atmosphere, providing spectators with a chance to unwind and relish the day.

Henley Royal Regatta is a pinnacle event within both the rowing season and the summer sporting calendar, with legendary British rowers and past Olympian champions such as Sir Matthew Pinsent CBE in attendance.

The Regatta is steeped in tradition and strives to create an uplifting environment that enables spectators to relax and fully enjoy the day.

Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned Member, the Regatta is sure to offer you a great day out – with plenty of racing action and an electric atmosphere.

The regatta is not just about the sport; it also offers high-quality service, including food and entertainment throughout the day.

Tickets for the Regatta Enclosure can be purchased at https://www.hrr.co.uk/book-tickets/, starting at £38 per person.

Spectators can enjoy the event for free along the riverbank.

For those unable to attend, a video preview of the event is available.

Those wishing to attend and cover the Regatta can apply for accreditation.

The FT Nikkei UK Ekiden will take place for the third time on June 12 along a 112km stretch of the Thames Path.

Anna Dingley, founder and CEO of the FT Nikkei UK Ekiden, said: “The UK Ekiden is a truly special race, and it is a team race, which people can aspire to be part of.

“University teams must qualify, while corporate teams support the event and compete alongside them.

“With costs covered for universities and mixed teams representing their institutions, it creates a high-performance, inclusive environment.

“Introducing qualification has elevated the competition even further.

“We already have a waiting list, and it’s fast becoming a standout fixture in the student sporting calendar.”

Starting at Brocas Field in Windsor and finishing at King’s Meadow in Reading, this year’s event promises to be its most competitive yet.

It will feature 35 teams – including 17 qualifying university teams from across the UK – running in a relay format using the traditional Japanese tasuki sash.

The event has been licensed by England Athletics for the first time.

Athletes will navigate footpaths, fields, gates and bridges in a true test of endurance.

Last year’s winners, Japan’s Ritsumeikan University, secured victory after Oxford was disqualified for failing to complete the tasuki handover in the designated area.

Matt Seddon, athletics director for the FT Nikkei UK Ekiden, said: “The UK Ekiden tests which institution is truly the best in endurance running.

“Success depends on the strength of the team, not the individual—there’s nowhere to hide.

“It showcases distance running in its purest form: a point-to-point relay.”

In addition to the university competition, 18 corporate and community teams will take part in the event.

Ms Dingley said: “It’s a notoriously challenging time for graduates entering the job market, and the headlines can be pretty discouraging.

“At the UK Ekiden, we’re proud that our corporate partners don’t just fund the event and student participation—they also engage directly with students.

“This year, we’re introducing informal talks in the race village where sponsors share their career journeys and offer practical advice, helping students better understand the opportunities ahead of them.”

Supported by the Financial Times and Nikkei, the event aims to promote university running and strengthen ties between the UK and Japan through sport.

Each year, the race highlights a different Japanese prefecture to introduce UK audiences to new regions of Japan.

This year’s event will focus on Ishikawa Prefecture, which was affected by an earthquake in 2024.

Participants will receive prizes from the region and a commemorative medal featuring a poem from the local community.

Aeralis was banking on winning a UK Government contract to replace the Hawk jets currently flown by the RAF’s Red Arrows, which are set to retire in 2030.

The company had pitched itself as the only British firm capable of supplying a UK-designed and built advanced jet trainer.

However, around 30 jobs have now been lost after the company entered administration following a period of financial difficulty.

Joanne Milner, representing administrators Buchler Phillips, said: “Aeralis has developed a highly differentiated proposition within the aerospace and defence sector.

“We hope that the administration process will provide an opportunity to explore routes to preserve and develop that value for stakeholders.”

Aeralis chairman Robin Southwell said the decision to go into administration had been taken after “careful consideration of the company’s position and the funding challenges it has faced over recent months”.

“We will continue to support the joint administrators as they explore viable, sustainable options for the future of the business and engage with interested parties,” he added.

Why did Aeralis fall into administration?

BBC News reports that Aeralis’ main investor, Barzan Holdings, the strategic investment and procurement arm of Qatar’s Ministry of Defence, withdrew its funding amid the US-Israeli war with Iran.

Administrators shared the company had faced “a sustained period of pressure” on its cashflow after “continued delays to the UK Defence Investment Plan, combined with geopolitical factors affecting sources of funding”.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed that the jet trainer procurement process is still underway.

An MoD spokesperson said: “The fast jet trainer programme is ongoing and no final procurement decisions have been made.

“More broadly, this government is backing British jobs, British industry, and British innovators – since July 2024, we have signed 1,200 major contracts, with 93% of the spend going to UK-based companies.”

Aeralis estimated that its programme could have created 4,000 new jobs in the UK and generated £600 million in annual exports.

However, the design remained digital-only, pending government support to move into production.

The company had planned for parts of the jet to be designed and manufactured at sites across the UK, with final assembly at Prestwick International Airport in Ayrshire, Scotland.

Last year’s Strategic Defence Review recommended that the RAF’s ageing Hawk jets be replaced with a “cost-effective, advanced trainer jet,” and advised that MoD procurement should benefit UK businesses.

In an interview prior to the company’s collapse, Mr Southwell urged the government to provide direction to help unlock industry growth.

Other contenders believed to be in the running to supply the next trainer aircraft include BAE Systems and Leonardo.

Aeralis had also explored producing jets in France but had prioritised a UK-based model focused on jobs and exports.