The 2026 Challenge Cup, known for sponsorship reasons as the 2026 Betfred Challenge Cup, is the 125th staging of the Challenge Cup, the main rugby league knockout cup tournament in British rugby league, run by the Rugby Football League (RFL).
Background The competition retains the seven-round format introduced in 2025. The first round will again be contested solely by community clubs. The Championship clubs join the competition in the second round and the Super League clubs in the third round. However, for 2026, the first and second rounds will be played with clubs allocated to one of three regions, with games being played on a regional basis. This change has been introduced in an effort to reduce costs and an attempt to increase interest in the early rounds of the competition.
As in 2025, the Super League clubs will be drawn away in the third round.
The competition starts in January 2026, and will conclude with the final on 30 May at Wembley Stadium.
Toulouse Olympique declined to take part, as in previous years.
On 9 January 2026, Featherstone Rovers were excluded from the competition due to the ongoing financial difficulties at the club. As the draw for the first and second rounds had already been made by this date, Featherstone's opponent in the second round, Lock Lane were given a bye through to the third round.
Format and dates + Challenge Cup competition format Round Date Clubs involved this round Winners from previous round New entries this round Leagues entering at this round Round 1 10–12 January 34 34 34 UK based community teams Round 2 24–25 January 37 17 20 All teams from the Championship (20) Round 3 6–8 February 32 19 13 13 of the 14 teams from the Super League (all except Toulouse Olympique) Round 4 14–15 March 16 16 colspan=2 rowspan=4 Quarter-finals 11–12 April 8 8 Semi-finals 9–10 May 4 4 Final 30 May 2 2
The 34 clubs in the first round will be allocated to one of three regions, North West, Yorkshire and National. Most of the clubs are from the National Conference League (NCL) but also included are the three armed services clubs, GB Police, one each from the Welsh and Irish leagues, four from the Southern Conference League, one from the London league and one from the Midlands.
St Helens based club, Haresfinch, were originally included in the competition but withdrew before the first-round matches were played. Their place was taken by Oldham St Annes.
North West region There will be 12 clubs in the North West region who will play six ties in the first round; Blackbrook, GB Police, Ince Rose Bridge, Leigh Miners Rangers, Oldham St Annes, Orrell St James, Rochdale Mayfield, Seaton Rangers, Siddal, Thatto Heath Crusaders, Waterhead, and Wigan St Judes.
In the second round, they will be joined by eight Championship clubs; Barrow Raiders, Oldham, Rochdale Hornets, Salford, Swinton Lions, Whitehaven, Widnes Vikings and Workington Town to play seven ties in the second round.
Yorkshire region The Yorkshire region will also comprise 12 clubs playing six ties in the first round; Brighouse Rangers, Dewsbury Moor, Heworth, Hunslet ARLFC, King Cross Park, Lock Lane, Mirfield Spartans, Royal Air Force, Stanningley Rangers, West Hull, Woodhouse and York Acorn.
Nine Championship clubs; Batley Bulldogs, Dewsbury Rams, Doncaster, Goole Vikings, Halifax Panthers, Hunslet, Keighley Cougars, Newcastle Thunder and Sheffield Eagles join the six community clubs to play eight ties in the second round.
National region The National region will contain 10 clubs playing five first-round ties; Aberavon Fighting Irish, Bedford Tigers, British Army, Broncos, Hammersmith Hills Hoists, London Chargers, Medway Dragons, Royal Navy, Telford Raiders and Wests Warriors.
The five first-round winners will be joined in the second round by London Broncos, Midlands Hurricanes and North Wales Crusaders to play four ties in the second round.
First round The draws for the first and second rounds were made on 24 November 2025.
+ Number of teams per tier remaining in competition at start of round 1 Super League Championship Non-League Total
+ Challenge Cup round 1 fixturesHomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance Royal Navy 4–18 Hammersmith Hills Hoists 10 January 2026, 13:00 United Services Recreation Ground O. Maddock rowspan=17 Hunslet ARLFC 48–6 York Acorn 10 January 2026, 13:30 Hunslet Oval M. Clayton Orrell St James 34–0 Oldham St Annes 10 January 2026, 13:30 Bankes Avenue Playing Fields L. Breheny Blackbrook 52–6 GB Police 10 January 2026, 14:00 Boardmans Lane J. Hughes British Army 12–24 Wests Warriors 10 January 2026, 14:00 Army Rugby Stadium S. Jenkinson Thatto Heath Crusaders 78–10 Seaton Rangers 10 January 2026, 14:00 Close Street T. Bell Banbridge Broncos 26–32 Aberavon Fighting Irish 11 January 2026, 13:30 Chambers Park T. Topping-Higson Bedford Tigers 36–6 Medway Dragons 11 January 2026, 14:30 Putnoe Woods O. Salmon Heworth C–C RAFTie conceded by the RAF as they were unable to raise a team for the rescheduled fixture on 17 January. Telford Raiders 18–38 London Chargers 17 January 2026, 13:00 The Old Showground S. Houghton Brighouse Rangers 6–42 Lock Lane 17 January 2026, 13:30 Brighouse Sports Club R. Schofield Stanningley 24–22 Dewsbury Moor 17 January 2026, 13:30 The Arthur Miller Stadium F. Lincoln Woodhouse Warriors 4–36 Mirfield Spartans 17 January 2026, 13:30 Buslingthorpe Vale S. Quarmby King Cross Park 12–42 West Hull 17 January 2026, 14:00 Hopwood Lane J. Stearne Rochdale Mayfield 12–18 Ince Rose Bridge 17 January 2026, 14:00 Mayfield Sports Centre J. Pemberton Wigan St Judes 17–12 Leigh Miners Rangers 17 January 2026, 14:00 Parsons Meadow L. Breheny Siddal 14–22 Waterhead Warriors 18 January 2026, 13:30 Exley Lane L. Seal Source:
Second round + Number of teams per tier remaining in competition at start of round 2 Super League Championship Non-League Total + Challenge Cup round 2 fixturesHomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance Lock Lane C–C Featherstone RoversTie cancelled due to the termination of Featherstone Rovers's RFL membership following the club's entry in administration. Lock Lane received a bye to the third round. Heworth 0–66 Keighley Cougars 24 January 2026, 13:30 Elmpark Way L. Seal Stanningley 0–44 Hunslet 24 January 2026, 13:30 The Arthur Miller Stadium J. Pemberton 950 Ince Rose Bridge 26–44 Swinton Lions 24 January 2026, 14:00 Pinfold Street D. Arnold 1,017 Wigan St Judes 4–76 Barrow Raiders 24 January 2026, 14:00 Parsons Meadow F. Lincoln Sheffield Eagles 18–6 Whitehaven 24 January 2026, 14:30 Steel City Stadium T. Jones 427 Hammersmith Hills Hoists 10–42 Salford 24 January 2026, 18:00 Dukes Meadows M. McKelvey Thatto Heath Crusaders 0–76 Widnes Vikings 25 January 2026, 13:00 Close Street R. Cox 1,400 Waterhead Warriors 6–60 Rochdale Hornets 25 January 2026, 13:30 Manor Park K. Moore Batley Bulldogs 32–10 Hunslet ARLFC 25 January 2026, 14:00 Mount Pleasant L. Bland Blackbrook 6–28 Workington Town 25 January 2026, 14:00 Boardmans Lane A. Williams Dewsbury Rams 32–10 West Hull 25 January 2026, 14:00 Crown Flatt C. Hughes London Broncos 86–0 Wests Warriors 25 January 2026, 14:00 Athletic Ground A. Belafonte North Wales Crusaders 110–0 Bedford Tigers 25 January 2026, 14:30 Eirias Stadium S. Jenkinson 289 Doncaster 24–22 Newcastle Thunder 25 January 2026, 15:00 Eco-Power Stadium M. Lynn 843 Halifax Panthers 88–0 London Chargers 25 January 2026, 15:00 The Shay L. Breheny 676 Mirfield Spartans 4–58 Goole Vikings 25 January 2026, 15:00 Victoria Pleasure Grounds J. Hughes Oldham 58–0 Orrell St James 25 January 2026, 15:00 Bower Fold S. Mikalauskas 671 Midlands Hurricanes 110–0 Aberavon Fighting Irish 25 January 2026, 17:00 Avery Fields M. Clayton 200 Source:
Third round The third round draw was made on 12 January 2026. + Number of teams per tier remaining in competition at start of round 3 Super League Championship Non-League Total + Challenge Cup round 3 fixturesHomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance Hunslet 6–52 Huddersfield Giants 6 February 2026, 19:00 South Leeds Stadium D. Arnold 990 Sheffield Eagles 6–34 Warrington Wolves 6 February 2026, 19:30 Halliwell Jones Stadium S. Mikalauskas 2,908 Workington Town 2–98 St Helens 6 February 2026, 19:30 Derwent Park L. Rush 4,129 Lock Lane 0–104 Hull KR 6 February 2026, 20:00 Craven Park J. Smith Salford 0–60 Hull FC 6 February 2026, 20:00 CorpAcq Stadium M. Lynn 1,976 Doncaster 0–14 Castleford Tigers 7 February 2026, 14:00 Eco-Power Stadium T. Grant 2,537 Widnes Vikings 12–25 Leeds Rhinos 7 February 2026, 15:00 Halton Stadium L. Moore 2,977 Barrow Raiders 6–32 York Knights 7 February 2026, 18:00 Craven Park K. Moore 1,389 North Wales Crusaders 6–60 Leigh Leopards 7 February 2026, 19:00 Eirias Stadium J. Vella 1,899 Batley Bulldogs 4–56 Catalans Dragons 8 February 2026, 14:00 Mount Pleasant R. Cox 703 Halifax Panthers 14–18 Goole Vikings 8 February 2026, 15:00 The Shay L. Bland Keighley Cougars 18–14 Midlands Hurricanes 8 February 2026, 15:00 Cougar Park C. Hughes 634 London Broncos 8–26 Bradford Bulls 8 February 2026, 15:00 Plough Lane M. Griffiths 3,477 Oldham 46–0 Dewsbury Rams 8 February 2026, 15:00 Bower Fold M. McKelvey 741 Rochdale Hornets 0–83 Wigan Warriors 8 February 2026, 15:00 Spotland Stadium A. Moore 4,248 Swinton Lions 6–82 Wakefield Trinity 8 February 2026, 15:00 Heywood Road T. Jones 918 Source:
Fourth round The fourth round draw was made on 9 February 2026. + Number of teams per tier remaining in competition at start of round 4 Super League Championship Non-League Total + Challenge Cup round 4 fixturesHomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance Wakefield Trinity 24–14 Leeds Rhinos 13 March 2026, 20:00 Belle Vue J. Smith 7,136 Wigan Warriors 30–6 Bradford Bulls 13 March 2026, 20:00 Brick Community Stadium L. Rush 9,997 York Knights 56–10 Keighley Cougars 14 March 2026, 12:00 York Community Stadium C. Kendall 2,008 Goole Vikings 10–78 Warrington Wolves 14 March 2026, 14:00 Halliwell Jones Stadium T. Jones 3,195 Huddersfield Giants 12–52 Hull KR 14 March 2026, 15:00 Kirklees Stadium M. Griffiths 2,736 Leigh Leopards 16–6 Hull F.C. 14 March 2026, 15:00 Leigh Sports Village T. Grant 5,535 Catalans Dragons 58–0 Oldham 14 March 2026, 17:30 Stade Gilbert Brutus J. Vella 3,809 Castleford Tigers 8–32 St Helens 14 March 2026, 18:00 Wheldon Road A. Moore 4,354 Source:
Quarter-finals The quarter-final draw was made on 17 March. + Number of teams per tier remaining in competition at the start of the quarter-finals Super League Championship Non-League Total + Challenge Cup quarter-final fixturesHomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance St Helens 36–4 Catalans Dragons 10 April 2026, 20:00 BrewDog Stadium A. Moore 6,785 Hull KR 48–10 York Knights 11 April 2026, 13:30 Craven Park M. Griffiths Warrington Wolves 24–10 Leigh Leopards 11 April 2026, 17:30 Halliwell Jones Stadium J. Smith 7,759 Wakefield Trinity 22–26 Wigan Warriors 12 April 2026, 13:00 Belle Vue L. Moore 8,051 Source:
Semi-finals The draw for the semi-finals took place on Sunday 12 April 2026, during half time between Wakefield Trinity and Wigan Warriors live on BBC One. + Number of teams per tier remaining in competition at the start of the semi-finals Super League Championship Non-League Total + Challenge Cup semi-final fixturesHomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance St Helens 0–32 Wigan Warriors 9 May 2026, 14:30 Halliwell Jones Stadium J. Smith 13,421 Warrington Wolves 12–32 Hull KR 10 May 2026, 16:00 Eco-Power Stadium L. Moore 12,054 Source:
Final
The final took place on Saturday 30 May 2026, as part of finals day, alongside the Women's final.
+ Number of teams per tier remaining in competition at start of final Super League Championship League One Non-League Total