British Athletics confirms 2026 Birmingham schedule

Europe’s top track and field athletes will gather in Birmingham next August for the 2026 European Athletics Championships, a 10-day showdown at the refurbished Alexander Stadium that will crown continental champions across 48 events.

This will be the second time Birmingham hosts the championships, following its successful staging in 2022, but the 2026 edition carries extra weight. With Paris 2024 in the rearview and Los Angeles 2028 on the horizon, the meet doubles as a key Olympic trial for British athletes including Keely Hodgkinson and Amy Hunt. Hodgkinson, the 800m world silver medallist, will headline the British challenge, while Hunt looks to build on her recent breakthroughs in the sprints. The event also marks the first major championships at the newly expanded Alexander Stadium, now with a 30,000-seat capacity and a £72 million upgrade.

Organisers expect over 1,500 athletes from 50 nations, with defending champions like Jakob Ingebrigtsen in the 1500m and Karsten Warholm in the 400m hurdles likely to return. Broadcast deals with EBU and Discovery will beam the action to millions across Europe, while local officials hope the championships will boost participation in grassroots athletics.

Ticket sales open in early 2026, and the organisers have pledged a fan-first experience with free entry to family zones and interactive fan parks. With qualification for the 2028 Olympics on the line, the championships will serve as both a celebration of European talent and a stepping stone to the next global stage.