Great Britain has hosted a number of international competitions over the past 20 years, including the 2012 London Olympic Games. There were also the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games and the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Great Britain also hosted the 2017 World Athletics Championships. Athletes are currently lobbying the government to support a bid for the 2029 World Athletics Championships.
Next is the 2026 European Athletics Championships in Birmingham. Great Britain has never hosted the event, which started in 1934 in Turin, Italy. The meeting has run in various cadences from annual to quadannual. In 1938, the event was held twice, two weeks apart Nazi Germany topped the medal table at both events. The meeting was held first in Paris, France, then in Vienna, Austria; however, Vienna was annexed at the time and was listed as Germany.
Chorzów, Poland, is scheduled to host the following meeting in 2028. Rome, Italy, hosted the 2024 edition.
Press release
(edited):
Organizers of the European Athletics Championships Birmingham 2026 have today revealed the official competition timetable for the stadium events. This is along with key ticketing information for what promises to be the biggest athletics event in the UK since London 2017.
Taking place at the newly redeveloped Alexander Stadium in August 2026, the Championships will welcome Europe’s finest track and field athletes for seven days of world-class sporting drama – and fans can sign up for priority access to tickets ahead of the public sale this September.
More than 250,000 tickets will be made available across the event. Prices are designed to be inclusive and family-friendly for the event, which takes place from 10-16 August during the school summer holidays. Adult tickets start from just £10. Child prices are available for every session, and half of all tickets priced at £30 or less.
In a major win for families, a family of four will be able to attend a session for just £30 in total, offering unbeatable value for one of the summer’s must-see sporting spectacles.
Amongst the notable elements of the championship will be the ‘One-Day-Deciders’ for some disciplines. With qualifying and finals taking place on the same day. The 100m Championships will open in the mornings and conclude with semi-finals and finals in the evening. The men’s and women’s shot put and 4x100m relays will also open and conclude on the same day. GB & NI fans will be spoiled for choice with strong home-team medal opportunities every day of the schedule.
Each of the ticketed sessions has been categorized to reflect the events taking place. With guidance on potential medal moments and key finals to help fans choose their ideal experience. With European titles and national pride on the line, the Championships will be Europe’s premier athletics competition. And a rare chance to see the mighty GB & NI team, the most successful nation in European Championship history, competing on home soil.
It will also mark the first time the UK has hosted a major outdoor athletics championship since the record-breaking World Athletics Championships in London 2017. This will be the first ever staging of the European Athletics Championships in the UK.
Fans are encouraged to sign up…
Fans are encouraged to sign up now at www.birmingham26.com to secure exclusive early access to ticket sales before the general public.
The event is being delivered by Athletic Ventures, with the support of key partners including Birmingham City Council, European Athletics, UK Sport, and funding from Birmingham City Council, the West Midlands Combined Authority, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, and The National Lottery.
Cherry Alexander, Championships Director for Birmingham 2026, said, “We’ve built this timetable with the fans and athletes firmly in mind. From jam-packed morning sessions to those big-ticket evening finals, it’s going to be a feast of unforgettable moments. Birmingham 2026 is all about creating the ultimate stage for Europe’s best to shine. We want to see every seat filled, every voice cheering, and every athlete lifted by the roar of the crowd. It’s going to be bold, brilliant and bursting with passion. So sign up now and don’t miss your chance to be part of something truly special!”
“Don’t miss your chance to be part of history. Register for priority access today and be there as Birmingham plays host to Europe’s best in 2026.”
