The 2026 European Athletics Championships start Monday, August 10, in Birmingham, UK. The busy opening day features three individual finals and the mixed 4x400m relay final. The women’s 100m title will also be decided by the end of the evening.

The first session will begin at 10:35 AM with qualification in the women’s shot put, followed by the opening rounds of the men’s 800m, women’s 100m, men’s 400m, and women’s 400m hurdles. There will also be qualification in the men’s hammer throw, long jump, and shot put.

The second session of the day will be the evening program. This is where Jessica Schilder will chase a third consecutive European women’s shot put title. Leonardo Fabbri will defend his men’s title. Jakob Ingebrigtsen will make his long-awaited return from injury in a competitive men’s 5000m final. The mixed 4x400m relay will be decided, and to cap the evening off, the women’s 100m will be decided.

Men’s 800m – round 1

The men’s two-lap event gets underway with opening-round heats at 10:45 a.m., assembling a stacked field of mid-distance talent eager to punch their tickets to the final.

Ireland’s Mark English rolls into Birmingham on the heels of a stellar campaign, highlighted by a 1:43.85 Diamond League victory in Keqiao and a 1:42.97 personal best set in London. The two-time European bronze medallist will look to put himself firmly in the mix for another podium appearance.

Great Britain brings substantial firepower with Max Burgin and Ben Pattison. Burgin, who finished eighth at the Paris Olympics and sixth at the 2025 World Athletics Championships, delivered a signature performance in Rabat when he topped Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi in 1:42.98. Pattison, the 2023 world bronze medallist, holds a lifetime best of 1:42.27 and clocked a season’s best of 1:43.70 in Stockholm.

Spain’s Mohammed Attaoui—the European indoor record holder over 1,000m and world indoor bronze medallist—remains a dangerous threat, while Italy’s Francesco Pernici arrives fresh off erasing Marcello Fiasconaro’s long-standing Italian record with a 1:43.60 performance. Norway’s Tobias Grønstad has likewise inserted himself into medal conversations after taking his personal best down to 1:43.61.

Women’s 100m – round 1, semi-finals and final

The women’s 100m serves as a marquee feature on Day 1, with sprinters lining up for heats at 11:25 a.m., semi-finals at 8:10 p.m., and the final at 9:50 p.m.

Local supporters will rally behind Amy Hunt, who captured the British title in Birmingham in 11.01 seconds and has dipped under the 11-second barrier twice this year. Hunt dropped a personal best of 10.97 in Stockholm before claiming silver at the Commonwealth Games in 10.98.

Dina Asher-Smith returns to defend her crown after winning European gold in Rome in 10.99. The former World 200m champion aims to secure additional hardware on home soil, alongside teammate Daryll Neita.

Switzerland’s Geraldine Frey Di Tizio holds the European seasonal lead at 10.96, while Italy’s Zaynab Dosso brings momentum as the reigning world indoor 60m champion. Poland’s Ewa Swoboda, the European silver medallist from Rome, has run 10.98 this season, setting the stage for a tight sprint competition.

Men’s 400m – round 1

European record holder Matthew Hudson-Smith leads the home contingent as he opens his 400m campaign in the morning session at 11:55 a.m.

The Olympic silver medallist has consistently run low 44s this season, claiming the British title on this track in 44.45 seconds. He faces a deep European field featuring France’s Samuel Vessiot, who broke the French national record with a 44.24 clocking in July, and Hungary’s Attila Molnar, who lowered his national record to 44.47 in Monaco.

Jean Paul Bredau of Germany, Daniel Segers of Belgium, and Edoardo Scotti of Italy will also look to navigate the opening round smoothly.

Women’s 400m hurdles – round 1

The women’s one-lap hurdle event starts at 12:35 p.m., with Slovakia’s Emma Zapletalova entering the meet in peak form.

Zapletalova has won four Diamond League fixtures this season, setting a Slovakian record and a world-leading time of 52.30 seconds in Doha. The 2025 world bronze medallist stands as the odds-on favourite for gold.

Britain’s Commonwealth silver medallist Emily Newnham carries home expectations, while Belgium’s Paulien Couckuyt, France’s Louise Maraval, Norway’s Amalie Iuel, and Italy’s Ayomide Folorunso head the international chase group.

Women’s shot put final – Schilder for the European three-peat

The evening’s first field final takes place in the shot put ring at 7:03 p.m., following morning qualification.

Jessica Schilder enters as the clear favourite, chasing a third consecutive European outdoor title after victories in Munich (2022) and Rome (2024).

The Dutch thrower, who won the world title in Tokyo with a 20.29-metre effort, extended her form in 2026 by launching a Dutch record and world-leading 21.09m in Keqiao, followed by a 20.89m win in Stockholm.

Her compatriot Jorinde van Klinken, silver medallist in Rome, gives the Netherlands a formidable one-two combination. Olympic champion Yemisi Mabry of Germany poses a threat after putting a season’s best of 19.93m in Paris, while Sweden brings a strong pair in Axelina Johansson and Fanny Roos.

Women’s 100m hurdles – round 1

Nadine Visser starts her 100m hurdles campaign at 7:35 p.m. following a consistent summer campaign.

The Dutch athlete and world indoor silver medallist has run 12.41 seconds outdoors this season, recording multiple podium finishes on the Diamond League circuit.

Poland’s Pia Skrzyszowska, the 2022 European champion and 2024 bronze medallist, has clocked 12.44 this year, while world champion Ditaji Kambundji brings major championship credentials. France’s Sasha Alessandrini, Hungary’s Luca Kozak, and Italian up-and-comer Celeste Polzonetti round out a deep field.

Women’s triple jump – qualification

Qualification for the women’s triple jump begins at 7:55 p.m., with Romania’s Diana Ana Maria Ion leading the European standings with a 14.56m leap.

Belgium’s Ilona Masson has extended her mark to 14.52m, while Italy fields Dariya Derkach (14.51m) and Erika Saraceni (14.41m). Former world long jump champion Ivana Spanovic has turned her focus to the triple jump and carries a 14.41m personal best into the contest.

Men’s shot put final – Fabbri defends

Leonardo Fabbri looks to retain his European shot put title when the final gets underway at 8:33 p.m., following morning qualification at 12:40 p.m.

The Italian claimed gold on home soil in Rome two years ago with a 22.45m throw and has won 10 of his first 12 outdoor starts in 2026. His campaign includes Diamond League victories in Rome and Eugene, where he established a world-leading 22.74m. He also captured the Italian national title in Florence with 22.43m.

Fabbri leads an Italian throwers’ contingent that includes training partner Zane Weir (21.42m SB), Nick Ponzio, and Riccardo Ferrara. Sweden’s Wictor Pettersson enters with a seasonal best of 21.38m.

Men’s 5,000m final – Ingebrigtsen versus Almgren, Gressier and Lobalu

One of the featured events on Day 1 comes at 8:40 p.m., as Jakob Ingebrigtsen makes his seasonal debut in the men’s 5,000m.

The Norwegian returns to competition following Achilles tendon surgery and will contest only the 5,000m in Birmingham. Ingebrigtsen completed 1,500m/5,000m double victories at the European Championships in Berlin (2018), Munich (2022), and Rome (2024), and remains the reigning Olympic 5,000m champion.

He returns against a proven field. Sweden’s Andreas Almgren holds the European record at 12:44.27 and has clocked 12:48.61 in Oslo and 12:55.38 in Paris this year.

France’s Jimmy Gressier entered as the reigning world 10,000m champion and 5,000m bronze medallist, while Switzerland’s Dominic Lobalu took the Monaco Diamond League 5,000m in 12:52.54. Belgium’s Isaac Kimeli, the world 5,000m silver medallist, adds further depth to the field.

Women’s 3,000m steeplechase – round 1

Defending champion Alice Finot starts her title defence in the steeplechase heats at 9:00 p.m.

The French athlete won European gold in Rome before placing fourth at the Paris Olympics in a personal best of 8:58.67.

Britain’s Elise Thorner steps up after running 9:05.45 for Commonwealth silver, while two-time European champion Gesa Felicitas Krause of Germany holds a season’s best of 9:07.50. Germany’s Lea Meyer and Finland’s Ilona Mononen will also look to advance cleanly to the final.

Mixed 4x400m relay final

The first track gold medal will be awarded in the mixed 4x400m relay at 9:40 p.m.

With no heat rounds scheduled, the event moves directly to a straight final, testing squad depth and leg order strategy among Europe’s top 400m programs.

Women’s 100m final closes day 1

The day concludes at 9:50 p.m. with the women’s 100m final.

Finalists will navigate three rounds in a single day, putting a premium on recovery and race execution. Hunt, Asher-Smith, Frey Di Tizio, Swoboda, and Dosso highlight a final that promises a close finish to open the championships in Birmingham.

How to watch and schedule

How to Watch – Live stream and TV coverage

The 2026 European Athletics Championships will be streamed live globally for free on the European Athletics website.

  • EUROVISION LIVESTREAM SPORTS HERE

TV Broadcasters by Country:

SCHEDULE

Time local = GMT +1

Day 1 – Monday, August 10

Session 1 – Morning

  • 10:35 – Women’s Shot Put – Qualification A+B
  • 10:40 – Men’s Hammer Throw – Qualification A
  • 10:45 – Men’s 800m – Round 1
  • 11:25 – Women’s 100m – Round 1
  • 11:30 – Men’s Long Jump – Qualification A+B
  • 11:55 – Men’s 400m – Round 1
  • 12:20 – Men’s Hammer Throw – Qualification B
  • 12:35 – Women’s 400m Hurdles – Round 1
  • 12:40 – Men’s Shot Put – Qualification A+B

Session 2 – Evening

  • 18:10 – Opening Ceremony
  • 19:03 – Women’s Shot Put – Final
  • 19:10 – Women’s Hammer Throw – Qualification A
  • 19:35 – Women’s 100m Hurdles – Round 1
  • 19:55 – Women’s Triple Jump – Qualification A+B
  • 20:10 – Women’s 100m – Semi-Final
  • 20:33 – Men’s Shot Put – Final
  • 20:38 – Women’s Hammer Throw – Qualification B
  • 20:40 – Men’s 5000m – Final
  • 21:00 – Women’s 3000m Steeplechase – Round 1
  • 21:40 – Mixed 4x400m Relay – Final
  • 21:50 – Women’s 100m – Final

Day 12 – Monday, August 11

Session 3 – Morning

  • 10:33 – Men’s High Jump – Qualification A+B
  • 10:35 – Men’s Discus Throw – Qualification A
  • 10:45 – Women’s 400m Hurdles – Semi-Final
  • 11:15 – Men’s 100m – Round 1
  • 11:40 – Men’s 110m Hurdles – Round 1
  • 12:00 – Men’s Discus Throw – Qualification B
  • 12:05 – Women’s 800m – Round 1
  • 12:40 – Men’s 400m Hurdles – Round 1

Session 4 – Evening

  • 19:05 – Women’s Pole Vault – Qualification A+B
  • 19:10 – Men’s Hammer Throw – Final
  • 19:25 – Women’s 5000m – Final
  • 19:55 – Women’s 100m Hurdles – Semi-Final
  • 20:16 – Men’s Long Jump – Final
  • 20:32 – Men’s 100m – Semi-Final
  • 21:00 – Men’s 400m – Semi-Final
  • 21:30 – Women’s 100m Hurdles – Final
  • 21:47 – Men’s 100m – Final

Day 3 – Monday, August 12

Session 5 – Morning

  • 10:35 – Men’s Decathlon 100m – Heats
  • 10:40 – Women’s Discus Throw – Qualification A
  • 11:05 – Women’s 400m – Round 1
  • 11:20 – Men’s Decathlon Long Jump – A+B
  • 11:40 – Women’s 200m – Round 1
  • 12:00 – Women’s Discus Throw – Qualification B
  • 12:20 – Men’s 800m – Semi-Final
  • 12:45 – Men’s Decathlon Shot Put – A+B
  • 12:55 – Men’s 400m Hurdles – Semi-Final

Session 6 – Evening

  • 18:40 – Men’s Decathlon High Jump – A+B
  • 19:45 – Women’s Hammer Throw – Final
  • 19:55 – Men’s 110m Hurdles – Semi-Final
  • 20:20 – Women’s 200m – Semi-Final
  • 20:40 – Men’s Triple Jump – Qualification A+B
  • 20:50 – Men’s 400m – Final
  • 21:08 – Women’s 400m Hurdles – Final
  • 21:22 – Men’s Decathlon 400m – Heats
  • 21:47 – Men’s 110m Hurdles – Final

Day 4 – Monday, August 13

Session 7 – Morning

  • 10:33 – Men’s Decathlon 110m Hurdles – Heats
  • 10:55 – Women’s High Jump – Qualification A+B
  • 11:05 – Men’s 200m – Round 1
  • 11:20 – Men’s Decathlon Discus Throw – A
  • 11:30 – Men’s 3000m Steeplechase – Round 1
  • 12:10 – Women’s 800m – Semi-Final
  • 12:30 – Men’s Decathlon Discus Throw – B
  • 12:45 – Women’s 400m – Semi-Final
  • 13:00 – Men’s Decathlon Pole Vault – A
  • 13:45 – Men’s Decathlon Pole Vault – B
  • 13:48 – Men’s Javelin Throw – Qualification A
  • 15:10 – Men’s Javelin Throw – Qualification B

Session 8 – Evening

  • 18:35 – Men’s Decathlon Javelin Throw – A
  • 19:35 – Men’s Decathlon Javelin Throw – B
  • 19:40 – Women’s Triple Jump – Final
  • 19:50 – Women’s Pole Vault – Final
  • 20:05 – Men’s 200m – Semi-Final
  • 20:29 – Women’s 3000m Steeplechase – Final
  • 20:45 – Men’s Discus Throw – Final
  • 21:10 – Men’s Decathlon 1500m – Final
  • 21:28 – Men’s 800m – Final
  • 21:50 – Women’s 200m – Final

Day 5 – Monday, August 14

Session 9 – Morning

  • 10:35 – Women’s Heptathlon 100m Hurdles – Heats
  • 10:40 – Women’s Javelin Throw – Qualification A
  • 10:50 – Men’s Pole Vault – Qualification A+B
  • 11:05 – Men’s 4x400m Relay – Round 1
  • 11:25 – Women’s Heptathlon High Jump – A+B
  • 11:35 – Women’s 4x400m Relay – Round 1
  • 12:00 – Women’s Javelin Throw – Qualification B
  • 12:05 – Men’s 1500m – Round 1

Session 10 – Evening

  • 19:35 – Women’s Heptathlon Shot Put – A+B
  • 19:45 – Women’s 10,000m – Final
  • 20:00 – Men’s High Jump – Final
  • 20:30 – Women’s Discus Throw – Final
  • 20:40 – Men’s 400m Hurdles – Final
  • 20:55 – Women’s Heptathlon 200m – Heats
  • 21:25 – Men’s 200m – Final
  • 21:46 – Women’s 800m – Final

Day 6 – Monday, August 15

Session 11 – Morning

  • 07:30 – Men’s Half Marathon Race Walk – Final
  • 07:30 – Women’s Half Marathon Race Walk – Final
  • 07:30 – Men’s Marathon Race Walk – Final
  • 07:30 – Women’s Marathon Race Walk – Final
  • 10:25 – Women’s Heptathlon Long Jump – A+B
  • 11:50 – Women’s Long Jump – Qualification A+B
  • 11:55 – Women’s Heptathlon Javelin Throw – A+B
  • 12:15 – Women’s 1500m – Round 1
  • 12:40 – Women’s 4x100m Relay – Round 1
  • 13:00 – Men’s 4x100m Relay – Round 1

Session 12 – Evening

  • 19:45 – Women’s Heptathlon 800m – Final
  • 20:01 – Men’s Javelin Throw – Final
  • 20:07 – Women’s High Jump – Final
  • 20:10 – Women’s 400m – Final
  • 20:17 – Men’s Triple Jump – Final
  • 20:25 – Men’s 10,000m – Final
  • 21:07 – Men’s 1500m – Final
  • 21:33 – Men’s 4x100m Relay – Final
  • 21:48 – Women’s 4x100m Relay – Final

Day 7 – Monday, August 16

Morning

  • 07:30 – Women’s Marathon – Final
  • 08:10 – Men’s Marathon – Final

Session 13 – Evening

  • 19:30 – Men’s Pole Vault – Final
  • 19:55 – Women’s Javelin Throw – Final
  • 20:05 – Women’s Long Jump – Final
  • 20:35 – Mixed 4x100m Relay – Final
  • 20:50 – Men’s 3000m Steeplechase – Final
  • 21:13 – Women’s 1500m – Final
  • 21:33 – Women’s 4x400m Relay – Final
  • 21:48 – Men’s 4x400m Relay – Final

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted