Birmingham is gearing up to welcome Europe's best athletes for the 2026 European Athletics Championships, with a focus on lasting community impact.

Birmingham is preparing to host Europe’s best athletes in 2026 – but organisers say the real prize will be what’s left behind once the competition ends.

The European Athletics Championships will take place next August, bringing thousands of competitors and visitors to the city. It will be the first time the event has been staged in the UK, with more than a week of competition planned.

Watch the video: Richard Gullick reports

At the launch event in Alexander Stadium, organisers unveiled the Beyond programme, which they say will ensure the Championships leave a lasting mark on local communities.

Backed by £90,000 in funding from UK Sport and the London Marathon Foundation, the programme will channel support through two charities – Access Sport and StreetGames – which already work in Birmingham to widen access to sport.

The money will fund projects aimed at increasing opportunities for young people, disabled participants, and those in underserved areas to get involved in athletics.

Planned initiatives include upgrading facilities at local clubs, running inclusive coaching sessions, and partnering with schools to encourage more children to be active. There will also be efforts to expand junior parkruns, promote walking and running in schools, and train volunteers who can sustain the work after the Championships are over.

The approach marks a deliberate shift from Birmingham’s last major sporting showcase – the 2022 Commonwealth Games – where large-scale housing and transport projects were plagued by delays, budget overruns, and in some cases failed to meet their original aims.

This time, there will be no expensive new stadiums or complex infrastructure schemes. Instead, organisers say they are focusing on realistic, deliverable projects that use existing resources.

The goal, they stress, is for the legacy of Birmingham 2026 to be measured in participation, inclusion, and opportunities – not just memories of a single week of sport.