Birmingham to host European Athletics Championships in 2026 in UK first - what you should know including venue

Birmingham will be the first city in the UK to host the European Athletics Championships in 2026, it has been announced. It comes after a successful bid process with UK Athletics (UKA).

Working in partnership with Birmingham City Council and UK Sport, UKA had high hopes of hosting Europe’s most prestigious European athletics competition - seven years on from staging the hugely successful European Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow in 2019.

While the UK has hosted multiple Major Championships over the last 15 years including the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the World Athletics and World Para Athletics Championships as well as the World Athletics Indoor Championships, this will be the first time the UK has ever hosted the European Athletics Championships.

The bid win follows on from an exciting summer for athletics in the UK with medal success for Great Britain and Northern Ireland at the World and European Athletics Championships. Home nation teams also scooped medals at the hugely successful home Commonwealth Games hosted by Birmingham at the newly renovated Alexander Stadium – which will be the venue for the event in 2026.

UKA’s Chief Executive Jack Buckner said: “We are delighted and honoured that we have been awarded the privilege of hosting the European Athletics Championships in 2026 in Birmingham. It is wonderful news for athletics and benefits the whole of the UK in demonstrating our ability to host major events across the whole country.

“UKA has held a long time wish to deliver this event and we thank European Athletics for its faith in entrusting us with its most important competition. Our vision for the Championships is about record breaking ticket sales and an amazing atmosphere for athletes to be inspired inside and outside the stadium.

“We have promised to deliver an amazing, innovative and game changing Championships, and we’re excited we can now put this plan into action!” Councillor Ian Ward, leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “We are honoured and privileged to be asked to be the first-ever UK hosts of the prestigious European Athletics Championships in 2026.

“Over many years we have demonstrated we are a city that can proudly host major events of this type and scale – and the people of Birmingham and indeed the entire nation have proven time and time again their huge appetite for sport, especially athletics.

“The Alexander Stadium is beyond all doubt the premier athletics facility in the country and we cannot wait to welcome the elite of European athletics for this event, which will also bring a range of benefits for local communities and our economy beyond the programme of track and field activities.”

Sports Minister Stuart Andrew said: "It is fantastic that Birmingham has been chosen to host the first European Athletics Championship on British soil. The city is perfectly placed to put on the event following record-breaking ticket sales for a brilliant Commonwealth Games earlier this year.

"I look forward to seeing Europe’s elite athletes descend on the West Midlands and the Government will continue to work closely with UK Sport, UK Athletics and Birmingham City Council to host another hugely successful event."

Athletics fans from Birmingham and across the UK and beyond will travel to see these championships. For those interested in hearing first about tickets and wider opportunities to get involved in the championships, you can register on the UK Athletics website.