For the first time in its history, the European Athletics Championships is heading to the United Kingdom. Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium will host seven days of finals from August 10 to 16, 2026, and the home crowd already has plenty to be excited about.
Dates and Venue
The championships run across a full week, with morning and evening sessions each day. The closing day, Sunday August 16, is stacked, featuring both the men’s and women’s marathons alongside the men’s pole vault final, giving fans a marathon of finals to match the literal marathon on the road.
Home Favorites to Watch
Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson, the reigning Olympic 800m champion, headlines the host nation’s medal hopes. Our deep dive into Keely Hodgkinson’s medal chances breaks down exactly what stands between her and gold on home soil. Other UK stars in the mix include Dina Asher-Smith, Katarina Johnson-Thompson and long jumper Jazmin Sawyer.
International Stars in Birmingham
- Mondo Duplantis (Sweden) – pole vault world record holder
- Jakob Ingebrigtsen (Norway) – returning from Achilles surgery
- Femke Bol (Netherlands) – hurdles and relay star
- Mattia Furlani (Italy) – rising long jump talent
Ingebrigtsen’s Comeback
Perhaps the most closely watched storyline is Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s return. The Norwegian underwent Achilles surgery in January 2026 and has not raced all season, but his team has confirmed he will compete in Birmingham. Our full Jakob Ingebrigtsen career guide traces how he built his reputation as one of the sport’s most dominant middle-distance runners.
Why Birmingham Matters
Alexander Stadium, which hosted the 2022 Commonwealth Games, can expand to 40,000 seats for major events, and organizers expect a raucous atmosphere befitting the championship’s first UK edition. Duplantis in particular is expected to draw huge crowds for the pole vault final, a discipline we break down further in our guide to how pole vault scoring and technique actually work.
The Bottom Line
With home stars chasing medals and international legends returning from injury, the 2026 European Athletics Championships promises one of the most compelling weeks on this year’s athletics calendar.