The biggest stars in European athletics head to Birmingham this week for the 2026 European Athletics Championships with continental titles and in some cases world records on the line, just a week after the close of the Commonwealth Games.
A world-class field is headlined by the likes of Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson, who has endured a stop-start season and faces fierce competition in what should be an electrifying 800m event, with Switzerland’s Audrey Werro, the fastest woman in the world this year, and Femke Broeders-Bol – stepping up from her usual 400m hurdles – also on the startlist.
Hodgkinson’s training partner and new Commonwealth Games 800m champion Georgia Hunter Bell is in action but only in the 1,500m. Britain’s new sprint star Amy Hunt stormed to victory in the 100m, dethroning reining champion Dina Asher-Smith, and will also look to add the 200m title.
In total, 10 reigning world champions will be in action, including legendary pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis, while Norway’s Olympic 5,000m champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen made his long-awaited return from injury - having not competed at all in 2026 - by storming to a seventh European gold.
Here’s everything you need to know.
When are the European Athletics Championships?
The European Athletics Championships take place in Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium from 10-16 August, the first time they have been held in the UK.
How can I watch it?
The European Athletics Championships will be broadcast live on the BBC and BBC iPlayer. Coverage begins on 10 August on BBC Two from 10.30am.
European Athletics Championships 2026 schedule
All times BST
Friday 14 August
- 10:35am – Women’s heptathlon 100m hurdles
- 10:40am – Women’s javelin throw - qualifying
- 10:50am - Men’s pole vault - qualifying
- 11:05am – Men’s 4x400m relay - round 1
- 11:25am – Women’s heptathlon high jump
- 11:35am – Women’s 4x400m relay - round 1
- 12:00pm – Women’s javelin throw - qualifying
- 12:05pm – Men’s 1500m - round 1
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- 7:35pm – Women’s heptathlon shot put
- 7:45pm – Women’s 10,000m - FINAL🏅
- 8:00pm – Men’s high jump - FINAL🏅
- 8:30pm – Women’s discus throw - FINAL🏅
- 8:40pm – Men’s 400m hurdles - FINAL🏅
- 8:55pm – Women’s heptathlon 200m
- 9:25pm – Men’s 200m - FINAL🏅
- 9:46pm – Women’s 800m - FINAL🏅
Saturday 15 August
- 7:30am – Men’s and women’s half marathon race walk - FINAL🏅, Men’s and women’s marathon race walk - FINAL🏅
- 10:25am – Women’s heptathlon long jump
- 11:50am – Women’s long jump - qualifying
- 11:55am – Women’s heptathlon javelin throw
- 12:15pm – Women’s 1500m - round 1
- 12:40pm – Women’s 4x100m relay - round 1
- 1:00pm – Men’s 4x100m relay - round 1
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- 7:45pm – Women’s heptathlon 800m - FINAL🏅
- 8:01pm – Men’s javelin throw - FINAL🏅
- 8:07pm – Women’s high jump - FINAL🏅
- 8:10pm – Women’s 400m - FINAL🏅
- 8:17pm – Men’s triple jump - FINAL🏅
- 8:25pm – Men’s 10,000m - FINAL🏅
- 9:07pm – Men’s 1500m - FINAL🏅
- 9:33pm – Men’s 4x100m relay - FINAL🏅
- 9:48pm – Women’s 4x100m relay - FINAL🏅
Sunday 16 August
- 7:30am – Women’s marathon - FINAL🏅
- 8:10am – Men’s marathon - FINAL🏅
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- 7:30pm – Men’s pole vault - FINAL🏅
- 7:55pm – Women’s javelin throw - FINAL🏅
- 8:05pm – Women’s long jump - FINAL🏅
- 8:35pm – Mixed 4x100m relay - FINAL🏅
- 8:50pm – Men’s 3000m steeplechase - FINAL🏅
- 9:13pm – Women’s 1500m - FINAL🏅
- 9:33pm – Women’s 4x400m relay - FINAL🏅
- 9:48pm – Men’s 4x400m relay - FINAL🏅