runABC contributor Alan Newman has attended many international athletics events, but he was surprised to discover that the European Championships had never been held in Britain...until now.

The 27th European Athletics Championships will be held in Alexander Stadium, Birmingham, from 10th to 16th August 2026, with tickets on sale from £10 (adult) and £5 (child under 16), and 50% of all tickets are priced at £30 or less.

You could even get to the European Championships for free by applying to "Be a Champion". Organisers need about 1,500 volunteers to support the event in roles including spectator services, hospitality, and medal ceremonies. Applicants must be over 18, have the right to work in the UK, and be available from 8-17 August. The online application process closes on 10th March 2026.

Councillor Sharon Thompson, deputy leader of Birmingham city council, said that hosting the championships was: "A chance to feel the buzz of a major sporting event, while providing the warm Brummie welcome our city is famous for".

Alexander Stadium was renovated between 2019 and 2022 for the 2022 Commonwealth Games and now has two permanent stands seating 18,000. The capacity can be extended to 40,000 for major events.

The Great Britain & Northern Ireland team will be selected after trials later this year. In the women's 800m, we can expect to see the defending European champion Keeley Hodgkinson in action, as she has a guaranteed wild-card entry. The only other defending European champion is Dina Asher-Smith (100m). As hosts, Team GB is automatically allocated entries to all of the relay events. To see who else has reached the entry standard from all nations, visit European Athletics Road to Birmingham. 

At the last European Championships in Rome two years ago, a team of 70 athletes represented GB&NI, winning 13 medals across all events. Traditionally, home advantage adds considerable weight to medal chances, as we have seen in London 2012 and 2017.

Let's get behind Team GB&NI by securing tickets to support our athletes – click to purchase now.

Birmingham 2026 promotional image courtesy of the British Athletics website.