European Athletics Championships: Birmingham prepares

Birmingham is set to host the European Athletics Championships this August, with more than 1,500 track and field stars from about 50 countries expected to compete.

The renovated Alexander Stadium will be the venue for the event.

Taking place from 10-16 August, it will be the first time that the championships have been held in the UK.

Thousands are expected in the city, four years on from when Birmingham memorably hosted the Commonwealth Games.

Birmingham 2026 will deliver seven packed days of "elite performances, homegrown heroes and edge-of-your-seat finals", said organisers.

"Look out for 'one-day-deciders' – where events like the 100m sprint will go from heats to finals all in one thrilling day."

The Alexander Stadium is a track and field athletics stadium in Perry Park, Birmingham.

First opened in 1976, the facility became the home of UK Athletics in 2011 following a refurbishment with additional seating being installed to accommodate "unprecedented demand" for tickets.

By train: The nearest station is the recently rebuilt Perry Barr, which is about a 20-minute walk from the station.

By car: The postcode for sat-nav: B42 2LR

By Bus: Buses 51, X51 and 52 depart from a variety of stops around Birmingham City centre. Get off at Perry Avenue and take an eight-minute walk to Alexander Stadium.

Buses 33, 907, 907A, 934, 935, 936, 937, 937A and 997 depart from a variety of stops around Birmingham City centre. Get off at Perry Park and take a 14-minute walk to Alexander Stadium.

Birmingham Airport was announced as the official airport of the championships, and is expected to welcome athletes, officials, and spectators from across Europe and beyond.

The North Stand at the stadium has been renamed to honour Great Britain track star Matthew Hudson-Smith during the championships.

Olympic silver medallist Hudson-Smith, who has won four European titles, was born in nearby Wolverhampton.

Hudson-Smith has twice won individual gold in the 400m at the European Championships, in Berlin in 2018 and in Munich in 2022.

The competition starts on 10 August with the men's hammer and women's shot put, plus sprints and hurdles on the track, with the first medals handed out including the winner of the men's 5000m final.

Although there had been high demand for tickets, some were still available from the event website, said organisers.

The stadium action ends on 16 August with nine finals, including both 4x400m relays and the mixed 4x100m, along with the women's 1500m and men's pole vault also on the bill.

The Unity 5K is a mass participation run through the heart of Birmingham, taking place from 11:00 BST on 16 August, the final day of the competition.

Thousands of runners will take on a 5K route through the city centre, using the same roads as the championship marathon earlier that day.

The race starts on Broad Street and finishes in Victoria Square, with some roads affected.

Alongside the 5K, a 1K fun run is available for ages three and up.

Children aged 12 and under can enter the 1K for free and receive a free adult companion bib for someone aged 18 or over to run with them, organisers said.

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