Birmingham host of 2026 athletics spectacle

Article posted by Coliseum, November 21^st, 2022

Image: Birmingham 2022

Birmingham (UK) has been chosen to host the European Athletics Championships in 2026.

‘BBC Sport’ stated that the renovated Alexander Stadium in Birmingham, England (UK), which was used when the Commonwealth Games took place in the City earlier this year, will be the venue for the event.

The 2026 European Athletics Championships will be the 27^th edition of the European Athletics Championships and will be held in Birmingham, United Kingdom. The 2022 Commonwealth Games host City was selected after Budapest (Hungary) pulled out of the bidding. The redeveloped Alexander Stadium in Perry Park will be used to host the championships. This will be first time that the event will be held in the United Kingdom.

The 18,000-capacity Alexander Stadium is a track and field athletics stadium in Perry Park, Birmingham, England (UK). It hosted the athletics and opening/closing ceremonies of the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

‘BBC Sport’ further stated that UK Athletics (UKA) Chief Executive Jack Buckner said it was “wonderful news for athletics”.

He added, “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 gamechanging Championships, and we’re excited we can now put this plan into action.”

Budapest, in Hungary, had been a rival to Birmingham to host the event in 2026 but pulled out.

Said Sally Munday, UK Sport Chief Executive, “Hosting the European Athletics Championships will be a fantastic opportunity to build on the legacy of the Commonwealth Games earlier this year and I know the British public will get behind the athletes and create a brilliant atmosphere in the Alexander Stadium. We’ve seen throughout 2022 the significant economic and social benefits of hosting big sporting events in this country and hosting this mega event will deliver huge benefits for the City of Birmingham, the West Midlands region and the whole of the United Kingdom.”

Birmingham (UK)-based UK Athletics is the governing body for the sport of athletics in the United Kingdom. It is responsible for overseeing the governance of athletics events in the UK as well as the athletes, their development and athletics officials.

London (UK) based UK Sport is the Government agency responsible for investing in Olympic and Paralympic sport in the United Kingdom. It is an executive non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport.

Continue to follow Coliseum for latest updates on venues business news. Coliseum is dedicated towards building the best global community of sports and entertainment venue executives and professionals creating better and more profitable venues.

Become a member of the only Global Sports Venue Alliance and connect with stadiums, arenas and experts from around the world. Apply for membership at www.coliseum-online.com/alliance and make use of the 365Coliseum Business.