The 2026 European Athletics Championships began in Birmingham today, bringing together the continent’s finest athletes.
The Alexander Stadium is hosting seven days of world-class competition from August 10-16.
The 27th edition of the championships marks a landmark moment for British athletics, with the United Kingdom hosting the outdoor European Athletics Championships for the first time.
The stadium in Perry Barr is the long-time home of Birchfield Harriers and one of Britain's leading athletics venues. It has hosted regional, national and international events since the current venue opened in the 1970s and underwent a £72 million transformation ahead of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
See a selection of pictures from the action at Birmingham's Alexander Stadium below.

5. (From L) France's Gabriel Tual, Britain's Max Burgin and Ireland's Cian McPhillips competes in the men's 800m heat 4 during the European Athletics Championships at Alexander Stadium in Birmingham on August 10, 2026. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images)
(From L) France's Gabriel Tual, Britain's Max Burgin and Ireland's Cian McPhillips competes in the men's 800m heat 4 during the European Athletics Championships at Alexander Stadium in Birmingham on August 10, 2026. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images

6. Miltiadis Tentoglou of Team Greece competes in the Men's Long Jump Qualification on day one of the 27th European Athletics Championships at Alexander Stadium on August 10, 2026 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Sona Maleterova/Getty Images)
Miltiadis Tentoglou of Team Greece competes in the Men's Long Jump Qualification on day one of the 27th European Athletics Championships at Alexander Stadium on August 10, 2026 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Sona Maleterova/Getty Images) | Getty Images

7. Max Burgin of Team Great Britain competes in the Men's 800 Metres Heats on day one of the 27th European Athletics Championships at Alexander Stadium on August 10, 2026 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Max Burgin of Team Great Britain competes in the Men's 800 Metres Heats on day one of the 27th European Athletics Championships at Alexander Stadium on August 10, 2026 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) | Getty Images

8. France's Yanis Meziane (C) celebrates as he crosses the finish line to arrive first in the men's 800m heat 2 during the European Athletics Championships at Alexander Stadium in Birmingham on August 10, 2026. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images)
France's Yanis Meziane (C) celebrates as he crosses the finish line to arrive first in the men's 800m heat 2 during the European Athletics Championships at Alexander Stadium in Birmingham on August 10, 2026. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images

