European Athletics Championships to air on the BBC this August
The Commonwealth Games might be airing on TNT and Channel 5, but the BBC will bring viewers the European Athletics Championships live from Birmingham this August.
The United Kingdom is preparing to host a monumental chapter in its track and field history this summer, as the world’s elite athletes converge on the Midlands for a landmark continental event.
Historic Milestone: Birmingham will host the European Athletics Championships from August 10–16, marking the first time the prestigious event has ever been held in the UK.
Unrivaled Live Access: Fans across the country can watch every session live on BBC One, BBC Two, and BBC iPlayer, with extensive audio coverage on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds.
Star-Studded Lineup: Team GB icons Keely Hodgkinson, Dina Asher-Smith, and Matthew Hudson-Smith will lead the home nation’s push to build on their record-breaking continental legacy.
Team GB Seeks Home-Soil Glory in Historic Hosting Debut
For the first time in the competition’s history, the European Athletics Championships will take place in the United Kingdom. Birmingham is set to provide the backdrop as Britain’s premier athletes line up against the top talent from across Europe, backed by the roaring support of a passionate home crowd.
Great Britain enters the championships as the most successful nation in European Athletics Championships history, having won 134 medals, including 50 golds. With home advantage for the first time ever, expectations will be high that Team GB can add significantly to that remarkable tally.
The home squad boasts an array of global superstars across both track and field events:
Middle-Distance Showcase: Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson leads the women’s mid-distance contingent. She faces a formidable field including Dutch superstar Femke Bol—stepping up to the 800m as part of her 2026 campaign—and Switzerland’s Audrey Werro, the fastest woman in the world over the distance this year. World Indoor champion Georgia Hunter-Bell also returns, building on the momentum of March when Great Britain claimed three World Indoor gold medals in just 30 minutes.
Sprint Contenders: Olympians Dina Asher-Smith and Amy Hunt will spearhead the women’s sprint squad, while World Indoor 60m champion Jeremiah Azu brings explosive pace to the men’s 100m following a breakthrough 2025 season.
Men’s Track Battles: Max Burgin enters as a top contender in the men’s 800m alongside 1500m World Indoor silver medallist Jake Wightman. Meanwhile, reigning European 1500m champion Neil Gourley returns to defend his continental title, and British record holder Matthew Hudson-Smith aims for the podium in the men’s 400m.
Extensive Multiplatform BBC Coverage Announced
British audiences will have access to comprehensive live broadcasting throughout the week-long event from August 10–16.
Coverage will begin on 10 August on BBC Two from 10.30am, with morning sessions presented by Jeanette Kwakye before Gabby Logan takes over to front the evening action. They will be joined by a panel of athletics legends, including Olympic medallists Jess Ennis-Hill, Greg Rutherford, and Jenny Meadows.
Expert commentary will be provided by Steve Cram, Steve Backley, Andrew Cotter, Colin Jackson, and Paula Radcliffe, with trackside reporting from Sarah Mulkerrins.
Over on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds, Alistair Bruce-Ball and European Championship medallist Allison Curbishley will lead live daily commentary. Digital audiences can follow live text streams, breaking news, analysis, and video highlights via the BBC Sport website and app, while Olympian and Gladiators star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey will host exclusive athlete interviews on BBC Sport’s YouTube channel.
Emphasizing the magnitude of the event, Director of BBC Sport, Alex Kay-Jelski said:
“The European Athletics Championships promise a spectacular week of world-class sport, with Team GB chasing glory on home soil in Birmingham for the very first time. We’ll bring audiences closer to every medal, every milestone and every unforgettable moment through our unrivalled, multiplatform coverage and best-in-class storytelling.”
With state-of-the-art broadcasting and a historic home venue, Birmingham is ready to deliver a week of unforgettable competition as Team GB battles for continental supremacy.
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