Extra seats announced for athletics championships

Additional seating will be installed at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham to accommodate "unprecedented demand" for the European Athletics Championships.

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

More than 120,000 tickets have now been sold in the first phase of the general sale, with tickets for all sessions going back on general sale at 10:00 GMT on Wednesday, and an exclusive pre-sale opening at 10:00 on Monday.

Birmingham 2026 championship director Cherry Alexander said: "The Alexander Stadium is already a world-class venue and knowing it will be even more packed out for some of the best athletes on the planet is truly special."

Alexander added: "The energy that Birmingham brings to major events is unmatched, and these additional seats mean thousands more people can be part of what will be an unforgettable, history-making week of athletics."

After financing for the games came into question when Birmingham City Council declared effective bankruptcy in September 2023, funding for the event will be spread across a number of bodies.

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has committed £14.3m, UK Athletics has assigned £250,000 and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport has agreed to put forward £680,000 conditional on the authority's contribution.

Birmingham City Council will provide £670,000, which has been saved from works on Alexander Stadium.

Great Britain and Northern Ireland sprinte Zharnel Hughes, who competed in Birmingham in 2022, said: "Anyone who raced here during the 2022 summer will never forget the noise.

"When a full stadium gets behind British athletes, the atmosphere is electric — it lifts you in a way that's hard to describe. Knowing the stands will be even bigger next August is incredible.

"UK fans are the best in the world, and I can't wait to feel that roar again at the European Championships."

Mayor of the West Midlands Richard Parker added: "The European Athletics Championships is one of seven major events we're hosting over the next three years, and with extra tickets available even more people will get the chance to see world-class stars up close.

"These are great moments to enjoy, but they're also bringing major investment into top venues like Alexander Stadium, Edgbaston Cricket Ground and Villa Park.

"That means more jobs, more visitors supporting local businesses, and better facilities for local people. The West Midlands is showing once again why we're a world-class sporting destination and the benefits of that are being felt right across the region."

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