Alexander Stadium could be expanded to a capacity of 40,000 for major events during Birmingham 2026.
The stadium’s two permanent stands provided 18,000 seats, while temporary arrangements could increase capacity to 40,000. This flexible design allowed the venue to serve regular community and athletics use while also accommodating major international competitions.
The 2026 European Athletics Championships used the renovated stadium from 10 to 16 August. The venue had been upgraded between 2019 and 2022, ahead of athletics competition at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
The 40,000 figure describes the possible event capacity, not the number of permanent seats. That distinction is important: permanent seating and temporary expansion are separate parts of the stadium’s configuration.