Birmingham became the first British city to host the European Athletics Championships in 2026.
The European Athletic Association selected Birmingham at a council meeting in Warsaw on 11 November 2022. Budapest had previously been involved in the bidding process but withdrew before the final decision.
Although Britain had staged many major athletics competitions, the senior European outdoor championships had never previously been held in a British city. Birmingham had already hosted the 2007 European Athletics Indoor Championships and the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
The choice also reflected the redevelopment of Alexander Stadium. The venue was renovated between 2019 and 2022, giving Birmingham a modern stadium capable of staging a major continental athletics event.