European Athletics Championships 2026: a historic Championship on home soil
20th August 2026
After a week of world-class athletics in Birmingham, the 2026 European Athletics Championships comes to a close. With historic firsts, record-breaking performances and 19 medals for Team GB & NI, the championships showcase the very best of British athletics.
Throughout it all, National Lottery are their supporting our athletes every step of the way.
Jeremiah Azu, Zharnel Hughes, Romel Glave & Louis Hinchcliffe celebrate after winning the Mens 4x100m Relay.
That’s a wrap on the European Athletics Championships.
For the first time ever, the Championships came to Great Britain, with GB & NI athletes performing their best on home soil in Birmingham.
Across an incredible week of world-class athletics, 11 championship records were broken.
For Team GB & NI, it was a historic championship on home soil.
UK Athletics has received £146 million of National Lottery investment since funding to the sport began in 1997; supporting the coaches, sports science, facilities and athlete pathways that help ensure athletes arrive at the start line fully prepared to compete.
From grassroots clubs to the elite podiums, National Lottery funding is there every step of the way.
Record-breaking
That impact was clear to see in Birmingham, where Team GB & Northern Ireland won 19 medals, including nine golds.
Amy Hunt achieved an iconic four gold medals, becoming the first athlete ever to win four golds at a single European Athletics Championships.
Keely Hodgkinson may have narrowly missed out on gold in the women's 800m to Audrey Werro, but her brilliant silver-medal performance had us on the edge of our seats.
Matthew Hudson-Smith and Dina Asher-Smith both made history, becoming the most decorated male and female athletes respectively in the Championships history.
And audiences loved it. A total of 17.2 million people tuned in to the BBC coverage across the Championships to follow the action, including 46 million video views across BBC social media content.
This made the Championships one of the most watched and consumed events of the year.
Amy Hunt celebrates after the Mixed 4x100m Relay with Zharnel Hughes, Dina Asher-Smith & Jeremiah Azu.
Record-breaking
That impact was clear to see in Birmingham, where Team GB & Northern Ireland won 19 medals, including nine golds.
Amy Hunt achieved an iconic four gold medals, becoming the first athlete ever to win four golds at a single European Athletics Championships.
Keely Hodgkinson may have narrowly missed out on gold in the women's 800m to Audrey Werro, but her brilliant silver-medal performance had us on the edge of our seats.
Matthew Hudson-Smith and Dina Asher-Smith both made history, becoming the most decorated male and female athletes respectively in the Championships history.
And audiences loved it. A total of 17.2 million people tuned in to the BBC coverage across the Championships to follow the action, including 46 million video views across BBC social media content.
This made the Championships one of the most watched and consumed events of the year.
Success Eduan and Imani Lara-Lanisquot celebrate after winning the Womens 4x100m Relay.
Bringing the action to life
National Lottery Good Causes was delighted to be joined by former GB sprinter Adam Gemili in the mixed zone, as he interviewed athletes and old team-mates throughout the competition.
Adam brought out the best in every conversation. His warmth, humour and his own experience as an elite athlete helped him create genuine connections with athletes, bringing the content to life and bringing fans even closer to the action.
A huge thank you to National Lottery players, whose incredible support raises £33 million for good causes every single week and helps make historic moments like this possible.