The European Athletics Championships is the largest international event in the world of athletics. This event used to be held every 4 years, and since 2010 - every 2 years. Under the auspices of the European Athletics Association, the most outstanding track and field athletes compete against each other. Athletes compete in running disciplines (short and long distances), jumping (high jump, long jump, triple jump), throwing (javelin, discus, hammer), combined events (heptathlon) and other events.
European Athletics Championships 2028
The 2028 European Athletics Championships will take place from June 3 to 8 in Chorzów, Poland, at the Silesian Stadium. Poland will host the main European Athletics Championships for the first time in history. The event will be the largest athletics competition in Europe ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and will give athletes an opportunity to earn ranking points and achieve qualification standards.
The championships will feature the main athletics disciplines, including track events, hurdles, relays, jumping events, throwing events, combined events, the marathon and race walking.
The 2028 European Athletics Championships will be the 28th edition of the event. The full list of participants and the final competition programme will be announced later.
History of the Championships
The first European Athletics Championships were held in 1934 in Turin, Italy. Initially, the competition was open only to men. Women's events were introduced in a separate championship in 1938, while from 1946 onwards, men and women competed as part of a single tournament.
Until 2010, the European Athletics Championships were held every four years. Since 2012, the competition has taken place every two years. In Olympic years, the programme differs from the standard format: for example, in 2024, Rome hosted a half marathon instead of the marathon, while the marathon returned to the programme in 2026.
The championships were cancelled twice in their history: in 1942 due to World War II and in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2024, Rome hosted one of Italy's most successful European Championships, with the hosts winning 24 medals, including 11 golds, and topping the medal table.
Results of Previous Championships
| Year | Host City | Top Team in Medal Table |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Birmingham, United Kingdom | Italy — 10 gold, 6 silver, 6 bronze |
| 2024 | Rome, Italy | Italy — 11 gold, 7 silver, 6 bronze |
| 2022 | Munich, Germany | Germany — 7 gold, 7 silver, 2 bronze |
In 2026, Italy topped the European Championships medal table for the second consecutive time. Great Britain won 19 medals, while Germany claimed 21.
Top 5 Countries by Total Medals in History
| Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Britain | 135 | 106 | 113 | 354 |
| Soviet Union | 120 | 110 | 101 | 331 |
| East Germany | 90 | 83 | 66 | 239 |
| Germany | 76 | 79 | 74 | 229 |
| France | 73 | 77 | 79 | 229 |
After the 2026 Championships, Great Britain remains in first place in the all-time medal table, ahead of the Soviet Union in total medals.
European Athletics Championships 2030
The next European Athletics Championships after the 2028 event will take place in 2030. The host city has not yet been decided: Helsinki, Finland, and Brussels, Belgium, are competing to host the championships. Zurich was also initially in the running, but the Swiss bid was withdrawn.
European Athletics plans to select the host city on October 22, 2026, at a Council meeting in Lausanne. The exact dates and programme for the 2030 Championships will be determined after the host is selected.
Keep an eye on the dates of various championships and other events in our Sporting Events Calendar.
