European Athletics 2026: Belgium schedule and TV guide

European Athletics Championships 2026: Belgium schedule and medal hopes

The European Athletics Championships 2026 begin in Birmingham on Monday, 10 August, with Belgium sending one of the largest teams in its history. From Isaac Kimeli and Noor Vidts to the Belgian Waffles and defending 4x400m champions the Belgian Tornados, there will be Belgian interest on every day of the competition.

This guide explains what the championships are, which Belgian athletes could challenge for medals, when every Belgian is due to compete and where fans can follow Birmingham 2026 live in Belgium.

What are the European Athletics Championships?

The European Athletics Championships are the leading outdoor track and field competition organised by European Athletics. The event brings together the continent’s best senior athletes in sprinting, middle- and long-distance running, hurdles, jumps, throws, combined events, race walking, marathons and relays.

Birmingham 2026 is the 27th edition of the championships and the first to be staged in the United Kingdom. Competition runs from 10 to 16 August. Most events will take place at Alexander Stadium, the venue redeveloped for the 2022 Commonwealth Games, while the road races will bring the championships into central Birmingham.

For Belgian supporters, the opening evening should provide an immediate highlight. Isaac Kimeli contests the men’s 5,000m final, while the Belgian Waffles line up in a straight final in the mixed 4x400m relay. The programme then builds towards Noor Vidts’ heptathlon, the individual distance finals and a relay-heavy final weekend.

Belgium brings a deep squad despite major absences

Belgian Athletics initially named an expanded delegation of 60 athletes, but late withdrawals reduced the travelling team to 57. Eliott Crestan, one of Belgium’s clearest medal contenders in the men’s 800m, pulled out after suffering a hamstring injury. Naomi Van den Broeck and Eline Dalemans also withdrew.

Belgium was already preparing for the championships without several established stars. Three-time Olympic champion Nafi Thiam will not defend her European heptathlon title as she continues to manage a hamstring problem. Alexander Doom, the reigning European champion in the men’s 400m, is also absent through injury.

Those losses significantly change Belgium’s medal outlook, but the squad still combines proven championship performers with several athletes enjoying breakthrough seasons.

Belgium’s leading medal hopes in Birmingham

Isaac Kimeli is arguably Belgium’s strongest individual medal candidate. The 2025 world silver medallist over 5,000m races that distance on the opening night before returning for the 10,000m final on Saturday. The 5,000m field is exceptionally strong, but Kimeli has already shown that he can produce his best performance in a tactical championship final.