From Mondo Duplantis to Mattia Furlani and Jessica Schilder, Birmingham 2026 will be packed with star-studded names in the industry.
Following their success at the World Championships in Tokyo, some of Europe’s best indoor athletes are now setting their sights on the big event in 2026. The European Athletics Championships will take place from 10-16 August at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium and 10 stars will be competing.
Mondo Duplantis – pole vault
Having already secured European gold medals in Berlin, Munich and Rome, Duplantis will aim for her fourth straight title next summer. The Swede looked huge last season, going unbeaten and setting four world records in seven months. That included a distance of 6.30m at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
A: recent interview with European AthleticsDuplantis also stated that he wants to light up Alexander Stadium with Birmingham’s world record.
While the Swede will be a heavy favorite at the championships, watch out for Greece’s Emanuel Karalis, the world silver medalist who improved his personal best to 6.08m in 2025.
Mikolas Alekna – discus throw
Mikolas Alekna failed to top the world discus podium in Tokyo, but he is likely to be the favorite to regain his European title next summer. The Lithuanian improved his own world record not once but twice in 2025, posting respective figures of 74.89m and 75.56m in Ramona, USA.
Sweden’s Daniel Stoll, who beat Alekna to win the gold medal in Japan, is a big championship player and will no doubt challenge his opponent in Birmingham. Slovenia’s Christian Cech has a world title to his name and will also be watching. Lawrence Okoye, who broke his own British record of 70.76m in Ramona, will be the home favorite.
Pedro Pichardo – triple jump
Pedro Pichardo left it late to secure his second straight world title in Tokyo, but the Portuguese cleared 17.91m on his sixth jump to overtake Italy’s Andrea Dalavale in the standings. That championship experience will make it difficult for Pichardo to win in Birmingham as he looks to regain his European title next year.
Dalawale came so close to a world gold medal and could well imagine his chances of going one better next summer. Whoever wins the gold medal could go down in the form of Spain’s Jordan Diaz, with the reigning Olympic and European champion boasting a personal best of 18.18m.
Mattia Furlani – long jump
It’s been an incredible couple of years for Mattia Furlani, with the Italian backing up his silver medal at the European Athletics Championships in Tokyo last summer with gold. The 20-year-old is still so young, but already has a catalog of standout performances on the biggest stages.
So can Furlani take the podium at Birmingham? His closest rivals could be Switzerland’s Simon Ehammer and Greece’s Miltiadis Tentoglu, the latter being a two-time Olympic champion.
Leonardo Fabbri – shooting
Leonardo Fabbri has a knack for performing at his best when it matters most, with the Italian winning the bronze medal at the world championships in Tokyo. He also topped the 2025 rankings with a best throw of 22.82m.
That mark was the longest throw by a European athlete at the distance this past season, followed by Fabbri’s compatriot Zane Weir at 21.84m.
Yaroslava Mahuchych – high jump
Two-time European high jump champion Jaroslava Mahuchych of Munich and Rome will go for a hat-trick of titles in Birmingham. The Ukrainian also topped the Olympic podium in Paris and set a world record of 2.10m last year.
Poland’s Maria Zodzik edged out Mahuchych at the World Athletics Championships and the pair won silver and bronze medals respectively. Can home favorite Morgan Lake top the podium in Birmingham too? At the Zurich Diamond League final, the Briton set his own national record of 2.00m.
Tina Shutey – pole vaulter
World pole vault bronze medalist Tina Shutey of Tokyo was third behind the strong American duo of Katie Moon and Sandi Morris. The Latvian has many major championship medals to his name, including a European bronze in Munich three years ago, but has yet to step onto the podium. Could Birmingham finally be his moment?
Although Molly Codery suffered a horrific injury during her warm-up at the World Athletics Championships, expect the Briton to challenge for gold on home soil. He last competed in a major championships in front of a British crowd at last year’s World Indoor Championships in Glasgow. Cowdery won the title there, so history could repeat itself.
Mihambo – trump card
She may have missed out on world gold in Japan to American Tara Davis-Woodhall, but long jump Olympian and two-time world champion Malaika Mihambo remains one of the tournament’s biggest names. The German has four European medals, two of them gold, and will be aiming for a hat-trick in Birmingham.
Her closest challenger could be France’s Hilary Kpatcha, who finished fourth in Tokyo and set a personal best of 7.02m in 2025. Jazmine Sawyers, the 2023 European Indoor Champion, returned to competition this past summer after a 20-month absence due to a ruptured Achilles.
Jessica Schilder – shooting
One of 2025’s top performers, Jessica Schilder, secured a world indoor silver medal before claiming the Diamond League title and then world outdoor gold in Tokyo. The Dutch athlete also set national indoor and outdoor records of 20.69m and 20.47m respectively.
Sweden’s Fanny Roos and Germany’s Yemisi Ogunle, the latter also an Olympic champion, are more than likely to compete for the gold medal in Birmingham.
Jorind van Klinken – discus/shot put
One of Europe’s most versatile field athletes, Jorind van Klinken boasts major medals in both the discus and shot put. The Dutchwoman won silver medals in both events at the last European Athletics Championships in Rome, so don’t be surprised if she doubles up in Birmingham.
Van Klinken finished second behind reigning Valarie Allman in the discus at the World Athletics Championships, so will likely be the favorite next summer. Her biggest challenge may come from Croatia’s Sandra Elkasevic, a two-time Olympian and world champion but now 35 years old.
In 2026, these athletes will fight for the European titles in Birmingham on August 10-16. Tickets are still available available here.
