50 Days to Go Until the Novuna UK Athletics Championships – European Qualification on the Line for the Best of British Athletics in Birmingham

There are just 50 days to go until the Novuna UK Athletics Championships return to the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham on 20-21 June 2026. This year’s Championships carry even greater significance, doubling as the trial event…

Athletes can secure automatic selection for the Novuna GB & NI team by winning gold alongside achieving the European qualifying standard set out in the team policy.

The Championships will be the first of two major track and field events hosted at the Alexander Stadium this year, with Birmingham also set to stage the European Athletics Championships from 10–16 August.

Molly Palmer (Thames Valley, Lukasz Zawila), who recently made her Novuna GB & NI’s senior debut, will be among those competing in Birmingham. She earned her first senior vest at the World Indoor Championships in Poland earlier this year, finishing in the top ten in the women’s long jump. The Nottingham‑born athlete, who trains at Loughborough University, is looking forward to competing having missed out on the competition last year due to injury as she targets European qualification.

Speaking ahead of the event, Palmer said:

“There’s always so much on the line competing at the UK Athletics Championships — going up against girls you’ve looked up to and the next ones coming through.

“It’s always an honour just to hit the standard and be the best out there. The support is always unreal and after missing it last year through injury, I’m just excited to be back and ready to show my form.”

The Novuna UK Athletics Indoor Championships, hosted in Birmingham earlier this year, set the tone for an exceptional year of athletics in the UK – including new British records set by Keely Hodgkinson and Dina Asher‑Smith. That momentum now rolls into the outdoor season, where a home Europeans is in sight as athletes have the chance to compete in the Alexander Stadium ahead of the continent’s biggest stage. It all sets up this summer’s Championships to be a landmark weekend for British athletes.

Cherry Alexander, Strategic Lead for Major Events at UK Athletics, said:

“The countdown is on for the Novuna UK Athletics Championships, and 50 days to go marks an exciting point in the calendar for athletes planning their season in what is turning out to be a great summer of athletics in the UK.

“One thing is for sure: the UK Champs always bring drama and jaw‑dropping battles for selection, and it will be no different this year with places up for grabs for the Novuna GB & NI team heading to the European Championships later in the summer. Don’t miss this opportunity to witness top British athletes battling it out in Birmingham!”

For more information on the Championships: https://www.britishathletics.org.uk/events-and-tickets/novuna-uk-athletics-champs-2026/

For ticketing information: https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/artist/5454545