The European Athletics Championships will bring more than 1,500 of Europe's finest athletes to Birmingham this August, but the seven-day event also spells disruption for motorists and residents. Organisers have announced a staggering 82 road closures across the city centre and the Jewellery Quarter, running from Friday 14 August to Sunday 16 August.
The closures are required for the Marathon, the Race Walk, and the Unity Challenge 1k and 5k events. With athletes racing through the streets, certain roads will be temporarily sealed off to traffic, while pedestrians and emergency vehicles will still be allowed through.
In a leaflet delivered to homes and businesses in the affected areas, event organisers have issued a clear warning: leave your car on an event route after the stated times and it could be moved – and you could be fined.
What the organisers said
The leaflet, sent to residents on 82 roads, states: "Any vehicles left on the event routes after these times may be moved by our relocation system and could receive a penalty charge notice. Please use driveways or park on nearby streets."
It also reassures locals that "pedestrian and emergency access to all properties will be maintained throughout the road closures." The message ends with a thank you: "We aim to minimise disruption as much as possible and would love for you to be part of Birmingham 2026!"
Signs detailing the exact closure times and parking restrictions will be put up along the routes two weeks before the event, giving residents time to rearrange their vehicles.
Why the closures are happening
The European Athletics Championships is set to be one of the largest sporting events in Birmingham's history. Over seven days, more than 1,500 athletes from across Europe will compete in a wide range of track and field disciplines.
The road closures are specifically linked to the long-distance events: the Marathon, the Race Walk, and the Unity Challenge 1k and 5k. These events take place on open roads, requiring extensive traffic management measures.
For residents in the Jewellery Quarter, the impact is especially noticeable. Many of the streets on the closure list are residential, with limited parking. The organisers' advice to use driveways or park on nearby streets is therefore particularly relevant for those living along the routes.
Full list of road closures
Closures begin on Friday 14 August and continue through the weekend. Different roads are affected on each day, and some roads feature in multiple time windows. Below is the complete list.
Friday 14 August
Closed 8am to 6.30pm:
- Colmore Row (Victoria Square)
- Waterloo Street (Victoria Square)
Saturday 15 August
Closed 3am to 3pm:
- Bennetts Hill
- Church Street
- Colmore Circus Queensway
- Colmore Row
- Livery Street
- Newhall Street
- Temple Row
- Temple Row West
- Waterloo Street
Sunday 16 August
Closed 3am to 1pm:
- Berkley Street
- Bridge Street
- Granville Street
- Holliday Street
- Tennant Street
- Suffolk Street Queensway
Closed 3am to 3pm:
- Albion Street
- Augusta Street
- Brindley Drive
- Brook Street
- Brunswick Square
- Brunswick Street
- Cambridge Street
- Camden Drive
- Camden Street
- Caroline Street
- Charlotte Street
- Civic Close
- Clement Street
- Cox Street
- Edward Street
- Essington Street
- Fleet Street
- Frederick Street
- George Street
- Graham Street
- Great Charles Queensway
- Grosvenor Street West
- Hall Street
- Helena Street
- Holland Street
- James Street
- Kenyon Street
- King Edwards Drive
- King Edwards Road
- Kingston Row
- Legge Lane
- Lionel Street
- Louisa Street
- Ludgate Hill
- Lyon Queensway
- Mary Ann Street
- Mary Street
- Nelson Street
- Newhall Hill
- Northwood Street
- Oozells Way
- Parade
- Regent Paradise
- Regent Place
- Regent Street
- Sand Pots
- Scotland Street
- Sheepcote Street
- St Vincent Street
- Summer Hill
- Summer Hill Terrace
- Townsend Way
- Vittoria Street
- Vyse Street
- Warstone Lane
- Water Street
Closed 3am to 3.30pm:
- Broad Street
- Cumberlain Street
- Gas Street
- Oozells Street
- Sheepcote Street (from Broad Street)
Closed 3am to 4.30pm:
- Barwick Street
- Bennetts Hill
- Church Street
- Colmore Circus Queensway
- Colmore Row
- Cornwall Street
- Edmund Street
- Livery Street
- Margaret Street
- New Market Street
- Newhall Street
- Temple Row
- Temple Row West
- Temple Street
Plan ahead and stay informed
With such a large number of closures, residents and commuters are advised to check the signs and plan alternative routes. The organisers also encourage residents to take part in the event, which aims to showcase Birmingham on the European stage.
For those who need to travel during the closure periods, the message is simple: move your car in advance, use alternative parking, and allow extra time for your journey. The championships promise to be a spectacular celebration of athletics, but the road closures are a necessary part of making it happen.
