European Athletics U18 Championships 2026: Rieti, Italy
The European Athletics U18 Championships 2026 will bring together the continent's most promising young track and field athletes in Rieti, Italy from 16-19 July 2026.
Returning to a city that was originally due to host the championships in 2020 and then 2021 after it got postponed and then cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Rieti finally gets its chance to welcome Europe's future stars to one of athletics' most respected venues. Fans can watch the action live and free on Eurovision Sport.
Event Facts:
- Location: Rieti, Italy
- Dates: 16-19 July 2026
- Venue: Stadio Raul Guidobaldi
- Eligibility: Athletes aged between 16 and 17 on the 31st December 2026 (born in 2009 and 2010)
- Frequency: Biennial
- Streaming: Live and free on Eurovision Sport
- Events: Track and field disciplines across sprint, middle-distance, distance, hurdles, jumps, throws, combined events and relays
European Athletics Schedule: U18 Championships 2026
All times listed below are in local time in Rieti (CEST) and are subject to change.
| Date | Session |
|---|---|
| Thursday 16 July | 09:30-20:15 - Qualification rounds in sprints, hurdles, jumps and throws. |
| 20:15 - Men's 3000m final. | |
| Friday 17 July | 09:30-21:05 - Qualification rounds alongside the first major finals. |
| 17:25 - Women's hammer throw final. | |
| 19:10 - Women's shot put final. | |
| 19:17 - Men's hammer throw final. | |
| 19:25 - Women's 800m heptathlon final. | |
| 20:20 - Women's 100m final. | |
| 20:35 - Men's 100m final. | |
| Saturday 18 July | 09:00-21:15 - Qualification rounds, semi-finals and finals. |
| 09:35 - Men's 5000m race walk final. | |
| 10:15 - Women's 2000m steeplechase final. | |
| 11:18 - Men's high jump final. | |
| 12:00 - Women's long jump final. | |
| 15:40 - Men's discus throw final. | |
| 16:25 - Men's pole vault final. | |
| 17:25 - Men's long jump final. | |
| 18:20 - Women's 400m final. | |
| 18:35 - Women's 1500m final. | |
| 18:55 - Men's 400m final. | |
| 19:10 - Women's 200m final. | |
| 19:20 - Women's discus throw final. | |
| 19:25 - Men's 200m final. | |
| 19:35 - Men's shot put final. | |
| 19:55 - Men's 800m final. | |
| Sunday 19 July | 09:00- 21:01 - semi-finals and finals. |
| 09:30 - Women's 5000m race walk final. | |
| 10:15 - Men's 2000m steeplechase final. | |
| 10:35 - Women's 3000m final. | |
| 12:15 - Men's triple jump final. | |
| 12:40 - Women's javelin throw final. | |
| 16:00 - Women's high jump final. | |
| 16:30 - Women's pole vault final. | |
| 17:25 - Men's 400m hurdles final. | |
| 17:45 - Women's 400m hurdles final. | |
| 18:00 - Men's 1500m final. | |
| 18:13 - Women's triple jump final. | |
| 18:15 - Men's javelin throw final. | |
| 18:20 - Women's 100m hurdles final. | |
| 18:32 - Men's 110m hurdles final. | |
| 18:45 - Women's 800m final. | |
| 19:00 - Women's medley relay final. | |
| 19:15 - Men's medley relay final. | |
| 19:35 - Men's 1500m decathlon final. |
European U18 Athletics Championships 2026 Qualifying Standards
The European Athletics U18 Championships are reserved for athletes aged 16 and 17 on the 31st December 2026
For the 2026 edition in Rieti:
- Athletes must be born in 2009 or 2010
- Competitors must achieve the qualifying standards set by European Athletics
- Athletes are selected by their national federations
- Each federation may enter up to 3 athletes per event, subject to qualification criteria.
The championships provide an important stepping stone between youth athletics and the U20 international level, often serving as the first major continental championship for future Olympic and World Championship athletes.
European U18 Athletics Championships 2024 Results
The previous edition took place in Banská Bystrica, Slovakia from 18-21 July 2024 and featured over 1,000 athletes from 48 nations.
2024 Medal Table: Top 3 Nations
| Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | 7 | 3 | 5 | 15 |
| Poland | 4 | 3 | 1 | 8 |
| Czech Republic | 4 | 3 | 0 | 7 |
Standout Performances at the European Athletics U18 Championships 2024
Several athletes produced championship-best and record-breaking performances:
- Laura Frličková (SVK) thrilled the home crowd by setting a European U18 best of 12.86 seconds in the 100m hurdles.
- Michal Rada (CZE) produced another European U18 best in the 400m hurdles, confirming his status as one of the brightest young talents in European athletics. He set a time of 49.42 seconds.
- Italy's team depth proved decisive as they topped the medal table with 15 medals overall, underlining the strength of their youth development programme.
European Athletics Championships 2026 Venue: Stadio Raul Guidobaldi
The 2026 championships will be held at Stadio Raul Guidobaldi, one of Europe's most respected athletics venues. Located in central Italy, the stadium has a seating capacity of approximately 5,000 spectators and has long been regarded as a special venue for middle-distance running and record-breaking performances.
Venue highlights include:
- Host of the famous Rieti Meeting since 1971
- Venue for the 2013 European Athletics Junior Championships
- Eight world records set at the stadium over its history
- Renowned internationally as a fast track for middle-distance performances
Rieti itself has a rich athletics tradition and is considered one of Italy's leading athletics cities, making it a fitting host for Europe's next generation of stars.
Watch Athletics Live on Eurovision Sport
Fans can watch the European Athletics U18 Championships 2026 live and free on Eurovision Sport, subject to broadcast restrictions, alongside some of the biggest events on the athletics calendar.
More athletics available to stream includes:
- World Athletics Indoor Championships 2026
- European Athletics Championships
- World Athletics Relays Guangzhou 2025
- Mondo Classic
Stream live events, full replays and highlights anytime on Eurovision Sport.