The 2026 European Athletics U18 Championships brings together the continent's brightest young talents for four days of world-class competition in the Italian town of Rieti from 16-19 July.
It is the fifth edition of the championships which began under its initial auspices of the European Athletics Youth Championships in Tbilisi, Georgia in 2016 and showcases the future stars of European athletics as they take their first steps on the international stage.
Europe's next generation
The European Athletics U18 Championships is the first major international championship for many of Europe's leading teenage athletes and the competition has become an important stepping stone towards future success at the European, World and Olympic levels.
Previous editions have introduced athletes who have since gone on to compete on the biggest stages in the sport, including Olympic champions and world record-holders Keely Hodgkinson and Yaroslava Mahuchikh, both of whom won gold in 2018.
World champion Mattia Furlani was one of the stars of the next edition of the European Athletics U18 Championships in 2022, sweeping the long jump and high jump titles and setting a European U18 best of 8.04m in the former event.
World U18 bests have also been set at the European Athletics U18 Championships. In Győr 2018, Ukraine's Mykhaylo Kokhan launched a massive 87.82m with the 5kg hammer, the longest throw ever recorded with any implement, and Spain's Maria Vicente tallied a world U18 best of 6221 points in the heptathlon.
Only athletes aged 16 or 17 on 31 December 2010 are eligible to compete, ensuring the championships remain dedicated to Europe's emerging talent.
Across four days of competition, expect thrilling sprint battles, emerging middle-distance talents, exciting field event contests and the always unpredictable combined events, where many of Europe's most versatile young athletes will be crowned.
For many competitors, Rieti represents their first opportunity to wear their national colours at a major championship, making the atmosphere and emotion of the event unlike any other age-group competition.
The disciplines
The programme broadly follows a traditional track and field championship model, with a few alterations to reflect the athletes' stage of development. This means the throwing disciplines use slightly lighter implements and the hurdles are lower than at senior level.
The endurance events are also contested over shorter distances. Athletes will compete in the 2000m steeplechase and the 3000m and 5000m race walks rather than their longer senior equivalents.
There is also the unique 1000m medley relay. Instead of the traditional 4x100m and 4x400m relays, teams compete over 100m, 200m, 300m and 400m legs.
A historic venue
Rieti is no stranger to elite athletics.
The town, which lies around 80km northeast of Rome, has hosted numerous international competitions over the years, and the historic Guidobaldi Stadium has earned a reputation as one of Europe's fastest tracks, producing countless outstanding performances.
It is particularly renowned for middle-distance running, having staged world records in the 800m, 1500m, mile and 3000m. Perhaps the most famous was Kenya's David Rudisha clocking a then-world record of 1:41.01 over 800m in 2010.
It was also the venue where Jamaica's Asafa Powell set a men's 100m world record of 9.74 in 2007.
The Guidobaldi Stadium also hosted the 2013 European Athletics U20 Championships which also provided more than a glimpse into the future. Notable champions included Dina Asher-Smith, Jake Wightman, Malaika Mihambo and Nafissatou Thiam, all of whom went on to win global titles in their respective events.
Athletes to watch
- Viktoria Angelova (Bulgaria) – women's triple jump
New to the event this year, the 17-year-old is the world and European U18 leader and the newly crowned Balkan U18 champion. She set her mark of 13.53m in only her third official triple jump competition.
- Meziane Benhammou (France) – men's 3000m
Competing in a one-off final, the young French athlete will start as favourite to win the first gold medal of the championships on Thursday (16). On paper, he is more than five seconds quicker than the rest of the field.
- Kelly Doualla (Italy) – women's 100m & medley relay
Doualla returns to age-group competition after winning European U20 100m and 4x100m gold in Tampere last summer at the age of 15. The European U18 record-holder is one of the headline attractions of the championships and will carry the hopes of the home crowd.
- Milaniia Kokhan (Ukraine) – women's hammer
Milaniia is the younger sister of Mykhaylo Kokhan, the current Olympic and European bronze medallist in the men's hammer, who also won this title in Győr in 2018. Milaniia is second on the entry lists and will be hopeful of a podium finish.
- Jere Murto (Finland) – men's javelin
The only 80-metre thrower in the field, Murto is hoping to extend Finland's rich tradition in an event that has become a national obsession. He will celebrate his 17th birthday during the championships on Thursday (16). A multi-talented thrower, he also owns season's bests of 56.61m in the discus and 70.77m in the hammer.
- Tito Odunaike (Great Britain) – men's triple jump
The winner of the British Indoor triple jump title in Birmingham, Odunaike became the youngest male winner of a British senior indoor title since 1979. He leads the entries with a leap of 16.12m, also a world U18 lead, and will start as the favourite for gold. Away from athletics, he studies Russian, Latin, ICT and economics.
- Zofia Pasierbek (Poland) – women's 200m, 400m & medley relay
Versatility is Pasierbek's greatest strength. Capable of excelling over both one lap and half-a-lap, the Polish star could leave Rieti with multiple medals as both an individual and relay runner.
- Živa Remic (Slovenia) – women's 800m
The latest name on Europe's production line of outstanding women's 800m runners, Remic won silver at last year's European Athletics U20 Championships in Tampere aged just 15. She has already broken the two-minute barrier this year with 1:59.64 and will have the championship record of 2:04.23 firmly in her sights.
- Alessia Succo (Italy) – women's 100m hurdles
Another outstanding Italian talent, Succo has established herself as one of Europe's finest young hurdlers and is expected to challenge for gold in front of a home crowd. She has already equalled the European U18 100m hurdles best of 12.86 which was set by Slovakia's Laura Frlickova at the 2024 edition in Banska Bystrica.
- Dylan Telo (France) – men's 100m & 200m
A former multi-eventer who is now thriving in the sprints. He leads the entries for the 100m with a European U18-leading 10.29 and is also expected to contend for a medal in the 200m.
How to watch
The championships will be streamed live in full through the European Athletics website via Eurovision Sport, with every session available to watch live.
Throughout the four days of competition, fans can also follow:
- Live results
- Event reports
- Medal tables
- Daily highlights on YouTube
- Behind-the-scenes content across the European Athletics social media channels on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok
