The European Athletics Championships are coming through the Jewellery Quarter this weekend, bringing some of Europe’s best athletes onto the streets of Birmingham.
It should be a fantastic spectacle and a brilliant opportunity to see international sport right here in the JQ. But if you live, work or park in the area, please check the road closure maps, check the instructions on your road and make sure you know whether parking will be allowed.
Birmingham is hosting the European Athletics Championships, with athletes from more than 50 nations competing across the city.
While much of the championship is taking place at Alexander Stadium, the action moves into Birmingham city centre over the weekend of 15 and 16 August.
On Saturday 15 August, elite half-marathon and full-marathon race walks will take place around the Colmore area, with associated road closures.
For the Jewellery Quarter, Sunday 16 August is the big one.
An elite marathon will take place on a city-centre course, followed by the Unity 5km and Unity 1km mass participation events.
The route will pass through some of Birmingham’s best-known locations, including Broad Street, Centenary Square and Cathedral Square.
And, importantly for us, the route comes straight through the Jewellery Quarter, taking in both the Chamberlain Clock at Warstone Lane and Vyse Street and St Paul’s Square.
Some parking restrictions are in place. So if you normally park on the street, check the parking instructions on your road before Sunday.
Road closures for Sunday’s races begin from 3am, with roads reopening progressively and closures expected to be lifted by around 4.30pm.
If you normally park on-street, particularly around or close to the race route, look out for signs and instructions on your road to check whether parking will be allowed during the event.
Please also check the official route and road closure information in advance and move your vehicle if the restrictions on your street require it.
Likewise, if you are driving into or out of the Jewellery Quarter on Sunday, check your journey before setting off and allow extra time. Access across the city centre will be different from a normal Sunday and diversions will be in place.
Full information on the European Athletics Championships, road closures and public transport changes is available from Transport for West Midlands:
Road Closure Map is here: https://www.birmingham26.com/home/competitions/european-athletics-championships/travel/road-closures
You can also view the Birmingham city centre transport map and guide for 15 and 16 August:
https://www.tfwm.org.uk/media/53gl3kjf/birmingham-city-centre-european-athletics-20260815-4-comp.pdf
There will also be changes to a number of bus services over the weekend.
On Sunday, the Metro will operate between Wolverhampton and Grand Central until 4.30pm, with no service between Grand Central and Edgbaston Village during that period.
Once you’ve checked your road, sorted your parking and planned your journeys, there is a much more exciting side to all of this.
We have an international athletics championship coming through the middle of our neighbourhood.
The route taking in the Chamberlain Clock and St Paul’s Square means the Jewellery Quarter will form part of the backdrop to the race, putting some of our most recognisable streets and landmarks in front of spectators and audiences following the championships.
It is also a rare chance to walk out of your front door and see elite international athletes racing through streets you use every day.
So plan ahead, check the closures and parking restrictions, and then come out into the JQ and give the runners a proper Jewellery Quarter welcome.
It should be a great day for the neighbourhood.
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