The title will be in place until the end of the Championships, happening from 10 to 16 August.

Matthew is part of a long legacy of athletics excellence from the West Midlands region.

He is the European record-holder and second-most decorated male European athlete in history.

He also has two Olympic medals (silver in 400m at Paris and 4x400m relay bronze), four European titles, and a World Championships silver medal. He is also the fifth-fastest person in the 400 m event in history.

Having trained with Birchfield Harriers and proudly from Wolverhampton, the sprinter has previously said his wish for the back straight of his home stadium to carry his name.

Cherry Alexander, championship director for Birmingham 2026, said: “Matthew is a true homegrown star, and we were delighted to welcome him home by unveiling the Matthew Hudson-Smith Stand for Birmingham 2026 with his family and peers in attendance.

“Matthew’s international achievements are inspiring a future generation to dig deep, and this stand is a celebration of that. We hope to fill the stand with young local fans, and maybe even the next Matthew-Hudson Smith will be in the crowd watching him compete in front of a home crowd this August.”

The stand name was unveiled as a surprise to Matthew when he attended the Alexander Stadium to talk about the road to the European Athletics Championships.

The name was unveiled by his family, his first coach Sharon Morris, alongside  former sprinter and Team GB 4x400m Team Coach, Martyn Rooney with representatives of Birmingham 2026, Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Combined Authority also in attendance.

Matthew Hudson-Smith, said: “It caught me off-guard walking in to see the stand is going to be named after me, and it was a special moment to share it with my family

“It’s just an indication of all the hard work I’ve put in and to get a stand named after me is the icing on the cake of a great career and now I want to add more to it at Europeans.

“Birmingham for me is home. I miss the people, I miss the food, I miss the environment. I always try and represent home to the best of my ability.

“It just means the world to me to come back here, run and show my talents to kids from the area to show them that they can do it.”

The European Athletics Championships Birmingham 2026 will see over 1,600 athletes from 48 nations compete for glory.

With 44 gold medals to be won across the seven evening sessions, fans will see history being made under the floodlights.

Many of Europe’s biggest names are expected to target their 2026 summer ambitions at Birmingham - making this a superb chance for fans to witness world-class performances on home soil.