From the official flag flying above Victoria Square to the huge 10m sculpture inside New Street Station, you will find bulls all over Birmingham. The latest addition to this long history of horned animals in the city is the official mascot for the European Athletics Championships, being held at Alexander Stadium in August.
The only major global outdoor track and field championships to have never been held in the UK, Europe’s best athletes will arrive in Birmingham from August 10 to 16—including Mondo Duplantis, Nadia Battocletti, Josh Kerr, Femke Bol, Mattia Furlani, Isaac Nader, Keely Hodgkinson and Georgia Hunter Bell, among others.
‘Bab the Bull’ will cheer on 1,600 athletes from 48 nations competing for 44 gold medals at Alexander Stadium. Unveiled last-minute in the Mascot Dash at the Junior and Mini Great Birmingham Run, Bab then joined Iwan Thomas as an official starter for the Great Birmingham Run 10K and Half Marathon.
“Throughout my career, I’ve had to face some big rivals. No one, however, has really challenged me in quite the way pesky mascots have,” said Iwan Thomas, European, Commonwealth and World Championships medallist. “Don’t let the friendly face fool you – Bab’s got a mischievous streak.”
Perry the Bull was the official mascot for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, but Bab has a very different energy about it—with organisers saying the Bab represents determination, strength, and tenacity compared to the “bright, colourful, energetic” Perry we met four years ago.
Jim Gilbert, Head of Creative at Birmingham 2026, said, “The bull is synonymous with Birmingham and takes centre stage in the vibrant Birmingham 2026 logo. A powerful symbol of the city, the bull has been woven into Birmingham’s identity since the 16th century. Bab the Bull draws on this rich history, but with a modern attitude and energy.”
