The 2023 European Athletics Indoor Championships took place from 2 to 5 March 2023 at the Ataköy Athletics Arena in Istanbul. The four-day event brought together Europe’s finest track and field athletes across a packed schedule of morning and evening sessions.
Competition Schedule
The championship was spread across three competition days, with opening ceremonies held on Friday, 3 March, and the final events concluded on Sunday, 5 March.
Day 1 – Friday, 3 March (Evening Session)
| Time | Event | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 21:50 | Shot Put | Men |
| 21:55 | 3000m | Women |
| 22:00 | 1500m | Men |
The first evening set the tone for the entire championship. The opening ceremony was a spectacular introduction to the event, celebrating Istanbul’s role as host of European athletics.
Day 2 – Saturday, 4 March
Morning Session
| Time | Event | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 12:25 | Triple Jump | Men |
| 12:30 | Shot Put | Women |
| 12:35 | 60m | Men |
Evening Session
| Time | Event | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 21:00 | Pentathlon | Women |
| 21:05 | 1500m | Women |
| 21:10 | 400m | Men |
| 21:15 | 400m | Women |
Saturday proved to be a day of star performances. Femke Bol took the stage in the women’s 400m, and would go on to break the world record with an astonishing 49.26 run – a performance later analysed in depth in the biomechanical breakdown of Femke Bol’s dominance. Meanwhile, Karsten Warholm and Husillos advanced through to the semi-finals.
Day 3 – Sunday, 5 March
Morning Session
| Time | Event | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 11:35 | 60m | Men |
| 11:40 | Pole Vault | Women |
| 11:45 | Triple Jump | Women |
| 11:50 | Long Jump | Men |
| 11:55 | High Jump | Women |
Evening Session
| Time | Event | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 20:12 | 4×400m | Men |
| 20:40 | 4×400m | Women |
| 21:20 | Heptathlon | Men |
| 21:25 | 3000m | Men |
| 21:30 | 800m | Men |
| 21:35 | 800m | Women |
| 21:40 | High Jump | Women |
| 21:45 | Long Jump | Women |
| 21:50 | Pole Vault | Men |
| 21:55 | 60m Hurdles | Women |
| 22:00 | 60m Hurdles | Men |
The final day delivered unforgettable moments. Armand Duplantis broke the world pole vault record, cementing his status as the greatest vaulter in history. Miltiadis Tentoglou made history in the long jump, while Jakob Ingebrigtsen completed a remarkable double in the distance events. Nafi Thiam broke the world record in the Pentathlon, having come into Istanbul chasing her third title.
Victory Ceremonies
All Victory Ceremonies took place at the Ataköy Athletics Arena across the full competition period (2–5 March 2023). The venue, built especially for this event, left a lasting legacy on European athletics – explored further in The Ataköy Legacy: How Istanbul 2023 Transformed European Indoor Athletics.
Notable Storylines from the Programme
- Surprise in Men’s 60m – Samuele Ceccarelli stunned the sprint world with an unexpected victory.
- Historic gold by Hurske – A memorable moment in the 60m hurdles.
- Tugba Danismaz wins European title – A home favourite delivered for the Turkish crowd.
- Favourites cruise to European titles – Many of the pre-tournament favourites lived up to their billing.
- Championship record from the Netherlands – Another all-time mark fell at the Ataköy Arena.
Full Championships Overview
For the complete results and event listings, visit the Championships page.
To understand the science behind the record-breaking performances, read the science behind Femke Bol’s 49.26 and explore how indoor track surfaces have evolved since Istanbul 2023.
Istanbul 2023 will be remembered as one of the most spectacular editions of the European Athletics Indoor Championships in history – a four-day celebration of speed, strength, and the very best of European track and field.
