Ireland’s success at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham has left supporters dreaming a little bigger.
Mark English and Kate O’Connor returned home as European champions, Rhasidat Adeleke secured silver in the 200m and Andrew Coscoran claimed bronze in the 1500m. It was Ireland’s most successful European Athletics Championships, and the prospect of following this team to a global championship suddenly feels a lot more tempting.
The next standard World Championships will take place in Beijing in September 2027. It is not as simple as hopping across to Birmingham, but it is far from impossible. Ireland has a direct flight to Beijing and the city has an extensive subway system.
I have family connections in China and normally visit twice a year. Starting from late 2026, Run Republic will publish separate guides covering payments, mobile internet, accommodation and transport.
Nothing needs to be booked today. This is simply a first look at the trip and the few details worth knowing if Birmingham has left you thinking, “I would love to be there next year.”
So, for now, here are the main things to know if Beijing 2027 is beginning to sound tempting (because we know you're thinking about).
When And Where Are The Championships?
The World Athletics Championships will take place from Saturday September 11th to Sunday September 19th, 2027.
The competition will be held at the Beijing National Stadium, better known as the Bird’s Nest. It is the same stadium that hosted athletics at the 2008 Olympic Games and the 2015 World Championships.
The stadium sits in the Olympic Green in the north of Beijing and is served by the city’s subway network. A full timetable for the championships has not yet been released, so supporters do not yet know which events will take place during each session.
When Will Tickets Go On Sale?
Tickets are not on sale yet and prices have not been announced. World Athletics is currently inviting supporters to register for ticket updates/presale through its official championship page.
There is no need to panic or rush into buying a complete package from an unofficial seller. Once the ticket programme and session timetable are published, supporters will be able to work out which days suit them and which Irish athletes they might have an opportunity to watch.
Run Republic will publish a separate ticket guide when the organisers release the important details.
Will Irish Supporters Need A Visa for China?
No.
Irish citizens holding ordinary passports can currently enter China without a visa for visits of up to 30 days. That includes visits for tourism.
But you do need six months validity on your passport from the time of departure from China.
And while the current arrangement is only confirmed until December 31st, 2026, it is highly unlikely to change going into 2027.
Can You Fly Directly From Ireland To Beijing?
Hainan Airlines currently operates the only direct service between Dublin and Beijing. The airline increased the route to daily flights for summer 2026, although its schedule and frequency for September 2027 have not yet been confirmed.
London provides far more direct options. Air China flies from Heathrow to Beijing Capital and China Southern flies from Heathrow to Beijing Daxing, while Air China also operates directly from Gatwick to Beijing Capital.
None of the direct Dublin or London services is currently available to book for the championship dates. The airlines have not released their September 2027 schedules and may not do so until closer to Christmas or shortly afterwards.
Where Should Supporters Stay in Beijing?
It may be tempting to book the hotel closest to the Bird’s Nest, but subway access is more important than distance on a map. Beijing is enormous and apparently short journeys can still take time.
Hotels close to Line 8 should provide straightforward access to the Olympic Green. Staying a little farther south may also make it easier to reach the main tourist areas, restaurants and nightlife when there is no athletics taking place.
Trip.com is generally one of the most useful platforms for booking accommodation in China offers infinitely more choice than booking.com or other western booking platforms. Hotels often don't open bookings until six or even three months in advance in China, so there is no use in booking anything blindly nearly a year in advance.
Is It Too Early To Start Thinking About Beijing?
No. It is too early to organise every part of the trip, but it is not too early to decide that you might like to go and to even just to think about the practical considerations that may entail.
Supporters can register for ticket updates, check their passport expiry date and begin watching flights (more on that in a later aritcle). That is enough for now. Hotels, payment systerms, SIM cards, internet access and local transport can wait.
Each subject deserves a proper guide rather than a few rushed lines here. I will hopefully be travelling to Beijing for the championships myself, and Run Republic will begin publishing the full series closer to Christmas, when tickets, flights etc should start becoming clearer.
For now, the point is much simpler. Beijing has fixed dates, an iconic stadium and a direct connection from Dublin. A trip that may have sounded fanciful before Ireland’s week in Birmingham is a genuine option.
Image: Perri Williams
