On August 12, 2026, the third competition days of both the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham and the European Swimming Championships in Paris took place, with numerous Italian athletes competing in qualifications, semifinals, and finals.

At the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, the day's schedule included Andy Diaz's debut in the triple jump and the women's 400-meter hurdles final featuring Ayomide Folorunso, who had qualified through the previous day's semifinal. The day's program also included other events for the Italian team across qualifications, semifinals, and finals.

At the European Swimming Championships in Paris, the morning session began at 9:30 a.m. with six events and 18 Italian swimmers in the pool, 14 of them in individual events and a four-member relay team. The evening session, starting at 6:30 p.m., included four semifinals and seven finals. Thomas Ceccon was expected in the 100-meter butterfly heats in the morning and, in the afternoon, in the 200-meter backstroke final and the 100-meter butterfly semifinal. The women's 4×100 freestyle relay final was also on the schedule.

A third source additionally mentioned the open water mixed relay and the high diving finals among the day's events. The competitions were broadcast on television and via streaming.