Kenya has secured the right to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, marking the first time in history that athletics’ premier global event will be staged in Africa.
The World Athletics Council made the decision during its 242nd meeting in Budapest, Hungary, on September 15, 2026.
The award is a major victory for Kenya and for African sport, with Nairobi beating rival bids from London, Rome and Munich to secure hosting rights for the 2029 championships.
Munich was subsequently selected to host the 2031 edition.
Landmark Moment for Kenya and Africa
The decision ends a 46-year wait for Africa to host the sport’s biggest championship since the event was first held in 1983.
While African athletes, particularly Kenyans, Ethiopians and South Africans, have been among the most successful competitors in the history of track and field, no African nation had previously been entrusted with hosting the championships.
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In announcing the decision, Sebastian Coe, President of World Athletics, said the bidding process was among the strongest in the championships’ history, with all four candidate cities presenting compelling proposals.
He noted that selecting Nairobi aligns with the federation’s goal of expanding athletics into new regions while recognizing Africa’s central role in the sport.
“With this Council decision today, we continue to fulfill our mission of growing athletics worldwide with the hosting of our World Athletics Championships in Asia, Africa and Europe over the next three editions.
Nairobi’s bid was anchored on Kenya’s rich athletics heritage and growing experience in hosting major international competitions.
The city previously hosted the World Under-18 Championships in 2017 and the World Under-20 Championships in 2021, both at the Moi International Sports Center, Kasarani.
Kenya also hosted the World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa in 2007.
“The sport is woven into the fabric of the country, and athletes such as world gold medallists Faith Kipyegon, Vivian Cheruiyot, Eliud Kipchoge, Hellen Obiri and David Rudisha, as well as two-time Olympic champion Kip Keino, multiple world cross-country champion Paul Tergat and multiple world half marathon champion Tegla Loroupe, have shaped the history of our sport,” said President Sebastian Coe.
Kenya’s bid also enjoyed strong government backing and was supported by guarantees on infrastructure, security and event delivery.
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According to reports, Nairobi returned with an improved proposal after an earlier attempt to host the 2025 championships, which were awarded to Tokyo.
Kasarani Set for Global Spotlight
The championships are expected to be staged at the Moi International Sports Center, Kasarani, Kenya’s largest sports facility.
The venue has already hosted several major continental and global events and is expected to undergo further upgrades before welcoming the world’s best athletes in September 2029.
Hosting the championships will bring thousands of athletes, officials, journalists and fans to Kenya, placing Nairobi at the center of the global sporting calendar.
The event is expected to generate significant economic benefits through tourism, hospitality, transport and international exposure.
The World Athletics Championships are the premier global outdoor track-and-field competition, organised by World Athletics.
First held in Helsinki, Finland, in 1983, the event normally takes place every two years and attracts athletes from around the world.
Competitions include track races from 100m to 10,000m, hurdles, steeplechase, relays, field events, decathlon, heptathlon, marathon and race walking.
Athletes qualify through entry standards, world rankings, qualifying competitions and national selection.
The championships showcase the world’s best runners, jumpers and throwers while producing major records, rivalries and memorable performances across athletics disciplines.
Each nation must follow World Athletics’ eligibility rules and entry quotas.
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