Nairobi will host the 2029 World Athletics Championships
For the first time, athletics’ biggest championship is coming to Africa, in the home of distance running.
Key points
- The World Athletics Council chose Nairobi on 15 September 2026 to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, the first to be held in Africa; Munich will host in 2031.
- The championships will be held at Kasarani Stadium, which is undergoing structural renovation.
- Kenya has previously hosted the 2007 World Cross Country Championships and the World Under-18 (2017) and Under-20 (2021) Championships.
The World Athletics Championships are coming to Africa for the first time. On 15 September 2026, the World Athletics Council chose Nairobi to host the championships in 2029. Munich will host the following edition in 2031.
The decision was announced after the Council's meeting in Budapest on 14 and 15 September. Nairobi had formally submitted its bid in August.
"Historic"
"Nairobi presented a compelling and emotional bid, and taking the World Athletics Championships to Africa for the first time will be historic," said World Athletics President Sebastian Coe.
Kasarani's big moment
The championships will be held at Kasarani Stadium, which is undergoing structural renovation. The same stadium is also being prepared for AFCON 2027, giving the upgrade a second major purpose.
Kenya is no stranger to hosting global athletics. It staged the World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa in 2007, the World Under-18 Championships in Nairobi in 2017 and the World Under-20 Championships in Nairobi in 2021.
Why it matters
Kenyan runners have been among the stars of every World Championships for decades. In 2029, they will race in front of a home crowd, in a country where distance running is a national passion. It caps a remarkable year that included Sabastian Sawe's sub-two-hour marathon and Emmanuel Wanyonyi's 1,000m world record.
Sources
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