Nairobi will host the first World Athletics Championships on African soil in 2029

The World Athletics Championships will be held in Africa for the first time in 2029, with Kenya’s capital Nairobi confirmed as the host city for the premier athletics event.

Kenya is one of the world’s leading athletics nations, particularly in distance running, and is second only to the United States in the all-time world championships medal table. The championship will return to Germany in 2031, with Munich hosting for the first time.

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe described Nairobi’s selection as a historic moment and highlighted Kenya’s deep connection with the sport.

“Taking our Championship to Africa for the first time will be historic,” Coe said after announcing the decision after the Ultimate Championship in Hungary. “Athletics is woven into the fabric of Kenya.”

Kenyan Sports Minister Salim Mvurya also welcomed the decision, saying the event will showcase a country where running has become part of its identity.

PASSIONATE FANS GET A MOMENT

Coe said World Athletics research identified Kenya as the most passionate market for athletics among those surveyed.

Nairobi’s hosting offering also benefits from existing infrastructure. The championship will be held at a stadium that is already being upgraded ahead of next year’s co-hosting of the Africa Cup of Nations in Kenya.

“It was important that the World Athletics Championships came to Africa when we had the right host, the right offer and the right conditions,” Coe said. “Nairobi has shown emphatically that this is their moment.

However, the announcement is likely to bring increased scrutiny of Kenya’s doping record. Several elite Kenyan athletes have been suspended over the past decade, including marathon world record holder Ruth Chepng’etich, who is currently serving a three-year ban.

Nairobi beat bids from London and Rome to secure the championship in 2029. London last hosted the event in 2017.

TRADITIONAL WORLDS ARE BACK

The championships will retain their traditional format, with the next edition in Beijing running for 10 days and offering a full program of events.

This is in contrast to the three-day Ultimate Championship in Budapest, which featured an invitation-only field and big prize money instead of the traditional medal-focused format. Events such as men’s triple jump, shot put, race walk and marathon were absent from this competition.

The Ultimate Championship has yet to confirm a host for its 2028 edition, although Coe said there was already considerable interest after its inaugural show.

“I think the proof of concept worked pretty well. There are things we’ll obviously look at and tweak,” Coe said.

Before taking center stage in Nairobi in 2029, Beijing will host the next World Athletics Championships, followed by Munich in 2031.

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Issued by:

Amar Panicker

Published on:

15 Sep 2026 16:03 IST