Nairobi to Host 2029 World Athletics Championships, First African City

Nairobi has been selected to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, making it the first African city to stage the event. The decision was announced during the 242nd World Athletics Council Meeting in Budapest on 14–15 September 2026. World Athletics President Sebastian Coe described Nairobi's bid as "compelling and emotional," noting that the selection fulfils the organisation's mission to expand athletics globally across Asia, Africa and Europe over the next three editions.

The selection process involved four outstanding bids for the 2029 and 2031 championships. London, which hosted the championships in 2017 and proposed using the London Stadium as its venue, lost out to Nairobi. Rome was the other unsuccessful bidder for 2029. Jack Buckner, CEO of UK Athletics, expressed disappointment, stating the London bid "would genuinely take the sport to new levels." Sources within the London team attributed the loss partly to a prolonged dispute with West Ham United over stadium access in September 2029, and to sparse crowds at the recent European Championships in Birmingham.

Coe highlighted Kenya's deep connection to athletics, describing it as "one of the great athletics nations" and noting that the sport is "woven into the fabric of the country." Kenya has produced numerous world champions and Olympic medallists, including Eliud Kipchoge, Faith Kipyegon, Vivian Cheruiyot and David Rudisha. World Athletics fan research found that 68% of Kenyan respondents rated their interest in athletics as high, compared with a global average of 39%. Kenya finished second in the 2025 World Championships medal table with seven gold medals and eleven total medals.

Nairobi's bid was strengthened by its experience hosting major athletics events, including the World U18 Championships in 2017, the World U20 Championships in 2021, and the Kip Keino Classic, a continental tour gold event. The Kasarani Stadium, proposed as the venue, is undergoing complete structural renovation ahead of hosting the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2027, two years before the World Athletics Championships. The championships will be held in September at the end of the athletics season. Munich was simultaneously announced as the host of the 2031 World Athletics Championships, marking Germany's third time hosting the event after Berlin in 2009. Beijing will host the 2027 edition from 10–19 September.