Nairobi Awarded 2029 World Athletics Championships, Making History as First African Host

NAIROBI, KENYA — Nairobi has been selected to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, beating bids from London, Munich and Rome to become the first African city to stage the global track and field showcase.

World Athletics announced the decision on Tuesday following a council meeting in Budapest, where the organisation's recently concluded Ultimate Championship was held.

Munich was awarded the 2031 World Athletics Championships, while the 2027 edition had already been awarded to Beijing.

Historic First for Africa

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe described the decision as a landmark moment for the sport, saying the next three editions would take the championships to Asia, Africa and Europe.

“Taking our championships to Africa for the first time will be historic. Nairobi has presented a compelling and an emotional bid,” Coe said.

He said the decision followed a competitive bidding process involving four strong proposals for the 2029 and 2031 championships.

“We were fortunate to have four outstanding bids for 2029 and 2031, and this was not an easy decision for the Council,” Coe said.

The World Athletics president said Nairobi's successful bid reflected the city's readiness and the broader opportunity to expand the sport's footprint across the African continent.

“Nairobi has demonstrated emphatically that this is their moment to supercharge the development of our sport in Kenya and across Africa, leaving a compelling legacy that inspires a continent,” Coe added.

Kenya Gets Another Global Athletics Showcase

The award marks a major milestone for Kenya, one of the world's most successful distance-running nations.

Kenya previously bid unsuccessfully to host the 2025 World Athletics Championships, an experience that helped Nairobi strengthen its latest proposal.

The country has, however, hosted several major international athletics events.

Mombasa hosted the 2007 World Cross Country Championships, while Nairobi staged the 2017 World Under-18 Championships and the 2021 World Under-20 Championships.

Nairobi also hosted the 2010 African Athletics Championships.

Kasarani Stadium Renovation Boosts Nairobi Bid

Coe said Nairobi's experience from the previous bidding process helped its team develop a stronger proposal for 2029.

A key component of the bid is the ongoing renovation of Kasarani Stadium, which is undergoing a major overhaul ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

“Having also been part of the bidding process for 2025, the Nairobi team understood and grasped what was required, and came back with a stronger proposition, and a renovated Kasarani Stadium,” Coe said.

The upgraded stadium is expected to provide a modern venue capable of hosting the world's leading athletes and thousands of spectators.

Boost for Kenya and African Athletics

The 2029 championships are expected to provide Kenya with an opportunity to showcase its athletics heritage while attracting athletes, fans, media and visitors from around the world.

The event could also generate wider benefits for tourism, hospitality, infrastructure, youth development and the sports economy.

For African athletics, the decision represents a historic breakthrough, with the continent set to host the world's premier global track and field championships for the first time.

With Nairobi now confirmed as the 2029 host, Kenya is set to occupy a central position on the international athletics calendar as it prepares to welcome the world's best athletes to the capital.