Nairobi has been awarded the right to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, making Kenya the first African country to stage the senior global athletics championships.
The decision was made on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, by the World Athletics Council during its meeting in Budapest, Hungary.
The championships will be held at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, which is undergoing renovations ahead of the event.
Nairobi’s selection means the World Athletics Championships, which have been held since 1983, will be staged in Africa for the first time.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe described Nairobi’s bid as compelling and highlighted Kenya’s longstanding connection with athletics.
Kenya beat competing bids from London and Rome, while Munich was selected to host the 2031 edition.
The decision follows Kenya’s previous efforts to bring the championships to Nairobi. The city had submitted a bid for the 2025 edition, which was eventually awarded to Tokyo.
Nairobi already has experience hosting major international athletics events. It staged the World Under-18 Championships in 2017 and the World Under-20 Championships in 2021.
The 2029 championships will also come two years after the 2027 edition in Beijing, with the event then moving to Munich in 2031. World Athletics said the 2029 and 2031 hosts were selected following the Council’s consideration of the respective bids.
Kenya’s selection places the country at the centre of a major international athletics event at a time when it remains one of the sport’s leading countries, particularly in middle- and long-distance running.
The 2029 championships are expected to further establish Nairobi as a host city for major international sporting events, with Kasarani also set to be used for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.