Kenya’s capital will become the first African city to host the senior World Athletics Championships, with Kasarani Stadium set to stage the global event in 2029.
Nairobi has been selected to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, marking a historic milestone as the Kenyan capital becomes the first African city to stage the senior global athletics championship.
World Athletics announced the decision following its Council meeting in Budapest on September 15, 2026, selecting Nairobi as the host for the 2029 edition. Munich was simultaneously awarded the 2031 championships, while Beijing is scheduled to host the 2027 edition.
The decision represents a significant development for African athletics and follows several years of growth in the continent’s ability to host major international athletics competitions.
Nairobi makes history
The 2029 World Athletics Championships will be the first edition of the senior outdoor championships staged on African soil.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe described Nairobi’s bid as compelling and highlighted Kenya’s longstanding connection with athletics. The organisation said the decision supports its objective of expanding the global reach of the sport, with the next three editions taking place across Asia, Africa and Europe.
Nairobi was competing against bids from London, Rome and Munich for the 2029 edition. Munich was ultimately selected for 2031.
The successful bid also comes after Nairobi previously sought the right to host the 2025 championships, which were eventually awarded to Tokyo. The Kenyan capital returned with a proposal that drew on its experience hosting major athletics competitions and its established athletics infrastructure.
Kasarani Stadium at the centre
The championships are expected to be staged at Kasarani Stadium, one of Kenya’s major sporting venues.
The stadium is currently undergoing a significant renovation ahead of its planned role in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, providing an opportunity for the venue to be upgraded before the World Athletics Championships arrive in Nairobi two years later.
World Athletics noted that the renovated stadium formed part of Nairobi’s broader hosting proposition, alongside financial guarantees, operational planning and the city’s experience in staging international athletics events.
Building on Kenya’s athletics experience
Kenya already has considerable experience hosting international athletics events.
Nairobi staged the World Athletics Under-18 Championships in 2017 and the World Athletics Under-20 Championships in 2021. The country has also hosted other major athletics competitions, while Nairobi’s Kip Keino Classic has established itself as an important meeting on the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold circuit.
These events have contributed to the development of local expertise in areas including event operations, venue management, athlete services and competition delivery.
World Athletics said the experience gained from previous competitions helped provide foundations for Nairobi’s 2029 bid.
A milestone for African athletics
Nairobi’s selection adds to a growing list of major World Athletics events hosted on the continent.
Uganda hosted the World Cross Country Championships in Kampala in 2017, while Botswana hosted the World Athletics Relays in 2026, becoming the first African host of that event. Nairobi’s 2029 appointment now takes that progression to the sport’s flagship senior outdoor championship.
For Kenya, the decision also reinforces the country’s position within international athletics. The nation has a long history of producing elite athletes, particularly in middle- and long-distance events, while athletics maintains a significant following among Kenyan sports fans.
Looking toward 2029
The 2029 championships will follow the Beijing 2027 World Athletics Championships, scheduled for September 10–19, 2027. Nairobi’s edition will also take place in September, consistent with World Athletics’ objective of positioning its flagship global championship toward the end of the athletics season.
With preparations already linked to the redevelopment of Kasarani Stadium and Kenya’s experience in hosting major sporting events, Nairobi now moves toward the next phase of preparing for the 2029 championships.
The event will give Kenya an opportunity to host the world’s leading track and field athletes on home soil while providing Africa with its first opportunity to stage the senior World Athletics Championships.
For African athletics, the Nairobi 2029 decision represents a significant expansion of the continent’s role on the global sporting calendar and places Kenya at the centre of one of the sport’s most important international events.
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