Nairobi has been awarded the right to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, making Kenya the first African country to stage the prestigious global track and field event.
World Athletics announced the decision on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, following a meeting of its Council in Budapest, Hungary.
Nairobi was selected ahead of competing bids from London, Rome and Munich, while Munich was awarded the 2031 World Athletics Championships.
The decision marks a historic moment for African athletics, with the 2029 championships becoming the first edition of the senior World Athletics Championships to be staged on African soil.
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World Athletics President Sebastian Coe praised Nairobi’s bid, and the decision highlights Kenya’s deep-rooted athletics tradition and its growing experience hosting major international competitions.
“We were fortunate to have four outstanding bids for 2029 and 2031, and this was not an easy decision for the Council,” said World Athletics President Sebastian Coe.
“The quality, ambition and commitment demonstrated by all four candidates underlines the strength and global appeal of the World Athletics Championships.
Kenya has previously hosted major athletics events, including the 2017 World Under-18 Championships and the 2021 World Under-20 Championships, both in Nairobi.
The 2029 championships are expected to place Nairobi at the centre of global athletics, bringing some of the world’s biggest track and field stars to Kenya and showcasing the country’s sporting facilities, tourism and culture to an international audience.
The event is also expected to create opportunities for the hospitality, transport and tourism sectors while generating employment and business opportunities around the championships.
“With this Council decision today, we continue to fulfil our mission of growing athletics worldwide with the hosting of our World Athletics Championships in Asia, Africa and Europe over its next three editions.
“Nairobi and Munich ultimately presented two compelling propositions. They offer very different but equally exciting opportunities for our sport, and I am delighted that we can now begin working with both cities to stage two world-class championships.”
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Ruto welcomes the decision
President William Ruto welcomed the decision, describing it as a landmark moment for Kenya and the continent.
“The World Athletics Championships are coming home!” Ruto said in a statement.
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“Our country has won the right to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, making Kenya the first African nation to stage the premier global athletics competition.”
Ruto said the achievement represented more than just a sporting victory, describing it as a celebration of generations of Kenyan athletes who have established the country as a global athletics powerhouse.
“This is Kenya’s moment, Africa’s moment and a victory for generations of athletes who made our nation synonymous with excellence on the track, on the road and cross country,” he said.
