Nairobi bids to bring World Athletics Championships to Africa for first time in 2029

Nairobi hopes to make history by hosting the World Athletics Championships in 2029, with World Athletics set to announce its decision in September 2026.

Africa has never staged the senior edition of the global championships since the competition was established 53 years ago. Kenya’s bid is supported by the country’s experience of organising major international athletics events.

Nairobi has already hosted several of the governing body’s leading competitions. The Kenyan capital staged the World Athletics U18 Championships in 2017 before holding the World Athletics U20 Championships four years later.

The city also regularly hosts the Kip Keino Classic, an event on the international athletics calendar.

Kenya’s case is based not only on its existing facilities and organisational record, but also on the country’s deep connection with athletics. It has produced a number of prominent Olympic and world champions, strengthening its ambition to stage the sport’s biggest global event for the first time.

If successful, Nairobi would become the first African host of the senior World Athletics Championships.