Nairobi has been selected to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, marking the first time the flagship global athletics event will be staged on African soil.
The decision was announced by World Athletics following its Council meeting in Budapest on September 15, 2026. Nairobi was selected as the 2029 host, while Munich, Germany, was chosen to stage the 2031 edition.
The championships are expected to bring together about 2,000 of the world’s leading track and field athletes from more than 195 countries, making the event one of the biggest international sporting competitions ever hosted in Africa.
The renovated Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi is expected to play a central role in the championships. World Athletics said the stadium is undergoing a major structural overhaul of its facilities ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which will take place two years before the World Championships.
Nairobi’s previous experience hosting major athletics competitions was also cited as an important factor in its successful bid. The Kenyan capital hosted the 2017 World U18 Championships and the 2021 World U20 Championships, while the Kip Keino Classic has become one of Africa’s leading athletics meetings.
World Athletics described Nairobi’s selection as a landmark moment because the World Athletics Championships will be held in Africa for the first time.
Kenya’s long association with athletics was another major factor. The country has produced numerous Olympic and world champions and remains one of the most successful nations in World Athletics Championships history. According to World Athletics, Kenya finished second on the medal table at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, winning seven gold medals and 11 medals overall.
The hosting rights are also expected to put Nairobi under the global spotlight, with international athletes, officials, fans and media expected to converge on the Kenyan capital during the championships.
For Kenya, the 2029 event will provide an opportunity to showcase its athletics tradition while demonstrating its ability to host a major international sporting competition.
The 2029 World Athletics Championships will therefore represent a significant milestone for both Kenya and African athletics, bringing the world’s biggest track and field championship to the continent for the first time.
