Athletics: Nairobi to host 2029 World Championships, a first for Africa

Nairobi’s selection places Kenya at the center of the global athletics calendar three years after the decision. The Kenyan bid triumphed over those from London, Rome, and Munich, with the latter ultimately securing the 2031 edition.

Kasarani Stadium is set to be the main venue for the event. The facility is currently undergoing a complete renovation ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which Kenya will co-host with Tanzania and Uganda.

Nairobi already has significant international experience in athletics. The city hosted the U18 World Championships in 2017 and the U20 World Championships in 2021, and regularly organizes the Kip Keino Classic, part of the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold.

Kenya arrives at this event with a strong sporting pedigree. World Athletics ranks it as the second most successful nation in the history of the World Championships and notes that the country finished second in the medal table at the Tokyo 2025 Championships, with seven titles and a total of eleven medals.

The next edition of the World Championships will take place in Beijing from September 10 to 19, 2027. World Athletics also plans for Nairobi 2029 and Munich 2031 to be held in September, aiming to position its flagship championship at the end of the season.