The International Association of Athletics Federations (World Athletics) has announced that the 2029 World Athletics Championships will be staged in Nairobi, Kenya, marking the first occasion the premier track-and-field event will be held on African soil. The decision means that London, which had also submitted a strong bid, will not be the host city for this edition. Kenya, a nation renowned for producing some of the world’s most dominant distance runners, has never before organized an athletics competition of this magnitude.
While the country has long been a powerhouse in events ranging from the 5,000 metres to the marathon, the upcoming championships will be its inaugural foray into hosting a global multi‑disciplinary meet that includes sprints, jumps, throws, and race‑walking alongside the distance races for which it is famous. The next edition after Nairobi will move to Europe, with Munich, Germany slated to stage the 2031 championships. World Athletics president Sebastian Coe explained the selection process, noting that four compelling proposals were evaluated for the 2029 and 2031 slots.
"We were fortunate to have four outstanding bids for 2029 and 2031, and this was not an easy decision for the council," Coe said after the announcement at the Ultimate Championship event in Hungary. He added that the quality, ambition and commitment shown by each applicant highlighted the growing global appeal of the championships. The response from the United Kingdom was one of disappointment but also resolve.
Jack Buckner, chief executive of UK Athletics and co‑founder of Athletic Ventures, expressed his regret that London would not host the 2029 event. "We are deeply disappointed that the 2029 World Athletics Championships will not be held in London. We believed we had an outstanding bid which would genuinely take the sport to new levels," Buckner said. He thanked a wide array of supporters, including the British government, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, the Mayor of London, UK Sport, the London Stadium, West Ham United and numerous other stakeholders who had contributed time and resources to the bid.
Despite the setback, Buckner emphasized the United Kingdom’s continued enthusiasm for athletics. "The UK is an incredible host for major sports events and the British public loves athletics.
Athletic Ventures has the ambition to bring those events here and, although today's announcement hasn't gone our way, we will review and regroup. We know the world's athletes love competing here and we'll continue to explore further opportunities to make that happen," he added. He concluded by congratulating Nairobi and wishing the Kenyan organising committee success in delivering a memorable competition.
Coe underscored the historic nature of the decision, noting that moving the championships to Africa for the first time is a watershed moment for the sport. "Taking our championships to Africa for the first time will be historic," he said.
"Athletics is woven into the fabric of Kenya." He highlighted the deep cultural connection the country has with running, pointing to legendary Kenyan athletes such as Faith Kipyegon, Vivian Cheruiyot, Eliud Kipchoge, Hellen Obiri, David Rudisha, the late Kip Keino, Paul Tergat and Tegla Loroupe, all of whom have left an indelible mark on the sport’s history. The 2029 event will follow the traditional World Championships format, spanning ten days and featuring the full complement of disciplines—men’s and women’s sprints, middle‑distance races, hurdles, relays, jumps (long, triple, high, pole), throws (shot put, discus, hammer, javelin), race‑walking and the marathon.
This contrasts with the recent Ultimate Championship, a three‑day invitational that offered substantial cash prizes instead of medals and showcased only a select group of the sport’s biggest names. The return to the classic format will see athletes from all corners of the globe converge in Nairobi, competing for the iconic gold, silver and bronze medals that define a world champion’s legacy. Hosting the championships in Nairobi presents both opportunities and challenges.
On the one hand, the city will benefit from increased international exposure, tourism revenue, and the chance to showcase Kenya’s hospitality and organizational capabilities. On the other hand, logistical considerations such as stadium upgrades, athlete accommodation, transportation infrastructure and climate adaptation will require careful planning.
World Athletics and the Nairobi Organising Committee have already begun consultations with local authorities, sponsors and technical partners to ensure that facilities meet the stringent standards expected for a world‑class event. The selection also aligns with broader strategic goals of diversifying the geographic footprint of major athletics competitions.
By bringing the pinnacle of track and field to Africa, World Athletics hopes to inspire a new generation of athletes across the continent, stimulate investment in grassroots programmes, and reinforce the message that elite sport belongs to everyone, regardless of location. In summary, Nairobi’s award as the host city for the 2029 World Athletics Championships marks a historic shift, celebrating Kenya’s storied running heritage while opening a new chapter for the sport on the African continent. Although London’s bid fell short, the United Kingdom remains committed to pursuing future opportunities to host marquee athletics events.
As preparations commence, athletes, fans and officials alike look forward to a vibrant, inclusive, and unforgettable championship that will honor the sport’s past while forging a path toward a more globally representative future.