The International Association of Athletics Federations (World Athletics) has announced that the 2029 edition of its flagship competition will be staged in Nairobi, Kenya, marking the first time the World Athletics Championships will be held on African soil. The decision means that London, which had also submitted a bid, will not be the host city for that year. Kenya is renowned worldwide for its dominance in distance running, producing legends such as Eliud Kipchoge, Faith Kipyegon and David Rudisha.
Yet despite its storied history in the sport, the nation has never before organized an event of this magnitude. Nairobi's selection therefore represents a historic milestone, not only for Kenya but for the continent as a whole, as the championships will travel to Africa for the first time in their more than eight‑decade history.
The upcoming 2031 championships have already been earmarked for Munich, Germany, ensuring that Europe will continue to play a central role in the competition’s rotation. World Athletics President Sebastian Coe explained that the council faced a difficult choice after receiving four strong proposals for the 2029 and 2031 editions. "We were fortunate to have four outstanding bids for 2029 and 2031, and this was not an easy decision for the council," Coe said following the announcement at the Ultimate Championship event in Hungary.
He added that the quality, ambition and commitment shown by all the candidates highlighted the global appeal of the championships. The UK’s bid, led by Jack Buckner, chief executive of UK Athletics and co‑founder of the sports‑marketing firm Athletic Ventures, expressed deep disappointment at the outcome.
"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 the British government, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, the Mayor of London, UK Sport, the London Stadium, West Ham United and a host of other stakeholders for their unwavering support throughout the bidding process. "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.
Buckner concluded by extending congratulations to Nairobi and wishing the Kenyan organising committee success in delivering a memorable tournament. The sentiment was echoed by Coe, who described the decision as a "landmark moment for athletics, bringing its biggest global event to Africa for the first time." He noted that athletics is deeply embedded in Kenyan culture, saying, "Taking our championships to Africa for the first time will be historic. Athletics is woven into the fabric of Kenya." The 2029 championships will run for ten days, featuring the full complement of track and field events that athletes and fans have come to expect.
This contrasts with the recently held Ultimate Championship, an invitation‑only meet that replaced medals with substantial cash prizes and lasted only three days. The traditional World Championships format will return next year in Beijing, where the full slate of disciplines—including the men's triple jump, shot put, race walks and marathon—will be contested. Those events were notably absent from the Budapest Ultimate Championship program.
Coe highlighted Kenya's deep connection to the sport, referencing a pantheon of Kenyan athletes who have left an indelible mark on athletics history. "Kenya is one of the great athletics nations.
The sport is woven into the fabric of the country, and athletes such as world gold medallists Faith Kipyegon, Vivian Cheruiyot, Eliud Kipchoge, Hellen Obiri and David Rudisha, as well as two‑time Olympic champion Kip Keino, multiple world cross‑country champion Paul Tergat and multiple world half‑marathon champion Tegla Loroupe, have shaped the history of our sport," Coe said. He emphasized that the timing was right for Africa to host the event, noting that Nairobi had presented a compelling case with a robust infrastructure plan, strong governmental backing, and a passionate local fan base. "It was important that the World Athletics Championships should come to Africa when we had the right host, the right bid and the right circumstances. Nairobi has demonstrated emphatically that this is their moment," Coe affirmed.
Beyond the symbolic significance, Nairobi's selection is expected to generate economic and social benefits for Kenya. Large‑scale sporting events typically attract thousands of international visitors, stimulate hospitality and tourism sectors, and create temporary employment opportunities.
Moreover, the exposure can inspire a new generation of Kenyan athletes, encouraging greater participation at grassroots levels and potentially expanding Kenya's dominance beyond distance events into sprints, throws and jumps. Organisers in Nairobi have already begun outlining plans for the venue, athlete village, transportation logistics and legacy projects. They aim to ensure that the facilities meet World Athletics standards while also leaving a lasting positive impact on the city’s sporting infrastructure. The bid highlighted the use of the newly renovated Kasarani Stadium, which will be upgraded to accommodate the opening and closing ceremonies as well as the track and field competitions.
In addition to the core athletic events, the organizers intend to incorporate cultural showcases that celebrate Kenya’s rich heritage, offering spectators a blend of sport and tradition. This approach mirrors recent trends in major international competitions, where host nations use the platform to promote tourism and national identity. The decision also underscores a broader strategic shift within World Athletics to diversify the locations of its marquee events, aiming to grow the sport’s global footprint and engage new audiences. By bringing the championships to Nairobi, the governing body hopes to inspire increased participation across Africa, a continent that has produced numerous world‑class athletes but has historically been under‑represented in terms of hosting rights.
As the countdown to 2029 begins, athletes, coaches, officials and fans worldwide will be watching how Nairobi prepares to welcome the world’s best runners, jumpers, throwers and walkers. The city’s successful delivery of the event could set a precedent for future championships in other emerging markets, reinforcing the message that elite athletics is truly a global sport, capable of thriving wherever there is passion, commitment and a love for competition.