The 2029 edition of the World Athletics Championships will be staged in Africa for the first time, as the International governing body confirmed Kenya's capital, Nairobi, as the host city. This decision means that London, which had also put forward a strong proposal, will not be the venue for the upcoming championships. Kenya has long been recognised as a powerhouse in long-distance running, producing legends across the 5,000‑metre, 10,000‑metre and marathon distances. Yet, despite its storied heritage, the country has never before hosted an event of this magnitude.
The selection of Nairobi therefore marks a historic milestone for both the nation and the continent, signalling a new era in which Africa will play a central role in the global athletics calendar. The next edition after Nairobi is slated to return to Europe, with Munich, Germany, set to host the championships in 2031. "We were fortunate to have four outstanding bids for 2029 and 2031, and this was not an easy decision for the council," said World Athletics President Sebastian Coe during the announcement that followed the Ultimate Championship held in Hungary. He added that the quality, ambition and commitment demonstrated by all four candidates highlighted the growing strength and worldwide appeal of the World Athletics Championships.
Jack Buckner, the chief executive of UK Athletics and a co‑founder of Athletic Ventures, expressed disappointment on behalf of the British side. "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," he said.
Buckner thanked the UK 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 dedication and hard work in assembling the bid. He emphasized that the United Kingdom remains an excellent host for major sporting events and that the British public continues to love 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," Buckner added. He concluded by congratulating Nairobi and wishing the organising committee success for the 2029 event. The selection of Nairobi is widely regarded as a watershed moment for the sport. "Taking our championships to Africa for the first time will be historic," Coe noted.
"Athletics is woven into the fabric of Kenya." He pointed out that Kenya's deep‑rooted running culture, embodied by athletes such as Faith Kipyegon, Vivian Cheruiyot, Eliud Kipchoge, Hellen Obiri, David Rudisha and the late Kip Keino, has produced countless Olympic and World Championship medals. Other Kenyan greats, including cross‑country champion Paul Tergat and half‑marathon legend Tegla Loroupe, have also contributed to the nation's rich legacy.
Coe argued that the timing was right for Africa to host the championships, given the right host city, a compelling bid and favourable circumstances. The upcoming championships will run over a ten‑day period, restoring the traditional format after the experimental "Ultimate Championship" in Budapest, which featured a condensed three‑day schedule and prize‑money incentives rather than medals. The full programme in Nairobi will re‑introduce the complete suite of track and field events, ranging from the men's triple jump and shot put to race walking and the marathon—disciplines that were omitted from the Budapest schedule. This broader offering will provide athletes from all specialties the chance to compete on the world stage in Nairobi.
Beyond the sporting significance, the decision carries broader cultural and economic implications for Kenya and the wider region. Hosting a global event of this scale is expected to stimulate infrastructure development, boost tourism, and create jobs.
The city will likely invest in stadium upgrades, transportation improvements and hospitality capacity to accommodate athletes, officials and spectators from around the world. Moreover, the visibility of the championships can inspire a new generation of African athletes, encouraging participation at the grassroots level and fostering talent pipelines that could sustain Kenya's dominance in distance events while also expanding excellence into sprints, jumps and throws. The bid process itself highlighted the growing competitiveness of nations seeking to host major athletics events.
Four cities vied for the 2029 and 2031 slots, each presenting detailed plans covering venues, legacy use, sustainability measures and community engagement. While London offered a modern stadium and a proven track record of hosting large‑scale sports spectacles, Nairobi's proposal emphasized its unique cultural backdrop, the passion of Kenyan fans and the symbolic importance of bringing the sport back to its roots in East Africa.
In the months ahead, the Nairobi organising committee will begin detailed preparations, working closely with World Athletics to finalize the competition schedule, secure sponsorships and ensure compliance with international standards for timing, anti‑doping and athlete welfare. Local authorities are expected to collaborate with private sector partners to deliver the necessary upgrades to the Kasarani Stadium and surrounding facilities. Meanwhile, UK Athletics has indicated that it will continue to pursue future opportunities to host major athletics events, whether through a re‑bid for a later World Championships or by targeting other marquee competitions such as the European Athletics Championships or the Diamond League finals. The disappointment expressed by Jack Buckner underscores the resilience of the British athletics community, which remains committed to providing world‑class venues for athletes and fans alike.
In summary, Nairobi's selection as the host city for the 2029 World Athletics Championships marks a historic first for Africa, celebrating the continent's deep connection to the sport while promising economic and social benefits for Kenya. The decision also serves as a reminder of the global nature of athletics, as the sport continues to evolve, expand its reach and inspire athletes and spectators across all continents.