Nairobi has earned the honor of hosting the 2029 World Athletics Championships, marking a historic milestone as the first African nation to welcome this prestigious biennial event, triumphing over formidable bids from London and Rome.
The World Athletics Council made this significant announcement during its 242nd meeting in Budapest on October 14-15.
Nairobi previously showcased its capability by hosting the World U18 Championships in 2017 and the World U20 Championships in 2021, along with the World Cross Country Championships in 2007.
The 22nd edition of the championships will take place at Kasarani Stadium in September 2029, following Nairobi’s successful hosting of global junior championships in recent years.
This marks Nairobi’s successful second bid to host these esteemed championships, having initially lost to Tokyo for the 2025 edition.
The experience gained from these events has significantly enhanced Nairobi’s expertise in organizing global athletics competitions across Africa.
Furthermore, Munich has been selected to host the 2031 World Athletics Championships, bringing this prestigious event back to Germany for the third time at the iconic Olympic Stadium.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe stated, “We were fortunate to have four outstanding bids for 2029 and 2031, and this was not an easy decision for the Council. With this decision, we continue to advance our mission of promoting athletics globally, hosting World Championships in Asia, Africa, and Europe over the next three editions. Nairobi and Munich presented two compelling propositions, each offering unique and exciting opportunities for our sport. I am thrilled that we can now collaborate with both cities to create two world-class championships.”
Nairobi has demonstrated robust credentials as a host city. After its initial bid for the 2025 championships, awarded to Tokyo, Nairobi returned with an even more compelling proposal for 2029, leveraging nearly a decade of experience in hosting major international athletics events.
Nairobi has also hosted seven editions of the Kip Keino Classic, a premier one-day meeting in Africa, which has been a part of the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold since 2020.
Moreover, Kenya has produced numerous world-class athletes in track events, road running, and marathons. Hosting the championship provides an exceptional platform for Kenya to assert its dominance in these disciplines.
The deep-rooted passion for athletics in Kenya is further evidenced by World Athletics fan research, which shows that 68% of Kenyans surveyed express high interest in athletics, significantly exceeding the global average of 39%. This positions Kenya as the most athletics-engaged market surveyed.
Meanwhile, Munich’s selection to host the 2031 championships signifies the event’s return to Germany for the first time since Berlin hosted it in 2009, which left a lasting impact on the host nation as Germany topped the medal table.
Since then, German athletics has gained renewed international momentum, achieving five medals, including one gold, at the World Championships in Tokyo 2025, and finishing third on the medal table at the European Championships in Birmingham.
Germany boasts one of the largest memberships in athletics federations and maintains a strong vision and strategy for the sport’s growth.
“Germany has consistently proven to be an exceptional and reliable host for major athletics events,” Coe remarked. “Berlin 2009 remains one of the most unforgettable editions of the World Championships, and we have witnessed tremendous support for the sport at the European Championships in both Berlin and Munich.”
Coe also highlighted that “The Olympiapark symbolizes sustainability, and we are committed to ensuring that this value is central to the planning and execution of the World Championships, adhering to international best practices and the Athletics for a Better World Gold Event standard.”
“We have confidence that Munich can deliver outstanding championships, that Germany has a dedicated audience for athletics, and that Munich 2031 is poised to be a spectacular World Athletics Championships.”
The 21st World Athletics Championships is set to take place in Beijing from September 10-19, 2027.
Both Nairobi 2029 and Munich 2031 will be held in September, aligning with the goal of culminating the global athletics calendar with a major championship at the season’s end.
