Nairobi has been selected to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, World Athletics confirmed at a council meeting in Budapest. It will be the first time an African city has hosted the event.
World Athletics president Sebastian Coe said the council had four outstanding bids for 2029 and 2031 and described the decision as difficult.
He said the choice supports thetorganisation’s mission to grow athletics worldwide, with the next three championships set to be held in Asia, Africa and Europe.
Coe said Nairobi presented “a compelling and emotional bid” and that taking the championships to Africa for the first time would be historic. He added that it was important to bring the event to Africa when World Athletics had the right host, bid and circumstances, and said Nairobi had shown “this is their moment.”
London missed out despite proposing the London Stadium, home of West Ham United, as its host venue. The stadium was used for the 2012 Olympic Games, the annual London Diamond League and the 2017 World Athletics Championships.
The UK bid was led by Athletic Ventures, made up of UK Athletics, London Marathon Events and the Great Run Company.
Jack Buckner, CEO of UK Athletics and co-founder of Athletic Ventures, said the organization was “deeply disappointed” the 2029 championships would not be held in London.
He said the bid team believed it had an outstanding proposal that would take the sport to new levels, and thanked the government, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, the Mayor of London, UK Sport, the London Stadium, West Ham United and other stakeholders for their support. He also congratulated Nairobi and wished its organizing committee success in 2029.
Rome was the other unsuccessful bidder for 2029. World Athletics also confirmed that Munich will host the 2031 championships for the first time.
Nairobi previously bid for the 2025 championships but lost to Tokyo. Its Kasarani Stadium is being renovated before the Africa Cup of Nations in 2027, strengthening its case as a host venue. Kenya finished second in the medal table at the 2025 edition, winning seven gold medals and 11 medals in total.
