Nairobi faces London, Rome, Munich in race to host 2029 World Athletics Championships
By William Muthama, August 10, 2026Nairobi has officially submitted its bid to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, setting up a contest against London, Rome and Munich for the right to stage the global athletics showpiece.
Athletics Kenya confirmed the submission on Monday, August 10, 2026, saying the Kenyan capital had formally entered the global selection process with a government-backed bid.
“The submission places the Kenyan capital firmly in the running for the global selection process,” Athletics Kenya said in a statement.
Kenya eyes history
Athletics Kenya said Kenya had presented a strong case to bring the championships to Africa for the first time.
“Kenya has put forward a robust, government-backed bid that is expected to serve as a strong, historic push for the African continent,” the federation said.
Kenya has previously hosted several major international athletics events.
Mombasa staged the 2007 World Cross Country Championships, while Nairobi hosted the 2017 World Athletics Under-18 Championships and the 2021 World Athletics Under-20 Championships.
Nairobi also hosted the 2010 African Athletics Championships at Nyayo National Stadium.
The country continues to host major World Athletics Gold Label events, including the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi and the Sirkwa Classic Cross Country Championships in Uasin Gishu County.
Government backs bid
The Kenyan government has committed its full support to the Nairobi bid as the country seeks to convince World Athletics to award it the 2029 championships.
“The government has committed its full support to the bid and will provide the organisational framework, security measures and modern infrastructure required to stage a world-class global event,” the statement said.
The government backing is expected to strengthen Nairobi’s proposal as it competes against three European cities with established experience in hosting major international sporting events.
Kenya has also built a strong record of staging international athletics competitions, with Nairobi hosting both the Under-18 and Under-20 World Championships in recent years.
Four cities compete
Nairobi faces competition from London, Rome and Munich for the 2029 edition.
Athletics Kenya said the successful hosts for both the 2029 and 2031 championships will be announced by World Athletics after the Ultimate Championships in Budapest, Hungary, next month.
If Nairobi wins, the championships would be held in Africa for the first time since the senior World Athletics Championships were launched in 1983.
The bid would also allow Kenya to showcase its athletics heritage while positioning Nairobi as a destination capable of hosting one of the biggest events on the global sporting calendar.