The race to host two of track and field’s biggest global events is officially underway.
World Athletics has opened the bidding process for the 2029 and 2031 editions of the World Athletics Championships. Member federations, along with potential host cities and their partners, are being invited to signal their interest by submitting a pre-qualification form by October 1, 2025.
Details on how to apply—and what the process involves—are available through the official bid guide, now posted in the World Athletics Library.
The World Championships are considered the sport’s top stage. Held every two years, the event brings together the world’s top athletes to compete for medals, records, and national pride. World Athletics calls it “the pinnacle athletics event of the year and the outdoor season finale.”
As part of the bid process, interested cities can take part in an “observer programme” this September at the World Championships in Tokyo. The initiative is designed to give prospective hosts an up-close look at how the event is run.
“This is the best opportunity to observe, learn and engage with both World Athletics and LOC staff in event hosting mode,” the federation said. The program offers a behind-the-scenes view and what it describes as a “valuable knowledge exchange.”
Cities or federations looking for more information are being directed to contact Mark Hurst, the federation’s Head of Bidding.
The last edition of the World Championships was held in Budapest in 2023. After Tokyo in 2025, the next confirmed host city is Beijing in 2027.
