Host City Opportunities Open for 2028–2029 World Athletics Running Championships

World Athletics has officially launched the bidding process for a series of major out-of-stadium World Athletics Series events scheduled for 2028 and 2029, offering member federations an opportunity to host some of the sport’s most globally engaging competitions.

The events open for bids are the 2028 World Athletics Road Running Championships, the 2029 World Athletics Road Running Championships, and the 2029 World Athletics Cross Country Championships. Member federations had been informed of the forthcoming bidding process in advance, following earlier communication from World Athletics ahead of the year-end period.

The World Athletics Road Running Championships have quickly become one of the sport’s most accessible and vibrant international events. Presented in a streamlined one-day format, the championships attract around 350 elite athletes from approximately 55 countries, competing in the half marathon and 5km road races. These elite competitions are complemented by large-scale mass participation events, which have proven highly popular with recreational runners.

Each edition of the Road Running Championships turns the host city into a global hub for road running, creating a unique opportunity for host federations to harness the growing worldwide enthusiasm for the discipline. With strong appeal to both participants and spectators, the event offers significant potential to boost grassroots participation, enhance international visibility and generate revenue, while elevating the host city’s profile on the global road running stage.

The bidding process also includes the 2029 World Athletics Cross Country Championships, widely regarded as the pinnacle of off-road running. The championships are designed to showcase the distinctive character, landscape and terrain of the host location through technically demanding courses. Staged as a one-day event, the competition typically features around 550 athletes from approximately 52 countries, with scope for the inclusion of memorable mass participation races.

As interest in endurance and off-road running continues to expand worldwide, the Cross Country Championships present host cities with a powerful platform to promote active tourism and develop new strategic partnerships. The event also enables hosts to highlight both their natural scenery and urban environments to a global audience, reinforcing the connection between sport, place and community.

World Athletics has made bid guides available for each of the events, outlining hosting requirements and providing impact data from previous editions. These resources are designed to support prospective hosts throughout the bidding process and are accessible via the World Athletics website.

The deadline for the submission of pre-qualification forms for the 2028 and 2029 World Athletics Road Running Championships, as well as the 2029 World Athletics Cross Country Championships, is 3 April 2026. Full bid process timelines and further details are also available on the World Athletics website.

With global participation in running at an all-time high, World Athletics expects strong interest from cities and federations eager to stage events that combine elite competition with mass engagement and lasting legacy.