World Athletics launches bidding process for 2028 and 2029 outdoor events
By Joel Masibo, January 13, 2026The global athletics governing body, World Athletics, has launched the bidding process for outdoor events for the years 2028 and 2029.
In a statement released on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, World Athletics said bidding for series events, including the 2028 World Athletics Road Running Championships, 2029 World Athletics Road Running Championships and 2029 World Athletics Cross Country Championships, is open.
The launch follows earlier communication with World Athletics member federations, who were informed of the forthcoming bidding process in advance of the year-end period.
Road Running Championships
The World Athletics Road Running Championships has rapidly established itself as one of the sport’s most accessible and dynamic global events. Delivered in its latest format as a one-day competition, the championships bring together approximately 350 elite athletes from about 55 countries to contest the half-marathon and 5km road races, alongside highly popular mass participation events.
According to the statement, each edition has a unique significance.
”Each edition transforms the host city into the road running capital of the world, providing an outstanding opportunity for a host member federation to capitalise on the growing global appetite for road running. The event’s strong appeal to recreational runners and spectators alike offers significant potential to drive participation, visibility and revenue, while strengthening the host’s international road running profile,” the statement said in part.
World Cross Country
The World Athletics Cross Country Championships remains the pinnacle of off-road running, designed to highlight the character and landscape of the host city through technically challenging courses and distinctive terrain. Staged as a one-day event, the championships feature approximately 550 athletes from about 52 countries, with opportunities to incorporate memorable mass participation races.
As global interest in off-road and endurance running continues to grow, the World Athletics Cross Country Championships offers host cities a powerful platform to promote active tourism, forge new strategic partnerships and showcase their natural and urban environments to a worldwide audience.
Bid guides for each event, including hosting requirements and impact data from previous editions, are now available on the World Athletics website.
The deadline for submission of pre-qualification forms for the 2028 and 2029 World Road Running Championships, and the 2029 World Cross Country Championships, is Friday, April 3, 2026.