Nairobi continues to shine on the global athletics calendar after being awarded World Athletics Continental Tour Gold status, with the Kenyan leg proudly branded the Kip Keino Classic in honor of legendary athlete Dr. Kipchoge Keino. The World Athletics Continental Tour was established to create a unified global circuit of elite one-day meetings outside the Wanda Diamond League, ensuring world-class competition reaches every continent—and Nairobi has firmly cemented its place among the very best.

Insights from the 2025 sixth edition, held on May 31, 2025, reinforced the event’s growing prestige. The meet delivered electrifying performances, with Kenya’s middle-distance stars once again rising to the occasion and international sprint powerhouses lighting up the track. The 2025 edition proved critical for elite athletes fine-tuning their form during a highly competitive season, underlining the Kip Keino Classic’s role as a key performance and ranking milestone on the road to major global championships.

Building on that momentum, excitement now turns to the Absa Kip Keino Classic Continental Tour seventh edition, scheduled for April 26, 2026, at the Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi. Competing at Gold level, athletes will vie for significant prize money and vital world ranking points, attracting top talent from Africa and across the globe.

Since the successful launch of the tour in 2020, organizers have continued to benchmark each edition against world-class standards. Beyond elite competition, the Kip Keino Classic offers partners unmatched global exposure while giving fans multiple ways to experience the spectacle—live in the stadium, through international broadcasts, and via digital streaming platforms. With the 2026 edition set earlier in the season, Nairobi once again promises a thrilling celebration of speed, endurance, and athletic excellence.