The Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) has officially confirmed that the 24th African Senior Athletics Championships will take place in Accra, Ghana, from Tuesday, May 12 to Sunday, May 17, 2026.
The confirmation was announced by Ghana Athletics in a statement issued on Wednesday, following formal approval from the Minister for Sports and Recreation and the CAA, thereby cementing Ghana’s position as host of the continent’s premier track and field event.
According to the competition programme released by Ghana Athletics, preparations will begin several days before the championships. CAA administrators and technical officials are scheduled to arrive in Accra on May 8, 2026, while members of the CAA Council are expected on May 9. The arrival of participating teams, alongside the CAA Council meeting, is slated for May 10.
A technical meeting will be held on May 11, ahead of the official opening of competition on May 12. The championships will run through May 17, with teams expected to depart Accra the following day, May 18.
Ghana Athletics noted that the confirmed dates were agreed upon in consultation with the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, taking into account the academic calendar of the University of Ghana, Legon, which will be on vacation during the championship period. The university is also set to host an international students’ championship earlier in May.
The Minister of Sports and Recreation is expected to formally welcome CAA Council members and deliver a keynote address before the competition fully gets underway. Meanwhile, the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Ghana and the CAA is expected on or before January 8, 2026, subject to the minister’s availability.
In addition, the Local Organising Committee for Accra 2026 is scheduled to be inaugurated on Thursday.
With the dates now confirmed, Accra is set to become the hub of African athletics as the continent’s top athletes and officials converge for the championships in May 2026.
