The 24th African Senior Athletics Championships will officially take place in Accra from Tuesday, May 12 to Sunday, May 17, 2026, Ghana Athletics has confirmed.

In a statement released after receiving formal approval from the Minister for Sports and Recreation and the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA), Ghana reaffirmed its position as host nation for the prestigious continental event.

Ahead of the start of the competition, activities will begin on May 8, 2026, with the arrival of CAA administrators and technical officials.

Members of the CAA Council are scheduled to arrive on May 9, followed by the council meeting and the arrival of participating teams on May 10.

A technical meeting will be held on May 11, setting the stage for the official commencement of competition on May 12. The championships will conclude on May 17, with all delegations expected to depart on May 18, 2026.

Ghana Athletics explained that the dates were finalised in close consultation with the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, taking into consideration the academic calendar of the University of Ghana, Legon.

The university will be on vacation during the championship period and is also slated to host an international students’ athletics competition earlier in May.

As part of the build-up to Accra 2026, Ghana will host the CAA Council Meeting in the capital, in line with diplomatic and ministerial protocol. The Sports Minister is expected to officially receive council members and deliver a keynote address before proceedings transition into the competitive phase.

The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Ghana and the CAA is expected on or before January 8, 2026, subject to the availability of the Sports Minister.

Meanwhile, the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for Accra 2026 is scheduled to be inaugurated on Thursday, December 18.

The African Senior Athletics Championships will bring together the continent’s finest athletes and officials, with Accra set to take centre stage as the hub of African athletics when competition begins in May 2026.