The World Athletics Championships are held every two years (biennially). Initially, the first three championships were held every four years starting in 1983, but since the 1991 event in Tokyo, the championships have been on a two-year cycle to avoid clashing with the Olympic Games, which occur every four years in even years. The championships are typically held in odd years to maintain this schedule. This biennial arrangement has been consistent except for a shift due to the COVID-19 pandemic when the 2021 championships were moved to 2022 to avoid conflict with the postponed Tokyo Olympics. The next edition will be held in Tokyo in September 2025.
