Chromosome segregation in mitosis requires the removal of catenation between sister chromatids. Timely decatenation of sister DNAs at mitotic centromeres by topoisomerase IIa (TOP2A) is crucial to maintain genomic stability. The chromatin factors that recruit TOP2A to centromeres during mitosis remain unknown. Here, we show that histone H2A Thr-120 phosphorylation (H2ApT120), a modification generated by the mitotic kinase Bub1, is necessary and sufficient for the centromeric localization of TOP2A. Phosphorylation at residue-120 enhances histone H2A binding to TOP2A in vitro. The C-gate and the extreme C-terminal region are important for H2ApT120-dependent localization of TOP2A at centromeres. Preventing H2ApT120mediated accumulation of TOP2A at mitotic centromeres interferes with sister chromatid disjunction, as evidenced by increased frequency of anaphase ultra-fine bridges (UFBs) that contain catenated DNA. Tethering TOP2A to centromeres bypasses the requirement for H2ApT120 in suppressing anaphase UFBs. These results demonstrate that H2ApT120 acts as a landmark that recruits TOP2A to mitotic centromeres to decatenate sister DNAs. Our study reveals a fundamental role for histone phosphorylation in resolving centromere DNA entanglements and safeguarding genomic stability during mitosis.MZ designed and performed the majority of the experiments and analysis. CL designed and carried out the GST pulldown assays (Figs 3E and F, and 6L), the localization of TOP2A in HeLa and Sgo1-K492A cells (Fig 4C and D), the competitive localization of EGFP-TOP2A and Sgo1 (Fig 7A-D), as well as the deconvolution microscopy (Appendix Fig S4). HZ and SL helped express the GST-H2ApS120 protein. XY performed the experiments shown in Appendix Fig S1. QC, HY, JX, and JL provided technical assistance. WL provided reagents and constructive suggestions. FW conceived and supervised the project, designed the experiments, analyzed the data, and wrote the manuscript with the input from HY.