The African Grand Prix will be held on a new purpose-built circuit near Kigali from the early 2030s, ending a 33-year absence for the continent.
KIGALI, Oct. 13, 2026: Formula One is returning to Africa. Rwanda will host a grand prix from the early 2030s under a 10-year deal announced on Tuesday. President Paul Kagame made the announcement at a ceremony in Kigali attended by F1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali and FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
Africa has not hosted an F1 race since the 1993 South African Grand Prix at Kyalami. Rwanda will become the third African country to host a championship round.
A new circuit in Bugesera
The race will be held in Bugesera, in Rwanda’s Eastern Province, about 40km south of Kigali and next door to the new Kigali International Airport. The airport is due to open in early 2028, and the circuit is being built to FIA Grade 1 standards.
Alex Wurz’s WurzDesign and Carsten Tilke of Tilke Engineers and Architects, the firm behind Sepang, are designing the track. It is planned to hold 100,000 spectators and double as a concert and exhibition venue throughout the year. The layout is designed to use the natural elevation changes of the “Land of a Thousand Hills.”
More than a race
The agreement is part of a wider sports, tourism, infrastructure and commercial project led by the Rwanda Development Board. Board CEO Jean-Guy Afrika said Rwanda was not the only bidder.
Domenicali called it a landmark moment, noting that F1 will now race on every inhabited continent. He said the continent has more than 100 million F1 fans, with almost 60% of followers in key Sub-Saharan markets under 35.
“Today belongs to Africa,” Kagame said. He launched Rwanda’s bid in December 2024. The long-term deal lets Rwanda build the circuit and expand the sport’s presence across the continent.
Earlier reports pointed to a 2030 debut. F1 has not committed to that year, and the first race date depends on the circuit being completed. F1 says the race date, construction milestones and weekend plans will be confirmed later.
Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton has long argued for an African Grand Prix. South Africa also bid, and its sports minister, Gayton McKenzie, accepted the outcome. Rights groups accuse Rwanda of using sport to improve its image while silencing critics. The government denies this. In February 2025, Congo’s government asked F1 to end its dealings with Rwanda over the conflict in eastern Congo.
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