Formula 1 has confirmed a landmark 10-year agreement with Rwanda to host a grand prix on the African continent for the first time since 1993.
The deal, announced on October 13, 2026, will see the African Grand Prix, presented by Visit Rwanda, join the calendar in the early 2030s at a new purpose-built FIA Grade 1 circuit in Bugesera, approximately 40 kilometres south of the capital Kigali and adjacent to the city’s new international airport.
The last Formula 1 race held in Africa took place at South Africa’s Kyalami circuit in 1993. Rwanda will become the third African nation to host a world championship grand prix, following Morocco in 1958 and South Africa’s multiple events.
Long-term commitment
F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali described the agreement as a landmark moment, noting that the sport will then race on every inhabited continent. The partnership is intended to deliver broader economic and social benefits, including tourism, investment, skills development and local business growth.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame said the agreement marks a change after more than three decades without the continent on the calendar and positions Rwanda to host the event while aiming to open opportunities for motorsport across Africa.
The circuit, designed to integrate with the natural landscape and elevation changes, is expected to be completed early in the next decade. No specific race date has been set.
