Formula 1 will return to Africa for the first time since 1993 after Rwanda signed a 10-year agreement to host the African Grand Prix from the early 2030s, the sport's governing body announced on Tuesday, 13 October 2026. The deal ends more than three decades of absence from the continent and will see a purpose-built circuit constructed in Bugesera, approximately 40 kilometres south of the capital Kigali.

The Circuit and Its Location

The new track in Bugesera will sit adjacent to the under-construction new Kigali International Airport, a pairing designed to maximise tourism and logistics. Officials indicated the circuit is expected to be completed in the early 2030s, at which point Rwanda will join the F1 calendar. Beyond race weekends, the venue is conceived as a 365-day destination, capable of hosting other motorsport events, major conferences, and entertainment, with the stated aim of driving long-term economic growth across the region.

What F1 and Rwanda Said

Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1, described the announcement as a “landmark moment” for the sport. “With Rwanda joining the calendar from the next decade, our sport will race in every inhabited continent, bringing the World Championship closer than ever to fans around the globe,” he said. Domenicali acknowledged Rwandan President Paul Kagame, the Government of Rwanda, the Rwanda Development Board, and FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem for making the agreement possible.

President Kagame framed the deal in continental terms. “Today belongs to Africa. For more than three decades, the world’s premier motorsport championship has raced without this continent, and that changes with this agreement,” he said. Kagame added that the partnership is “an investment in Rwanda’s future,” projecting that the Bugesera circuit would deliver jobs, skills, tourism, and new business “for decades to come.”

Why This Is Significant for Africa

Africa last featured on the F1 calendar in 1993, when the South African Grand Prix at Kyalami was held. The continent’s return has been a stated ambition of F1 management for years, and Rwanda’s combination of political stability, rapid infrastructure development, and proven ability to host international events made it the chosen host. According to F1, Africa is home to more than 100 million Formula 1 fans, a base that continues to grow. Notably, Rwanda has steadily built its reputation as a sports hub — having previously hosted the UCI Road World Championships, the ICC Women’s Challenge Trophy, the 2023 FIFA Congress, the Basketball Africa League, the 2024 FIA General Assemblies, and the FIA Awards Ceremony.

What Happens Next

Further details on the date of the inaugural race, circuit development milestones, and race-weekend formats are expected to be announced in due course, according to F1. The Bugesera circuit’s completion timeline remains tied to broader infrastructure progress, including the adjacent international airport. Once F1 races in Rwanda, the series will become the first major global motorsport championship to compete on every inhabited continent. This is a step that Domenicali described as fulfilling the sport’s “long-standing ambition.”