Rwanda secures 10-year Formula 1 deal as Africa prepares for racing return

Rwanda will host Formula 1 races under a 10-year agreement announced on October 13, 2026, bringing the world’s premier motorsport championship back to Africa for the first time since 1993.

The agreement will see the Formula 1 African Grand Prix, presented by Visit Rwanda, join the championship calendar in the early 2030s, subject to the development of a new racing circuit in Bugesera District, near Kigali.

The announcement marks a major step in Rwanda’s efforts to attract international sporting events and strengthen its position as a destination for tourism, investment and business.

The new circuit is planned for an area about 40 kilometres south of Kigali, near the new Kigali International Airport. It is expected to be built to the standards required to host Formula 1 races, with its design incorporating the natural elevation changes of the surrounding landscape.

Formula 1 has yet to announce the exact date of the inaugural race or provide a detailed timetable for the circuit’s development.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame welcomed the agreement, describing it as an investment in the country’s future and an opportunity to bring the sport closer to African fans.

“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,” Kagame said.

He added that the partnership was intended to deliver benefits beyond the race weekend, including jobs, skills development, tourism and new business opportunities.

“Our aim was never a single race weekend, but a lasting benefit for our people,” he said.

Formula 1 President and Chief Executive Officer Stefano Domenicali said the agreement would help the championship reach fans across the continent while expanding its global presence.

“Africa has always been part of Formula 1’s future, and from the beginning we were determined to return in the right way, with the right partner, a long-term commitment and a clear vision for creating meaningful impact,” Domenicali said.

According to Formula 1, Africa is home to more than 100 million fans of the sport, a growing audience that the championship hopes to serve through its return to the continent.

Tourism and business opportunities

The project is expected to support Rwanda’s wider ambitions to attract international visitors, investment and major sporting events.

The proposed circuit, together with the new international airport in Bugesera, is expected to create opportunities for businesses involved in hospitality, transport, tourism and event services.

However, the scale of those benefits will depend on the development of the circuit, the organisation of the race and the extent to which local businesses and workers participate in the project.

The agreement also creates an opportunity to expand motorsport development in Rwanda and across Africa, particularly by opening pathways for young people interested in engineering, technical services and other careers linked to racing.

Kagame said young Africans should have opportunities to see themselves represented in the sport, including as engineers, technicians, entrepreneurs and future drivers.

Rwanda has increasingly used international sporting events to raise its profile and attract visitors. The country hosted the International Automobile Federation’s annual awards ceremony in 2024 and the UCI Road World Championships in 2025.

Formula 1’s return to Africa

Formula 1 last held a World Championship race in Africa at South Africa’s Kyalami circuit in 1993.

The agreement with Rwanda will end more than three decades without an African race on the championship calendar. It will also allow Formula 1 to stage races on every inhabited continent.

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has repeatedly called for the championship to return to Africa, arguing that the continent should not remain absent from a sport with a global following.

The new Rwanda agreement is therefore significant not only for the country but also for the championship’s efforts to expand its reach among African fans.

The immediate challenge will be turning the agreement into a functioning race venue that meets international safety and operational requirements.

With the first race expected in the early 2030s, Rwanda now faces the task of delivering the circuit and related infrastructure while ensuring that the investment creates lasting opportunities beyond the event itself.

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