Formula 1 has officially announced a historic 10-year agreement with Rwanda to bring the World Championship back to Africa for the first time since 1993. The African Grand Prix will take place at a new permanent circuit in Bugesera, approximately 40 kilometres south of Kigali, with the inaugural race expected in the early 2030s once construction has been completed.
The agreement, announced by Formula 1 and the Rwandan government, marks a major milestone in the championship’s international expansion. Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali described the development as a historic moment for the sport, ending an absence of more than three decades from the African continent.
The announcement also represents the achievement of a long-standing strategic objective for Stefano Domenicali. Africa has remained the only inhabited continent without a place on the Formula 1 calendar since the 1993 South African Grand Prix at Kyalami. The new agreement establishes a path towards restoring that presence through a long-term commitment rather than a short-lived return.
Formula 1’s return to Africa has been the subject of discussions and evaluations for several years. Rwanda was ultimately selected after pursuing an ambitious programme of investment in sporting and tourism infrastructure, aimed at strengthening the country’s position as a host of major international events.
Although the agreement covers ten years, the precise date of the first Grand Prix has yet to be confirmed. The race will begin once the new circuit has been completed, with the venue required to meet FIA Grade 1 standards, the classification necessary to host a Formula 1 World Championship event.
New Rwanda Formula 1 circuit planned 40 kilometres from Kigali
The project will be coordinated by the Rwanda Development Board and will form part of a broader programme of infrastructure, commercial and tourism development. The new permanent circuit will be constructed in Bugesera, close to the new Kigali International Airport, providing an important logistical advantage for an international event involving teams, personnel, equipment and spectators travelling from around the world.
Initial plans indicate that the circuit will be designed around the natural characteristics of the surrounding landscape, particularly the changes in elevation across the area. The objective is to create a technically demanding layout with overtaking opportunities and good spectator visibility, while integrating the facility into its natural surroundings.
The venue will not be used exclusively for Formula 1. Plans also include year-round use for other motorsport competitions, international events, conferences and entertainment activities. This approach is intended to support the project’s long-term economic sustainability beyond the annual Grand Prix weekend.
The African Grand Prix will eventually add another destination to the championship’s expanding international schedule. The existing 2026 Formula 1 calendar illustrates the sport’s current geographical reach, while the planned Rwandan event represents a further stage in that expansion during the next decade.
Stefano Domenicali calls Rwanda agreement a historic moment for Formula 1
For Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali, the agreement represents the culmination of a geographical expansion strategy that has strengthened the championship’s presence in several international markets in recent years.
“Today is a historic moment for Formula 1,” Stefano Domenicali declared. “With Rwanda joining the calendar from the next decade, our sport will race on every inhabited continent, bringing the World Championship closer to fans around the world. 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 to create a meaningful impact.”
The Formula 1 CEO emphasised that the agreement extends far beyond the organisation of a motor race.
“This is about much more than hosting a Grand Prix. Together, we can create lasting economic and social benefits through tourism, investment, skills development and the growth of local businesses, ensuring that the positive impact of this event can be felt for generations.”
A significant element of Formula 1’s strategy is the potential of its African audience. According to figures released by the organisers, the continent already has more than 100 million Formula 1 fans, with the proportion of supporters under the age of 35 approaching 60% in major sub-Saharan African markets.
These figures underline the importance of the region to the championship’s long-term growth ambitions, particularly as Formula 1 seeks to engage younger audiences and expand its presence in markets that have not hosted World Championship races for decades.
Paul Kagame: Rwanda wants more than a single Formula 1 race weekend
Rwandan President Paul Kagame also welcomed the agreement, presenting it as an investment intended to deliver benefits extending well beyond sport.
“Today is Africa’s day,” Paul Kagame declared. “For more than three decades, the world’s premier motor racing championship has raced without this continent, and with this agreement that will change. Rwanda is proud to host the African Grand Prix and to share this moment with more than 100 million African fans, many of whom are young people who deserve to see this sport in their own home and imagine a future within it, as engineers, technicians, entrepreneurs and, one day, drivers.”
The president also highlighted the wider economic significance of the project, particularly the opportunities associated with the new circuit and the nearby international airport.
“The Bugesera circuit, together with the new international airport, will bring jobs, skills, tourism and new business opportunities to our country and the region for decades to come. Our objective has never been to organise a single race weekend, but to create lasting benefits for our people.”
The planned facility therefore forms part of a broader national development strategy, with its potential contribution to employment, professional training, tourism and commercial activity considered central to the investment.
FIA to oversee development of new Rwanda Grand Prix circuit
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem also welcomed the announcement, confirming the governing body’s involvement in the development of the new circuit.
“The return of the FIA Formula One World Championship to Africa is a historic moment for our sport and an important step in the continued global growth of motorsport,” Mohammed Ben Sulayem declared. “Rwanda has demonstrated a strong commitment to delivering a world-class event, and the FIA will work closely with FOM and our partners to ensure that the new circuit is developed to the highest international standards.”
The FIA president also highlighted the opportunities that Formula 1’s arrival could create for the development of African motorsport, particularly through professional training and the establishment of pathways for younger generations.
Achieving FIA Grade 1 certification will be an essential requirement before the circuit can host its first Grand Prix. The development will therefore need to satisfy the governing body’s standards for a Formula 1 venue.
The planned return also brings renewed attention to Africa’s Formula 1 history. The last World Championship race on the continent was held at Kyalami in 1993, and historical results from the venue can be explored through the F1 circuit records and statistics database, which includes previous Grand Prix winners, qualifying records and Ferrari’s achievements at historic circuits.
When will the first Formula 1 African Grand Prix take place?
The agreement represents the first concrete step towards a return that has been anticipated for decades. However, the exact construction timetable, the date of the inaugural race and the remaining organisational details have yet to be finalised and will be announced at a later stage.
The first Rwanda Grand Prix is expected in the early 2030s, following completion of the Bugesera circuit. Until then, the focus will be on developing the venue and the infrastructure required to host a major international sporting event.
After more than 30 years without a Formula 1 World Championship race in Africa, the sport has now established a long-term framework for its return, opening another chapter in the championship’s international expansion.
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