The African Grand Prix is expected to join the calendar in the early 2030s, with a new circuit planned for Bugesera, south of Kigali.
Formula 1 will return to Africa under a 10-year agreement with Rwanda, with a new Grand Prix planned for the early 2030s at a purpose-built circuit in Bugesera.
The agreement, announced on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, will bring the championship back to the continent for the first time since the 1993 South African Grand Prix at Kyalami. The inaugural race date has not yet been confirmed.
The proposed circuit will be built to Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) Grade 1 standards, the highest circuit certification required to host Formula 1 races. It will form part of a wider development project covering sports, tourism, infrastructure and commercial activities, led by the Rwanda Development Board.
Located in Bugesera, about 40 kilometres south of Kigali, the circuit will sit next to the planned new Kigali International Airport. Its design is intended to use the area’s hills and changes in elevation to create a challenging track for drivers.
Formula 1 said further details, including construction milestones and plans for the race weekend, would be announced later.
Rwanda targets tourism and investment
Rwandan President Paul Kagame said the agreement was intended to deliver benefits beyond the annual race, including employment, skills development, tourism and business opportunities.
The government plans to develop the circuit alongside airport infrastructure as part of its broader effort to attract international events and investment.
Kagame said Rwanda wanted the project to create lasting opportunities for young people across the region, including careers in engineering, technical services, business and motorsport.
Formula 1 President and Chief Executive Stefano Domenicali said the addition of Rwanda would allow the championship to race on every inhabited continent.
He said Africa already had more than 100 million Formula 1 fans, presenting an opportunity for the sport to reach a wider audience. The figure was provided by Formula 1 and was not independently verified in the announcement.
The agreement also has the backing of FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who said the governing body would work with Formula 1 and its partners to ensure the new circuit meets international standards.
Rwanda has hosted several international sporting events in recent years, including the 2024 UCI Road World Championships and the FIA’s General Assemblies and awards ceremony. The country has also used partnerships with international sports organisations and clubs to promote tourism and raise its profile abroad.
Human rights concerns
The deal has also drawn criticism from human rights campaigners.
Amnesty International criticised Formula 1’s decision to partner with Rwanda, arguing that hosting high-profile sporting events could help improve the country’s international image despite concerns over its human rights record.
The criticism adds to wider debate about the use of major sporting events to promote national tourism and investment while questions remain about governments’ treatment of political opponents and freedom of expression.
Formula 1 has presented the Rwanda agreement as a long-term investment in the sport’s global reach and in opportunities linked to tourism, skills and local businesses.
The first race will depend on completion of the new circuit, while its exact date and further details of the event remain outstanding.
