Rwanda is set to bring Formula One racing back to Africa for the first time in more than three decades, with the African Grand Prix scheduled to join the championship calendar in the early 2030s.
The race will be held at a new purpose-built circuit in Bugesera, about 40 kilometres south of Kigali, Rwanda’s capital, under a 10-year agreement with Formula One. The circuit will be built near the new Bugesera International Airport.
The announcement was made on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, in Kigali by Formula One chief executive Stefano Domenicali, Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) president Mohammed Ben Sulayem and Rwandan President Paul Kagame.
The exact date of the first race has not been announced. It will depend on the completion of the new circuit, which must meet the FIA’s Grade One standards required to host Formula One races.
For Uganda and the wider East African region, the development could create an opportunity to attract international visitors, motorsport fans and businesses when the race begins. Rwanda is also expected to use the event to promote tourism and attract investment.
The Grand Prix will mark Formula One’s return to the continent after the last African race was held in South Africa in 1993. The sport has since expanded into several regions, leaving Africa without a race on its calendar for more than 30 years.
The Rwandan project will be part of a wider sports and tourism development initiative led by the Rwanda Development Board. The new circuit is expected to take advantage of Bugesera’s natural terrain to create a challenging track for drivers and viewing opportunities for spectators.
Formula One, one of the world’s biggest motorsport competitions, attracts leading drivers and teams who compete in high-speed races at circuits around the world. Hosting a Grand Prix could give Rwanda greater international exposure and strengthen its position as a destination for major sporting events.
For Ugandan fans, the race could also make one of the world’s most popular motorsport competitions more accessible within the region, although travel costs, ticket prices and other arrangements will determine how easily they can attend.
