Formula 1 has confirmed a 10-year deal to hold the African Grand Prix in Rwanda. The announcement came on Tuesday at a press conference in Kigali, with President Paul Kagame, F1 president Stefano Domenicali and FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem. It will be the first Formula 1 race in Africa since the 1993 South African Grand Prix at Kyalami, a 33-year gap.
The race will be held at a new, purpose-built circuit in Bugesera, about 40 kilometres south of Kigali and next to the new Kigali International Airport. It meets FIA Grade 1 standards and was designed by former F1 driver Alex Wurz and his design company. It is expected to use Kigali’s hilly terrain, but the layout and length have not been revealed. The Rwanda Development Board is leading the build, and the circuit is part of a wider plan covering tourism, infrastructure and commercial development. Visit Rwanda, the country’s tourism brand, is the title partner.
At this time, there is no race date. F1 expects the first Grand Prix in the early 2030s, once the circuit is finished. One report says 2030 at the earliest. The 10-year term runs regardless of the start date.
Domenicali called it “a landmark moment for Formula 1.” He said Rwanda joining the calendar means F1 will race on every inhabited continent, and that “Africa is home to more than 100 million Formula 1 fans.” That fan figure is F1’s own claim.
Kagame said, “Today belongs to Africa.” He said the deal is “an investment in Rwanda’s future” and that the aim is “a lasting benefit for our people,” not “a single race weekend.” He listed jobs, skills, tourism and new business. Ben Sulayem called it “a historic moment for our sport” and said the FIA will work to make sure the track meets “the highest international standards.”
Lewis Hamilton has pushed for an African race for years. He said he had been “fighting in the background” for about six years, and called Rwanda “particularly spectacular.” He also named South Africa as another possible host. The country had proposals at Kyalami and in Cape Town and has not ruled out a future deal. Nigeria and Morocco were also reported as interested.
However, Rwanda has been building up to this. Kigali hosted the FIA’s Prize Giving Ceremony in 2024, where Max Verstappen collected his fourth world title trophy, and the UCI Road World Championships in 2025.
No cost or funding figures have been published. One report says the deal will raise questions about Rwanda’s human rights record and accusations of sportswashing.
