Formula 1 has officially announced a landmark 10-year agreement that will bring the world championship back to the African continent for the first time since 1993. The Formula 1 African Grand Prix, presented by Visit Rwanda, is set to join the calendar in the early 2030s.
The long-term partnership hinges on the completion of a brand new, purpose-built circuit in Bugesera, Rwanda. Developed to FIA Grade 1 standards, the track will be situated approximately 40 kilometres south of the capital city Kigali, sitting adjacent to the new Kigali International Airport. Designers plan to build the circuit to work in harmony with the natural landscape, using local elevation changes to craft a challenging layout while offering exceptional viewing opportunities for 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.
Beyond the race weekend itself, the venue is intended to operate as a year-round destination capable of hosting international motorsport, major events, conferences, and entertainment. The project is led by the Rwanda Development Board as part of a wider sports, tourism, infrastructure, and commercial development plan.
Africa represents a massive growth area for the sport, currently boasting more than 100 million fans, with almost 60% of those followers in key Sub-Saharan African markets under the age of 35. Rwanda has already built a reputation as a leading destination for international events, having previously hosted gatherings such as the UCI Road World Championships, the ICC Women’s Challenge Trophy, the 2023 FIFA Congress, the Basketball Africa League, and the 2024 FIA General Assemblies and FIA Awards Ceremony.
“Today is a landmark moment for Formula 1,” said Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of F1. “With Rwanda joining the calendar from the next decade, our sport will race in every inhabited continent, bringing the World Championship closer than ever to fans around the globe.”
His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, added: “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.”
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem also welcomed the news, stating: “The return of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship to Africa is a historic moment for our sport and an important step in the continued global growth of motorsport.” Further details regarding the inaugural race date, circuit development milestones, and race weekend plans will be announced in due course.
