Rwanda to Bring Formula 1 Back to Africa With New Grand Prix From Early 2030s

Formula 1 has confirmed a 10-year agreement with Rwanda to host the African Grand Prix from the early 2030s, ending a more than 40-year absence of the sport from the African continent.

The race will be held at a new, purpose-built circuit in Bugesera, about 40 kilometres south of Kigali and next to the country’s new international airport. The first race will take place once construction of the circuit is completed, which F1 expects to happen early in the next decade.

The last Formula 1 race in Africa was the 1993 South African Grand Prix at the Kyalami circuit near Johannesburg. Rwanda’s deal marks the sport’s return to the continent for the first time since then.

The agreement follows a long-running campaign by Rwandan President Paul Kagame to bring F1 to Africa. F1 described the deal as a landmark moment for the sport and for the continent.

The planned circuit in Bugesera is being built as a dedicated F1 facility, with the race expected to become a permanent fixture on the calendar under the 10-year contract. The track’s location near Kigali’s new international airport is intended to support access for teams, fans and visitors.

F1 has not yet specified the exact year of the first race, saying only that it will take place in the early 2030s once the circuit is ready. The event will be known as the Formula 1 African Grand Prix, presented by Visit Rwanda.

For African motorsport fans, the announcement represents a major step towards bringing a global racing series back to the continent. Rwanda’s hosting of the African Grand Prix is expected to boost tourism, infrastructure development and interest in motorsport across the region.

The deal also positions Rwanda as a new destination for international sporting events. As construction progresses, attention will turn to the circuit’s design, completion timeline and the exact date of the first race.

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