The final Formula 1 race on African soil took place in 1993 at the Kyalami circuit in South Africa. Alain Prost crossed the line ahead of Ayrton Senna, sealing what would be the continent’s last appearance on the World Championship calendar for three decades.
On 13 October 2026, Formula 1 Management announced that it had reached a long‑term agreement with the Rwandan government to bring the Grand Prix back to Africa. The same day, the organisation announced a ten‑year agreement with Rwanda to host an F1 race and signed a ten‑year deal to host a Grand Prix in Rwanda. The following day, 14 October 2026, Rwanda signed its own ten‑year deal to host Formula 1 races.
WATCH: Africa Rally champion 2026 Karan Patel has welcomed Formula 1’s return to Africa, expressing pride in Rwanda for helping make the historic project possible. https://t.co/9SqKbzJaCQ
The new circuit will be built in Bugesera, a region situated roughly forty kilometres south of Kigali. This location was chosen for the agreement with the Rwandan government.
The circuit is expected to be completed in the 2030s, ready to host the inaugural event under the ten‑year agreement.
The planned venue will meet FIA Grade 1 standards, the highest level required for a Formula 1 Grand Prix. The circuit is expected to be completed in the 2030s, ready to host the inaugural event under the ten‑year agreement.
Formula 1 has announced a landmark 10-year agreement to bring the sport back to the African continent, with the Formula 1 African Grand Prix, presented by @visitrwanda_now and hosted in beautiful Kigali, set to join the calendar in the early 2030s. This marks a historic milestone for the sport and will see F1 return to Africa for the first time since 1993. They could hardly have chosen a more compelling host country than Rwanda. Having done business in Africa for almost 20 years, I’ve seen firsthand how different countries approach ambition, development, and execution. Rwanda stands out for its clarity of vision, its ambition, its integrity, and, above all, its ability to consistently turn promises into reality. Rwanda is showing the world what is possible when a country thinks big, invests in its future, and pursues its ambitions with determination and consistency. It is a powerful example of the opportunities that emerge when leadership, long-term vision, and national ambition come together. Bringing @F1 back to Africa is about so much more than racing. It’s about putting the continent firmly on the global stage, creating opportunities, attracting investment, and inspiring a new generation. Kigali is a fitting place to make that vision a reality. A huge congratulations to President @PaulKagame and the entire team who have worked tirelessly to make this vision a reality. It’s a remarkable milestone for Rwanda and an exciting moment for Africa. Looking forward to seeing the world’s fastest sport return to the continent in a country that knows how to think big and deliver 🤩
Rwandan President Paul Kagame welcomed the partnership as a major milestone for the continent and for African fans, declaring that the collaboration had long been awaited. The deal is framed as a sporting event with the potential to boost tourism and national pride.
Formula 1’s chief executive, Stefano Domenicali, described the announcement as a landmark moment for the sport, emphasizing that Rwanda’s inclusion would mean Formula 1 races on every inhabited continent. He added that the move would bring the World Championship closer than ever to fans around the globe. The organisation also released a statement in French: “La Formule 1 revient en Afrique avec un accord de dix ans pour courir au Rwanda”.
The African Grand Prix is set to return to the Formula 1 calendar from the early 2030s, with the first race taking place on the yet‑to‑be‑built track in the Bugesera region. The circuit is expected to be completed in the 2030s, ready to host the inaugural event under the ten‑year agreement.
With the agreement spanning ten years and the last African Grand Prix having occurred in 1993, the forthcoming Rwandan event will close a thirty‑year gap. The distance between Bugesera and Kigali remains forty kilometres, and the hosting commitment lasts a decade, reinforcing Formula 1’s pledge to expand its global footprint.