Rwanda has secured a 10-year deal to host Formula 1 racing, ending Africa's 33-year absence from the world's most prestigious motorsport championship.
The agreement, announced on October 13, 2026, will see Rwanda host the African Grand Prix from the early 2030s, making it the third African country to stage a Formula 1 race after South Africa and Morocco.
The deal is a major victory for Rwanda, which has emerged ahead of South Africa in the race to return Formula 1 to the continent.
Africa last hosted the championship in 1993 at the Kyalami Circuit near Johannesburg, South Africa.
Under the agreement, Rwanda will construct a new racing circuit in Bugesera, about 40 kilometres south of Kigali.
The track will sit next to the new Kigali International Airport and meet the highest international safety and racing standards.
The Rwanda Development Board will lead the project, which forms part of a wider investment in tourism, infrastructure, sport and business.
Formula 1 said the circuit would take advantage of Bugesera's natural landscape to create a challenging track for drivers and better viewing areas for spectators.
The venue will also host concerts, conferences and other international events throughout the year.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame welcomed the agreement, describing it as a victory for the entire continent.
"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," Kagame said.
He said Rwanda wanted to use the championship to create jobs, attract investment and train young Africans in motorsport.
The president also expressed hope that the project would inspire African engineers, technicians and future Formula 1 drivers.
Formula 1 president and chief executive Stefano Domenicali said the agreement marked a turning point in the sport's expansion.
He said Rwanda's inclusion would give Formula 1 a presence on every inhabited continent.
The championship estimates that Africa has more than 100 million Formula 1 fans, with young people accounting for nearly 60 per cent of its following in key sub-Saharan African markets.
Domenicali said the agreement would bring the sport closer to millions of African fans who have waited decades to watch Formula 1 racing on their continent.
The decision also answers years of calls from seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who has repeatedly urged Formula 1 to return to Africa.
Rwanda has invested in hosting major international events, including the Basketball Africa League, the 2025 UCI Road World Championships and the 2024 FIA Awards Ceremony.
The Formula 1 deal strengthens Kigali's ambitions to become a major destination for international sport and tourism.
International Automobile Federation (FIA) president Mohammed Ben Sulayem pledged to support the development of the new circuit and create opportunities for young African motorsport talent.
However, Rwanda must complete the Bugesera circuit before hosting its first Grand Prix.
Formula 1 has not announced the exact date of the inaugural race or the construction timetable.
