Formula 1 confirmed on 13 October 2026 that it has signed a 10-year agreement for Rwanda to host the Formula 1 African Grand Prix, presented by Visit Rwanda. The race will bring the World Championship back to Africa for the first time since the South African Grand Prix at Kyalami in 1993, and will take place at a new circuit in Bugesera, about 40 km south of Kigali.
The agreement was announced at a news conference in Kigali attended by President Paul Kagame, F1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali and FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem. Domenicali described the deal as a landmark moment for Formula 1, and Kagame said that the day belongs to Africa.
No race date has been set. The first Grand Prix depends on completion of the circuit, which Formula 1 expects early in the next decade.
Where the circuit will be built
The track will sit in Bugesera, in Eastern Province, next to the new Kigali International Airport, which is also under construction. Formula 1 says the circuit will be purpose-built to FIA Grade 1 standards. The layout is being designed by WurzDesign, led by former F1 driver Alex Wurz, together with Tilke Engineers and Architects. The final layout, track length, number of corners and spectator capacity have not been published.
The circuit is part of a wider sports, tourism, infrastructure and commercial project led by the Rwanda Development Board. It is planned as a year-round venue for motorsport, conferences, entertainment and other major events.
Why Rwanda
Rwanda formally launched its bid in December 2024, when President Kagame announced the plan during the FIA's annual meetings in Kigali. The country hosted the 2024 FIA General Assemblies and Awards Ceremony, so the sport's governing body already knew Kigali as a host city. Over recent years Rwanda has also hosted the 2023 FIFA Congress, the Basketball Africa League, the ICC Women's Challenge Trophy and the 2025 UCI Road World Championships. Formula 1 estimates that more than 100 million people across Africa follow the sport, and almost 60 percent of fans in key sub-Saharan markets are under 35.
Tourism implications
No visitor forecasts have been published for the race. The project states that it aims to bring jobs, skills, tourism and new business. Likely practical changes for visitors include more flights into the new airport, more hotel rooms in Kigali and Bugesera, and year-round events at the venue. Because the circuit is close to Kigali, a race weekend could be combined with trips to Volcanoes National Park, Akagera National Park or Lake Kivu.
What is still unknown
The date of the first race, whether the weekend will include a sprint race, the final track layout, spectator capacity and ticket prices have not been confirmed. Tour operators in Kigali, including Inka Tours, are monitoring the announcement as further details are published.
About Inka Tours
Inka Tours is a private tour operator based in Kigali, Rwanda, offering private tours across the country. Website: https://www.inkatours.co.rw/
