Rwanda will host a Formula One Grand Prix in the early 2030s after signing a 10-year agreement with the championship, paving the way for Africa’s return to the sport’s calendar for the first time since 1993.
Formula One announced the agreement on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, confirming that the race will take place once a new purpose-built circuit in Bugesera, Rwanda, has been completed.
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The deal marks a significant development in Rwanda’s long-running efforts to attract a Grand Prix, as the East African country continues to use major sporting events to promote tourism, attract investment and strengthen its international profile.
The last Formula One race held on the African continent was the South African Grand Prix in 1993, which was won by French driver Alain Prost.
Formula One president Stefano Domenicali described the agreement as a landmark moment for the championship, saying the planned return would bring the sport closer to fans across the world.
“With Rwanda joining the calendar from the next decade, our sport will race in every inhabited continent,” Domenicali said.
He added that Formula One had been committed to returning to Africa through a long-term partnership with a clear vision for creating a meaningful impact.
The agreement follows years of efforts by Rwanda to secure a place on the Formula One calendar.
President Paul Kagame formally announced the country’s bid when Rwanda hosted a gathering of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) in December 2024.
Kagame welcomed the agreement, describing it as a long-overdue development for African motorsport fans.
“Today belongs to Africa,” the Rwandan president said.
He noted that the championship had spent more than three decades without racing on the continent and said the new partnership represented a milestone for Africa as a whole.
Kagame also expressed hope that Rwanda’s Grand Prix would encourage other African countries to host Formula One races in the future.
He said the agreement demonstrated that expanding the championship’s presence across the continent was achievable.
Rwanda has increasingly invested in international sporting partnerships and events as part of efforts to attract visitors, investment and global attention.
The country has secured football sponsorship agreements with major European clubs, including Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain, and partnered with the National Basketball Association to establish Rwanda as a hub for the Basketball Africa League.
It also hosted the cycling world championships in 2025.
However, the strategy has drawn criticism from observers who describe the use of high-profile sporting events to improve a country’s image amid allegations of human rights abuses as “sports-washing”.
Critics have raised concerns about restrictions on political opposition and dissent in Rwanda.
Others have questioned whether similar scrutiny is consistently applied to Western countries hosting major sporting events.
The announcement is also likely to be welcomed by Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula One world champion who has repeatedly called for the championship to return to Africa.
Hamilton supported Rwanda’s plans in 2024 and previously described the country as one of his favourite places.
An African Grand Prix would represent a major addition to the championship’s global calendar and provide fans on the continent with an opportunity to experience the sport at home.
South Africa has also been pursuing a return to the Formula One calendar, but its sports minister, Gayton McKenzie, acknowledged Rwanda’s progress following reports of the agreement last week.
McKenzie wrote on X that Rwanda had worked on its bid for longer than South Africa and deserved recognition for its efforts.
However, he maintained that South Africa could still secure a race, pointing to Italy’s history of hosting two Grand Prix events in a single season.
He predicted that South Africa could return to the calendar before 2030.
For now, Rwanda’s agreement sets the stage for Formula One’s return to Africa, with the opening race dependent on the completion of the planned circuit in Bugesera.
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The exact date of the inaugural Rwandan Grand Prix has not yet been announced.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
