Formula 1 has signed a 10-year-deal with Rwanda to host the African Grand Prix, bringing the sport back to the continent for the first time in more than three decades.

In a statement on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, Formula 1 said the race would take place on a purpose-built circuit in Bugesera, near the capital city Kigali and would be included in the early 2030s racing calendar.

The deal, struck in Kigali by Formula 1 President and Chief Executive Officer Stefano Domenicali, Rwandan President Paul Kagame, and FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, will see the sport regain its foothold in Africa.

“Bringing Formula 1 back to Africa is a key ambition of ours, and after a lot of work and effort from our partners in Rwanda, we are delighted to be making progress on this journey,” Domenicali said, citing Reuters.

He added that the partnership will enable the sport to connect with fans across the continent and drive engagement in the motor racing.

The planned Grand Prix will take place on a new circuit to be constructed in Bugesera, about 40 kilometres south of Kigali and close to the new international airport. The facility will be built to the specifications of the world-renowned racing championship, providing the infrastructure required to host the world’s elite drivers and fans.

While the formula has yet to reveal the precise timing of the opening race, it expects the event to start in early 2030s, giving Rwanda ample time to prepare for the inaugural race. The 10-year deal gives Rwanda enough time to host the event once it is included in the calendar of races.

Formula 1 last raced on the continent in 1993 when South Africa’s Grand Prix started at Kyalami near Johannesburg, before plans for a new track near Pretoria were abandoned. The inclusion of Rwanda’s race will make the circuit the first event in Africa to break the 50-year drought in racing on the continent, and extend Formula 1’s footprint to all populated continents.

A number of African nations have expressed interest in hosting Formula 1 races, including South Africa.

Rwanda, which has made aggressive bids to host various world-class sporting events, has positioned itself as a destination for international business meetings, tourists, and investors, thus creating a strong economic case for the deal. Holding the international race would generate significant profits through media rights, sponsorships, and ticket sales. Beyond direct jobs, the event would create a sustained interest in motorsports in Rwanda, which will take the spotlight on the country to a global stage.

For Formula 1, the deal is a gateway to a continent with a growing audience interested in the sport and a young population that will be an important market for the next decades. The immediate challenge for the stakeholders is to complete the circuit in Bugesera and fix a date for the first race.

Prior to the announcement, there were numerous reports that South Africa had made the final pitch for the race, after initially submitting the proposals to the formula back in 2018.

However, the latest move takes the formula closer to achieving its mission to take its rally to all continents. Africa’s Grand Prix, which had been on the schedule since 2005, was cancelled in 2014. While the sport is booming globally, it has struggled to gain momentum in several emerging markets with great interest.

The signing of the deal with Rwanda will provide it with a much-needed fillip to boost its profile across the continent.

The formula’s calendar currently comprises 18 races, with 11 of them hosted in Europe, four in the Americas, two in Asia, and one in Australia. Africa will have the second-largest number of races, behind Europe, when the Grand Prix kicks off in Rwanda.  It is only a matter of time before the world-renowned championship will have a race in every continent under its belt.