Formula 1 has announced a historic 10-year deal to bring a Grand Prix back to the African Continent for the first time since 1993.
On Tuesday, October 13, 2026, Formula 1 announced that the African Grand Prix will secure an annual place on the calendar starting in the early 2030s.
Presented by Visit Rwanda, the African Grand Prix marks the fulfilment of a key ambition for the sport. As noted in the announcement: "Racing in Africa has been a long-standing ambition for F1, with Tuesday’s announcement following years of collaboration to ensure the right foundations, with the best partner, are in place to deliver a successful, sustainable and world-class Grand Prix for generations to come."
Further details regarding the inaugural race date, circuit development milestones, and race weekend plans will be announced when information is made official.
F1 will return to Africa by hosting the African Grand Prix in Rwanda. The new track will be situated in Bugesera, roughly 25 miles (40 kilometers) south of the nation's capital, Kigali.
The purpose-built track will be situated near the new Kigali International Airport and will serve as a permanent fixture. It will provide a year-round destination capable of hosting international motorsport, major events, conferences, and entertainment facilities to help drive long-term growth and investment across the region.
The track will be designed to blend into the natural landscape, using the area's elevation to create a unique and challenging race while also providing excellent viewing opportunities for fans.
It will be developed to FIA Grade 1 standards as part of a wider sports, tourism, and commercial development project led by the Rwanda Development Board.
The African Grand Prix is expected to join the calendar in the early 2030s once the new purpose-built track is completed in Bugesera, Rwanda.
Formula 1 has previously raced on the African continent, with the first Grand Prix held at the Ain-Diab Circuit in Casablanca, Morocco, in 1958.
The sport has also held events in South Africa at the Kyalami Circuit. South Africa was a regular fixture on the calendar from the 1960s, but has not hosted a race since 1993.
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