Hosting Formula 1 means Rwanda will stage the first F1 race in Africa since 1993 under a 10-year contract starting in the early 2030s
To be known as the Formula 1 African Grand Prix and supported by the “Visit Rwanda” tourism campaign, the event aims to market the country to hundreds of millions of international viewers and build upon past high-profile hosting efforts like the 2024 FIA Awards and cycling world championships.
The agreement centers on the construction of a purpose-built, Alex Wurz-designed racing circuit in Bugesera, located about 25–40 kilometers south of Kigali and adjacent to the new Bugesera International Airport.
It places Rwanda at the forefront of African motorsport, marking the first time a modern F1 Grand Prix is held in sub-Saharan Africa. The economic startegic opportunities that will be realised are far beyond the borders of Rwanda espcially in the East African Community region .
A worker looks at a display of the Bugesera circuit on the site where it will it be constructed, following the announcement of the deal for a new African Grand Prix, in Bugesera, Rwanda, Jean Bizimana/Reuters
Experts say that the international guests including the media will be received in all the neighbouring countries including Uganda given the proximity and unique attractions that the guests will prefer over the period when they will stay in the region.
“There are those guests for instance who can prefer to stay in Uganda or Kenya ,and fly over to Kigali to watch the races . The EAC region will benefit generally and not only Rwanda ,” an expert familia with Formula ! events told this publication.
For Rwandan President Paul Kagame, the race offers a chance to attract more visitors and investment to the East African nation and raise its global profile.
Rwanda has spent years building its international profile through sports.
Its Visit Rwanda campaign has partnered with prominent European soccer clubs, including Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, Atlético Madrid and Bayern Munich, though the arrangements have varied. Arsenal’s eight-season partnership ended in June 2026, while PSG’s agreement runs through 2028. Bayern shifted its deal toward youth development in Kigali, the Rwandan capital.
In July, English Premier League side Aston Villa signed a multi-year Visit Rwanda sponsorship agreement reportedly worth around £20 million (roughly $26.8 million) a year.
Hosting a Grand Prix, one of the world’s most prominent sporting events, would take that strategy beyond soccer sponsorships. The race would bring teams, corporate partners, international media and spectators to Rwanda, creating opportunities to promote tourism and attract business. The government hopes it will create jobs, develop local skills and deliver lasting economic benefits.
Itamar Dubinsky, a senior lecturer in African studies and politics at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel who researches sports and politics in Africa, told CNN that hosting a race differs from paying for visibility through soccer club sponsorships. It would bring the sport’s international network directly into the country.
The race is planned for a new circuit in Bugesera, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of Kigali, as part of a wider development project led by the Rwanda Development Board. The circuit must be completed before the race can take place, and F1 has not announced an inaugural date. Its public announcement does not specify how the project will be financed or what returns it is expected to generate.
