Rwanda Reportedly Wins Africa’s First F1 Grand Prix Since 1993
A new circuit near Kigali could join the calendar from 2030, beating South Africa’s rival bid.
October 10, 2026 - 8:33 am
Rwanda looks set to host Formula 1’s first African Grand Prix in more than 30 years, according to RacingNews365 and later reported by GrandPrix.com and Semafor. Neither F1, the FIA, nor Rwanda’s government has confirmed the news.
A track near Kigali
The race would take place on a new permanent circuit near Bugesera International Airport, outside the capital Kigali. A firm run by former F1 driver Alexander Wurz is designing it.
The first race is expected no earlier than 2030. Africa last hosted F1 at Kyalami, near Johannesburg, in 1993.
President Paul Kagame launched the bid in December 2024. It is part of a wider push to raise Rwanda’s profile through sport, which has included hosting the road cycling world championships.
South Africa also bid for the race. Its sports minister, Gayton McKenzie, appeared to accept the loss on social media:
“We are happy for Rwanda’s 2030 F1. SA will get F1, even before 2030.”
Rights groups accuse Rwanda of using sport to clean up its image while silencing critics, Semafor reports. The government denies this.
F1 has been reshaped by tech money in recent years, and has long sought to expand into new regions.
Story by Darius Popa
Technology enthusiast and intern at The Next Web, contributing to research-backed content and investigating new technologies and global events. Interested in business and how the narrative and perception of technology is shaped.