Afripoli

Rwanda signs 10-year deal to host Formula One race

14 October 2026

Rwanda signed a 10-year agreement with Formula One to host a Grand Prix from the early 2030s, President Paul Kagame announced in Kigali on 13 October. The six-kilometre circuit will be built near the new Bugesera International Airport, about 40 kilometres south of Kigali, to the top standard of the International Automobile Federation (FIA). It would be the first Formula One race in Africa since 1993 and extends Rwanda’s strategy of using sport sponsorship and conferences to attract visitors. Neither side disclosed the fee or construction cost, which will decide whether tourism and investment gains outweigh the burden on public finances.

Business & Technology · Tags: Rwanda, Formula One, International Automobile Federation

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