Formula 1 Signs 10-Year Deal for Rwanda Grand Prix, Starting in Early 2030s

Formula 1 is going back to Africa. On Oct. 13, 2026, the sport announced a 10-year agreement for Rwanda to host a Grand Prix starting in the early 2030s, on a purpose-built circuit planned for Bugesera.

The last race on the continent was in South Africa in 1993. F1 chief Stefano Domenicali called the deal a "landmark" moment.

The event will be branded the Formula 1 African Grand Prix, presented by Visit Rwanda, the government's tourism-promotion brand.

What Rwanda wants out of it

President Paul Kagame's government sees the race as a way to draw visitors and investment and raise the country's global profile. It also expects jobs, skills development and lasting economic benefits.

Rwanda has spent years building that profile through sport. Visit Rwanda has sponsored Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, Atlético Madrid and Bayern Munich, though the deals vary. Arsenal's eight-season partnership ended in June 2026. PSG's agreement runs through 2028. Bayern shifted its deal toward youth development in Kigali after facing criticism.

In July, Aston Villa signed a multi-year Visit Rwanda sponsorship reportedly worth around £20 million (roughly $26.8 million) a year.

Itamar Dubinsky, a senior lecturer in African studies and politics at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev who researches sports and politics in Africa, says hosting a race differs from buying visibility through club sponsorships. A Grand Prix brings F1's international network of teams, corporate partners, media and spectators directly into the country.

Supporters inside Rwanda are already talking about preparation. An opinion piece in AllAfrica argues that the early-2030s date gives young Rwandans time to build digital, language and hospitality skills. It also says local hotels, restaurants, tour operators and transport providers stand to gain. The piece points to the new Kigali International Airport in Bugesera, which is expected to improve connectivity ahead of the race.

The objections

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have criticized Rwanda's sports marketing. Amnesty International UK spoke out specifically against the Aston Villa deal. These groups call such arrangements "sportswashing," meaning they argue the deals polish the image of an authoritarian government while attention is deflected from abuses.

Kagame has led Rwanda for decades. His government has long been accused of abuses in its treatment of political opponents, journalists and other critics.

The second objection is regional. Rwanda has been accused of supporting M23 rebels in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo. Kagame told CNN in an exclusive interview that he does not know whether his country's troops are in the DRC.

DRC Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner called F1's decision "morally indefensible."

F1's response

F1 has defended the choice. The sport says it can be a positive force and inspire its more than 100 million fans across Africa. It points to a long track record of delivering economic, social and cultural value to host nations. Domenicali said F1 is "showing the world what it means to be a country that has a vision."

Supporters also point to Rwanda's investment in event infrastructure, including BK Arena, Amahoro Stadium and Kigali Pelé Stadium, as evidence the country can host major international competitions.

What is still unanswered

F1 has not publicly detailed how potential hosts were evaluated or how human rights concerns were weighed during negotiations.

The financial terms are also unclear. Questions remain about public investment in the Bugesera circuit, the long-term returns, and whether the new infrastructure will be actively used outside race weekends or sit underused.

With the race still years away, those answers will determine whether the Grand Prix delivers the jobs and investment Rwanda's government promises.