FIA Confirms Kigali Grand Prix on 2030 Formula One World Championship Calendar

The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile has officially ratified the Kigali Grand Prix as a round of the 2030 FIA Formula One World Championship, confirming what many in the paddock had long anticipated. The announcement was made at a special press conference at FIA headquarters in Geneva, attended by FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali, and Rwandan President Paul Kagame.

The Kigali Grand Prix will be the first Formula One race held on African soil since the 1993 South African Grand Prix at Kyalami, ending a 37-year absence from the continent. The race is scheduled to take place on the third weekend of November 2030, making it the penultimate round of the championship.

"This is a historic moment not just for Rwanda, but for the entire African continent," said President Kagame. "We have worked tirelessly to meet every FIA standard, and today's confirmation is a testament to what Rwanda can achieve when we set our minds to it."

The 5.2-kilometre street circuit winds through central Kigali, passing the iconic Kigali Convention Centre, the Kigali Arena, and the city's vibrant Kimihurura district. With 18 corners and a projected top speed of 310km/h on the main straight along Boulevard de l'Umuganda, the circuit promises to be one of the most technically demanding on the calendar.

Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali described the addition as a "transformative moment" for the sport. "Africa is the world's youngest continent by population, and bringing Formula One to Kigali opens the sport to an entirely new generation of fans. Rwanda's vision, infrastructure, and passion for excellence made this an easy decision."

The FIA's decision follows a rigorous two-year homologation process during which Kigali's circuit design, safety infrastructure, medical facilities, and event management plans were scrutinised against the same standards applied to Monaco, Singapore, and every other street circuit on the calendar. The circuit received Grade 1 homologation — the highest classification — in September 2029.