Luanda, Angola, is set to play host to the fifth round of the UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF this weekend, marking the series’ first visit to Southern Africa.
The E1 Luanda GP 2026 will take place 12 to 13 September at the Yacht Club of Luanda with E1 team owner LeBron James expected to be present to cheer on his Team AlUla.
They are currently sat third in the standings on 75 points, just behind Will Smith’s Westbrook Racing by Visit Angola on 110 points after their two wins on the water this year.
Double and reigning Champions Brady are out front on 119 points going into the Luanda race but everything is to play for.
Angola marks another milestone in E1’s global growth, becoming the Championship’s second African race location and joins a global calendar that spans four continents, including host cities such as Lake Como, Monaco and Miami.
Known for its deep maritime heritage, natural resources and prime coastal position, Luanda stands as one of Africa’s key maritime gateways.
The race also underscores Angola’s rising profile on the world sporting stage, alongside its ongoing investment in sport and sustainable development – aligning closely with E1’s mission to advocate for electrified technology adoption to preserve our oceans, lakes and waterways.
Away from the racing, as part of E1’s sustainability efforts, E1 will partner with the Otchiva Project, an Angolan non governmental organisation dedicated to restoring the country’s mangrove ecosystems.
Ahead of the race weekend, some of E1’s pilots will join a reforestation project at the Ilha de Mussulo, supporting local efforts to protect the coastline which acts as a natural buffer to prevent coastal erosion to protect communities and wildlife populations.
Race guests wanting a taste of the action can still purchase a pass to the E1 Ocean Club, E1’s luxury hospitality experience. With options for Saturday qualifying and race day Sunday, guests will get an unbeatable waterfront view of the racing action.
They can also catch sight of the E1 pilots, try their hand on the racing simulators and get up close with the E1 RaceBird showboat.
Following a delay to some freight leaving European customs, Team Drogba Global Africa will not compete this weekend leaving nine teams set to race.
Fans can also catch the action on SuperSport, DAZN and E1’s YouTube channel.
Jamie Copas, Chief Executive Officer, E1, said: “Luanda is a milestone for E1 as our first race in Southern Africa and further proof of our global ambitions. We are proud to showcase what all-electric racing means to a nation so deeply connected to the water.
“With the gap at the top of the standings now down to single digits, this is shaping up to be a highly competitive season and with LeBron expected to be present, the atmosphere promises to be electric.”
H.E. Márcio de Jesus Lopes Daniel, Minister of Tourism of the Republic of Angola, said: “The arrival of E1 in Angola demonstrates the country’s growing capacity to host major international events, with security, logistics and organisational standards that meet the demands of world-class occasions.
“For Angola, E1 is also an opportunity to showcase to the world our tourism potential, organisational capacity and the transformation the country is undertaking. For tourists and investors, it sends a clear message: Angola is ready, connected and increasingly open to the world.
“We want this experience to help position Angola as an international destination – not only to visit, but also to do business, host major events and invest.”
