Carnival Calabar 2026 to feature Davido and cultural heritage displays

The Cross River State Government has announced that Nigerian music superstar Davido will headline the 2026 Carnival Calabar. Gabe Onah, Chairman of the Cross River State Carnival Commission, confirmed the artist's participation during a dry run for the festival, which is themed ‘Rethinking Our Collective Destiny.’

The commission aims to expand the festival's economic and cultural reach, noting that last year's event had an estimated socioeconomic impact of N19 billion. To increase engagement, the commission is introducing digital participation through online registration and voting, allowing spectators to help determine the winning carnival band.

In addition to musical performances, the festival will feature diverse cultural displays, including the Ekuum Cultural Band from the Ofutop nation. The band has officially registered to participate as a non-competing guest band to showcase the traditions and artistic talents of the Ofutop people to an international audience.