Lagos to host major creative and performing arts festivals in 2026

Lagos is set to host several major cultural events in 2026 aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s creative economy and performing arts sector.

NECLive 2026, scheduled for November 12 at Alliance Française, will focus on the theme ‘Home Advantage: Transforming Local Demand into Global Power.’ The conference seeks to explore how Nigeria can leverage its massive domestic audience to drive investment, ownership, and economic value within its music, film, and fashion industries.

The Lagos International Theatre Festival will return to the MUSON Centre from November 14 to 15. Under the theme ‘The Masks We Wear,’ the festival will feature international productions from Canada, Kenya, and Brazil, alongside Nigerian works from Lagos, Abuja, Enugu, and Abeokuta.

Additionally, the National Theatre will host the inaugural Lagos Contemporary Circus Festival, ‘Circus in Motion,’ from October 3 to 4, 2026. The event aims to merge West African folklore and acrobatics with modern circus techniques. The festival will be preceded by a two-week training residency for young Nigerian performers involving international practitioners from Ethiopia, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, and Switzerland.