2026 event calendarLagos SME culture and shopping · 24–25 October 2026 Recently announced · 11 October 2026
Nigeria events and festivals worth planning around
Current planning guides for Nigerian events and festivals, with official sources, practical movement advice and clear warnings where dates or access still need confirmation.
Start here
What is coming up?
October starts with Felabration, Design Week Lagos and Lagos Fashion Week; November brings the CAC-led Beneficial Ownership & Asset Recovery conference in Ikeja; December planning is open for Detty December and Calabar Carnival.
Dates may be announced before the final daily programme. Each event guide distinguishes fixed information from details you should re-check.- October
- Felabration · DWL · Lagos Fashion Week
- November
- BO & Asset Recovery Conference
- December
- Detty December · Calabar Carnival
- Planning rule
- Confirm live schedule before travel
Leadway Lifestyle Fair — verified event behind the social hashtag
Leadway Group announces a Lagos Lifestyle Fair on 24 and 25 October 2026, bringing Nigerian SMEs, shoppers and families together. Its organiser page places the event in Victoria Island, while an organiser-labelled Eventbrite listing names the venue as SystemSpecs HQ, Chief Yesufu Abiodun Oniru Road. Check the organiser's latest details before making travel arrangements. The organiser's SME exhibitor-registration page currently says applications have closed; this does not mean visitor registration is closed.
Looking ahead: Lagos International Chess Festival 2027
Nigerian chess advocate Tunde Onakoya unveiled a Lagos International Chess Festival planned for October 2027. The proposed programme combines a children's chess tournament, elite matches, exhibitions, fashion and cultural activities. As of 11 October 2026, a precise festival date, confirmed venue, booking instructions and ticket prices have not been established. Do not purchase tickets or book non-refundable travel based on the announcement alone.
11 October announcement · TheCable ↗Independent coverage · Arise ↗Explore verified Lagos attractions →
This is a future announcement, not part of the confirmed 2026 festival calendar below.
Lagos StateFelabration 2026Felabration runs 12–18 October 2026 with a main festival at New Afrika Shrine in Ikeja and a separate seven-night Underground System 5 programme at Freedom Park on Lagos Island. Compare the venues, entry details and routes before you go.Plan event →Lagos StateDesign Week Lagos 2026Design Week Lagos runs 18–25 October across Lagos. The National Theatre's published detailed exhibition-and-talk schedule is concentrated on 22–25 October; distinguish the full festival week from the main hall programme before booking.Plan event →Lagos StateLagos Fashion Week 2026Plan around the announced Lagos Fashion Week 2026 dates of 28 October to 1 November, then verify the live runway, venue and access schedule before attending.Plan event →Lagos StateBO & Asset Recovery Conference 2026Plan for the CAC-led Global Conference on Beneficial Ownership & Asset Recovery at Sheraton Hotels, Ikeja, from 8–11 November 2026, including registration, venue, airport and entry details.Plan event →Lagos StateDetty December 2026Plan Detty December 2026 in Lagos around the confirmed 18–30 December festival season, Wizkid's 18 December opening concert, official ticket routes, transport, accommodation and safe late-night movement.Plan event →Cross River StateCalabar Carnival 2026Use the official 2026 Calabar Carnival schedule to plan the festival season, including the 28 December Parade of Bands, 29 December Bikers Carnival and the wider December programme.Plan event →Federal Capital Territory10th AfriGEO SymposiumThe 10th AfriGEO Symposium runs 5–8 October 2026 at NASRDA's Obasanjo Space Centre in Abuja, bringing government, research, industry and development partners together around Earth observation for climate resilience, disaster risk reduction and sustainable development.Plan event →Federal Capital TerritoryAbuja Afrojazz FestivalAbuja International Afrojazz Festival 2026 runs 16–21 November with masterclasses, an artist and promoter market, showcase programming and a main concert on 21 November; the venue and line-up are still to be announced.Plan event →Federal Capital TerritoryAbuja Festival of Literature and IdeasThe Abuja Festival of Literature and Ideas runs 9–10 October 2026 at The Nordic in Jabi, Abuja. The organiser's online ticket window closed on 5 October, so confirm any remaining access directly before travelling.Plan event →Federal Capital TerritoryAbuja International Film FestivalThe 23rd Abuja International Film Festival runs 20–24 October 2026, with screenings, premieres, masterclasses, industry discussions and awards across Abuja venues including Silverbird Cinemas.Plan event →Federal Capital TerritoryAbuja Study Abroad ExpoAbuja Study Abroad Expo 2026 is scheduled for 12 October from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM at Transcorp Hilton, bringing international universities, colleges and licensed education agents together for prospective students and parents.Plan event →Federal Capital TerritoryAfrican Creators Conference 2.0African Creators Conference 2.0 is scheduled for 30 October 2026 from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM at Abuja Trade and Convention Centre in Lugbe, bringing creators, innovators, investors and policymakers together across creative, digital, fintech and green-innovation sectors.Plan event →Federal Capital TerritoryAfrican SDGs Film FestivalThe African SDGs Film Festival is scheduled for 4–5 November 2026 at Silverbird Cinemas Abuja, using film and storytelling to focus on the UN Sustainable Development Goals.Plan event →Federal Capital TerritoryAfrican Traditional Food FairThe 8th African Traditional Food Fair is scheduled for 17 October 2026 from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM at the FCT Exhibition Pavilion in Abuja, with indigenous food, tasting, cooking, farmers and food producers.Plan event →Federal Capital TerritoryAll Africa Challenge TrophyThe 2026 All Africa Challenge Trophy runs 4–6 November at IBB International Golf & Country Club in Abuja, bringing national women’s amateur golf teams from around 30 African countries together for the continental team championship.Plan event →Federal Capital TerritoryArt Meets Fashion AbujaArt Meets Fashion Abuja is listed for 23 December 2026 from 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the National Gallery of Art in Garki, combining runway shows, visual art displays and pop-up shopping.Plan event →Edo StateBenin royal anniversary 2026Plan around the Benin Palace's official October 4–November 21 tenth-coronation-anniversary programme, including October palace celebrations, Durbar and November museum exhibitions.Plan event →Cross River StateCarnival CalabarPlan Carnival Calabar 2026 with the official Cross River schedule: the festival season starts 30 November, the Cultural Carnival is 26 December, Junior Carnival 27 December, main Parade of Bands 28 December and Bikers Carnival 29 December.Plan event →Federal Capital TerritoryCEA Nigeria 2026CEA Nigeria 2026 is planned for Abuja Trade and Convention Centre in Lugbe, but the organiser's current 2026 pages conflict on the dates: its homepage says 17–19 November while its visitor and exhibition manuals still say 25–27 August. Confirm the final dates before booking travel or paying.Plan event →Federal Capital TerritoryCOCOA XP AbujaCOCOA XP brings DOTTi The Deity and The Pantheon to Café One at Sterling Bank Plaza in Abuja's Central Business District on 16 October 2026, with gates listed from 6:00 PM and the event running to 11:59 PM.Plan event →Edo StateECOWAS Food Festival Benin 2026The ECOWAS Food and Cultural Festival organiser announces 27–31 October 2026 in Benin City, featuring regional food, arts, craft, performance and business activities. The precise event entrance is not yet confirmed in its public listing.Plan event →Federal Capital TerritoryFashion Fables Runway AfricaFashion Fables Runway Africa is listed for 18 October 2026 from 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM at The Blanc Grande Abuja, combining African fashion, art and entertainment with designers reworking ancestral identities for modern audiences.Plan event →Federal Capital TerritoryFESTMINT 2026FESTMINT 2026 runs 2–6 November at the FCT Exhibition Pavilion in Abuja, bringing Nigerian textiles, fashion, crafts, exhibitors, cultural showcases and the Miss MiNT Nigeria pageant together for five days.Plan event →Yobe StateGorgaram FestivalUse this guide to plan for the Gorgaram fishing and cultural festival only when current event dates, security and local access are officially confirmed.Plan event →Lagos StateHallelujah Festival LagosThe Hallelujah Festival is a free all-night gathering planned for Friday 30 October 2026 in Ikeja, Lagos. See confirmed attendance information, airport access and what is still awaiting an official announcement.Plan event →Federal Capital TerritoryInvestors Summit NigeriaInvestors Summit Nigeria 2026 is listed for 10–11 November at Abuja Continental Hotel in Wuse, with sessions aimed at investors, business owners and executives on funding and international expansion.Plan event →Federal Capital TerritoryLegacy Building ConferenceThe Legacy Building Conference 2026 is scheduled for 6 November from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Novare Central in Wuse Zone 5, with leadership, networking and personal-development sessions for men.Plan event →Federal Capital TerritoryNIFAFEST 2026Nigeria International Fashion Festival (NIFAFEST) runs 15–17 October 2026 in Abuja with fashion and craft exhibitions, empowerment sessions and a finale across Garki and Maitama venues.Plan event →Anambra StateOfala Onitsha 2026The Obi of Onitsha's 2026 Ofala runs 16–17 October at Ime Obi, Ezechima Square, with Oreze art, a youth carnival and an October 25 thanksgiving. Check the organiser for entry and media arrangements.Plan event →Federal Capital TerritorySMFest AbujaSMFest Abuja 2026 runs 17–18 October at Family Worship Centre, Wuye, with talks and networking around social media, technology, business and digital growth under the theme AdvantageX.Plan event →