Lagos, Africa’s tourism hub by 2026 — Report
… says the development was from Government’s commitment to the creative sector.
Lagos State has been named as one of the seven art destinations to visit in 2026, according to a report by Artsy, the leading global online Art Marketplace.
The city was described as “a banner biennale in West Africa’s preeminent art capital.”
This was contained in a statement signed and released by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, on Friday.
According to an article titled “7 Art Destinations to Visit in 2026” published in artsy.net by Maxwell Rabb on January 8, Lagos is one of the “seven spots—from marquee art events to rising scenes—that are worth adding to an art-inspired travel itinerary in 2026.”
The seven destinations picked by the leading global online Art Marketplace are Venice, Italy; Doha, Qatar; Sydney, Australia; Bangkok, Thailand; Lagos, Nigeria; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Malta.
Artsy disclosed that “Lagos is rapidly becoming the commercial and creative engine of African contemporary art, and this momentum will continue in 2026.”
Stating why Lagos is among the seven art destinations to visit in 2026, the leading global online Art Marketplace, noted that the city’s momentum is sustained year-round by a fast-evolving arts community.
The article reads in part: “The fifth edition of the Lagos Biennial returns to the city from October 17th to December 18th. Its main exhibition—curated this year by Folakunle Oshun—is distinguished for its thematic urgency and use of non-traditional sites, mirroring the city’s density and political charge. This year, the theme is ‘The Museum of Things Unseen’, a reflection of ancestry and cultural history through the lens of museology.
“Amid the biennial, The Àkéte Collection – Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art will officially launch its permanent home in the city in October, aiming to become a ‘living archive’ for the African continent.
“Also taking place is the 11th edition of the ART X Lagos art fair from November 5th to 8th. ‘Many of the young artists in Nigeria believed they had to leave the country to establish themselves globally. I wanted to change that. I wanted to bring the world to us,’ the fair’s founder, Tokini Peterside-Schwebig, told Artsy in December 2025.
“The city’s momentum is further sustained year-round by a fast-evolving arts community. Galleries such as Rele, kó, Ogirikan Art Gallery, and Nike Art Gallery support artists shaping contemporary African discourse, while institutions like the John Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History ground new work in deeper historical narratives.”
Welcoming the report, which mentioned the State’s monumental J. Randle Centre for Yoruba Arts and Culture, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the listing of Lagos among other top cities in the world is a reflection of the State Government’s commitment to the development of the creative sector.
The governor restated the incumbent administration’s vision to make Lagos the number one destination for arts, culture and tourism in a few years to come.
“We will continue to invest in the sector in which our youths have exhibited remarkable talents,” the Governor said.
