Manny Ita
Following a successful “Detty December” season, Lagos State is preparing for a more expansive edition of the Eyo Festival in 2026, building on the cultural momentum generated by the festival’s return last year after an eight-year hiatus.
The Eyo Festival, also known as the Adamu Orisha Play, was staged on Lagos Island in December 2025 and attracted large crowds of residents, diaspora returnees and foreign tourists, reinforcing Lagos’s position as a major cultural and tourism destination.
The 2025 edition marked a significant moment for the state, as the procession honoured four prominent figures in Lagos history: Alhaja Abibat Mogaji, Brigadier-General Mobolaji Johnson, Alhaji Lateef Jakande and Sir Michael Otedola.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu attended the event in traditional Eyo attire and described the festival as a “great rekindling of our culture,” noting its importance beyond entertainment as a symbol of identity and tourism potential. Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu also hailed the festival’s return, calling it a “homecoming” and a reflection of the resilience of Lagos’s cultural heritage.
The streets of Lagos Island were lined with thousands of white-clad Eyo masquerades, as traditional rites were observed alongside modern crowd management measures. Cultural custodians reiterated that the Eyo Festival “is not an annual carnival but an ancestral rite,” even as state authorities continue to promote it as part of a broader cultural tourism strategy.
Traffic restrictions and security arrangements were implemented during the event, with officials urging residents and visitors to respect established customs and safety guidelines.
The successful staging of the Eyo Festival was closely linked to the wider Detty December celebrations, which featured concerts, nightlife events and cultural showcases across the state. Government officials later commended residents for orderly conduct during the festive period, stating that the smooth execution of events demonstrated Lagos’s growing capacity to host large-scale cultural gatherings
.As preparations begin for 2026, officials say the next Eyo Festival is expected to be “more robust,” with enhanced planning aimed at deepening its cultural significance while leveraging its economic and tourism benefits for the state.
