Manny Ita
Lagos has achieved a major international milestone after being named one of the seven must-visit global art destinations for 2026 by Artsy, a leading global art marketplace. The city was recognized as the “commercial and creative engine of African contemporary art,” joining an elite list of cultural hubs that includes Venice, Doha, Sydney, Bangkok, Philadelphia, and Malta. The ranking, authored by Maxwell Rabb and published on January 8, 2026, highlights the rapid evolution of Lagos from a regional hub into a central pillar of the global art market. This recognition centers on a “banner year” of high-profile projects expected to draw record-breaking international tourism to Nigeria.
A primary driver for this global ranking is the upcoming fifth edition of the Lagos Biennial, scheduled to run from October 17 to December 18, 2026. Titled “The Museum of Things Unseen,” the biennial is curated by Folakunle Oshun alongside Chinyere Obieze, Furen Dai, and Sam Hopkins. The event will explore ancestry and cultural history through “speculative museology,” utilizing non-traditional urban sites across Lagos to reflect the city’s dense political and social energy. It aims to reinterpret rarely exhibited artworks from global collections and investigate the “invisible labor” that shapes the art landscape.
Complementing the biennial is the grand opening of the Àkéte Collection: Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in October 2026. Designed as a permanent institutional anchor, the collection will serve as a “living archive” of African contemporary art. It will feature outstanding pieces from the past four editions of the Lagos Biennial, alongside significant loans and donations from international private collections, marking it as one of the first significant international collections of modern art on the continent.
The renowned ART X Lagos fair will celebrate its 11th edition from November 5 to 8, 2026. Founder Tokini Peterside-Schwebig, who has been instrumental in reversing the “brain drain” of Nigerian artists, emphasized that the platform continues to bring the international art world to Nigeria, stating, “I wanted to change that. I wanted to bring the world to us.” The fair remains a centerpiece of the city’s calendar, showcasing local talent to global collectors and curators.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu welcomed the recognition, stating that the inclusion reflects the state government’s commitment to the creative sector. He cited recent investments in the John Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History as evidence of how Lagos is grounding new artistic works in deep historical narratives, adding, “We will continue to invest in the creative sector where our youths have shown remarkable talents. Our vision is to make Lagos the number one destination for arts, culture and tourism in the coming years.” Other institutions such as the Nike Art Gallery, Rele, and kó were also praised for their role in sustaining the city’s year-round artistic momentum.
