ABUJA, Sept. 18, 2026 — The National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) will return to Enugu from Nov. 21 to 28, with the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) and the Enugu State Government focusing the 2026 edition on cultural exchange, youth engagement and creative-industry development.
The festival, themed “Connected Culture,” will bring together delegations from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory for eight days of cultural competitions, entertainment, learning and national celebration.
The 2026 edition will build on competition formats introduced by the NCAC at NAFEST 2024, including Swag Show, Dance Off Naija, Sing Off Naija, Naija Home Makeover and Jollof Wars.
Swag Show will celebrate Nigerian fashion, textiles, identity and personal style, while Dance Off Naija will feature traditional and contemporary dance. Sing Off Naija will bring together Nigeria’s diverse musical traditions and emerging sounds.
Naija Home Makeover will explore the use of Nigerian art, crafts, fabrics and indigenous aesthetics in contemporary living spaces, while Jollof Wars will showcase the country’s culinary creativity and competitive spirit.
Dambe boxing will also return alongside other indigenous games and sporting competitions. The festival will further feature Nigerian video games developed by indigenous studios, providing younger audiences with opportunities to engage with cultural stories, characters and environments through digital technology.
With more than 35 tertiary institutions in and around Enugu, the festival is expected to provide a platform for youth engagement, skills development and creative-industry capacity building.
The NCAC, working with partners including the British Council’s Creative Hustle and the National Theatre, will deliver training programmes and masterclasses covering film, music, fashion, performing arts and the creator economy.
The programmes are designed to connect emerging creatives with experienced practitioners, institutions and industry leaders while providing practical knowledge, professional networks and pathways into Nigeria’s cultural and creative economy.
NCAC Director-General, Obi Asika, said NAFEST should serve not only as a platform for celebrating talent but also as a means of developing that talent and connecting it with sustainable opportunities.
Asika said the “Connected Culture” theme would provide young Nigerians with a broad platform to experience, interpret and express Nigerian culture in their own language.
He said the new competition formats introduced in 2024 would return in Enugu alongside Dambe boxing and Nigerian video games, while capacity-building programmes would support emerging talents across several areas of the creative economy.
The return of NAFEST to Enugu comes nearly two decades after the state last hosted the festival in 2007. The inaugural national festival was held in Lagos in 1970 and was won by the then East Central State.
NAFEST 2026 will be staged at major venues in Enugu, including the International Conference Centre and the historic Michael Okpara Square.
The programme will feature traditional and contemporary music, drama, crafts, indigenous games, film, literature, visual arts, exhibitions and other cultural experiences. Major opening and closing concerts will also bring contemporary Nigerian popular culture into conversation with the traditions that continue to shape the country’s identity.
Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, said the state was ready to host participants and visitors from across Nigeria and beyond.
Mbah said the festival would provide an opportunity to showcase the transformation of the state, its cultural heritage and the hospitality of its people, while positioning Enugu as a destination for culture, tourism, investment and creativity.
The state Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Ugochi Madueke, said NAFEST would enable Enugu to showcase its heritage, hospitality, cuisine, creative talent and tourism experiences.
Madueke also highlighted the opportunities the festival would create for young people in the state to participate, learn and establish connections with Nigeria’s creative industries.
The organisers said the festival would provide a national platform for artists, performers, athletes, game developers, craftspeople, designers, chefs, cultural entrepreneurs and young creatives to showcase their talents and reach new audiences.
They also said NAFEST 2026 was expected to stimulate tourism, hospitality, commerce and employment in Enugu State by attracting visitors to the city’s heritage, cuisine, cultural landmarks and other attractions.
The NCAC has invited corporate sponsors, development partners, cultural institutions, media organisations, technology companies and other creative-industry stakeholders to participate in the festival.
The council said further details on the festival calendar, competition formats, participating states, capacity-building programmes, concerts and other activities would be unveiled progressively through its media and digital platforms.
