Lagos Biennial 2026: Over 70 Artists Return to Eko Atlantic
The Lagos Biennial returns for its fifth edition from November 14 to December 6, 2026, at Eko Atlantic City, Lagos, with more than 70 artists from Nigeria and around the world, according to Guardian Nigeria and Vanguard. The edition, themed ‘The Museum of Things Unseen’, opens with a special preview on November 13.
Key facts about the fifth edition
The international contemporary art exhibition will feature installations, sculpture, photography, film and performances examining histories and experiences often excluded from conventional museum spaces, according to Arise News. The public opening is on November 14, and the exhibition will run on selected dates until December 6 at Eko Atlantic City, Victoria Island.
It will also include special pavilions presented by the European Union, Floating Museum Chicago and other international cultural organisations. Vanguard says the Biennial was founded in 2017 by Nigerian artist and curator Folakunle Oshun.
Oshun, the founder and artistic director, said the theme invites audiences to “reconsider what museums preserve, what they leave out”, and to imagine new institutions that respond to their own histories, according to Guardian Nigeria.
He said holding the exhibition in Eko Atlantic City allows reflection on the relationship between Lagos’ rapidly changing urban landscape and its cultural memory.
Background and artists
The edition is curated by Furen Dai, Chinyere Obieze and Sam Hopkins, according to Artforum and ArtReview. Artforum says 18 artists and groups were named for the main programme, including Kara Walker, Hito Steyerl, CAMP, Antoni Muntadas, Ade Adekola and Olukemi Lijadu.
The over-70 figure used by Guardian Nigeria, Arise and Vanguard is higher than the 18 artists and groups named for the main programme, so the breakdown behind it is unconfirmed.
Alongside the main exhibition, the Biennial will present OFFish, a parallel programme in pavilions around the central exhibition. Participants include Art Bridge in Lagos, Future Ancestries, Parsons School of Design in New York, the Academy of Media Arts Cologne and Yaba College of Technology in Lagos, according to Artforum.
Timeline:
- October 5: Participant list announced (per ArtReview).
- November 13: Special preview.
- November 14: Public opening.
- December 6: Exhibition closes.
Reactions and what to note
Earlier announcements gave different dates. A Lagos State Government post quoting Artsy listed the fifth edition as running from October 17 to December 18, and the curatorial announcement carried by a newsletter said the same, while the latest reports say November 14 to December 6. Readers should confirm dates with the organisers.
Artsy named Lagos among seven art destinations to visit in 2026, describing the city as “a banner biennale in West Africa’s preeminent art capital”, according to the Lagos State Government’s post.
No criticism of the 2026 edition appeared in the sources reviewed.
Why it matters and what happens next
Guardian Nigeria says the fifth edition reinforces Lagos’ growing position as an international cultural destination, bringing together artists, curators, collectors and visitors while contributing to Nigeria’s creative economy.
The preview is on November 13, with public opening the next day. Ticketing and full programme details were not given in the sources reviewed and will be added here when confirmed.
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