Lagos State has been listed among the seven leading global art destinations to visit in 2026, according to a report by Artsy, a leading global online art marketplace.
The city was described as “a banner biennale in West Africa’s preeminent art capital.”
This was disclosed in a statement signed and released on Friday by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile.
The recognition followed an article titled “7 Art Destinations to Visit in 2026,” published on artsy.net on January 8 and written by Maxwell Rabb, which described Lagos as 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 other destinations listed by Artsy are Venice, Italy; Doha, Qatar; Sydney, Australia; Bangkok, Thailand; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Malta.
According to Artsy, “Lagos is rapidly becoming the commercial and creative engine of African contemporary art, and this momentum will continue in 2026.”
Explaining why Lagos made the list, the platform noted that the city’s artistic growth is driven by a vibrant and constantly evolving arts community.
The article stated 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.
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“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.”
Reacting to the report, which also highlighted the state’s John Randle Centre for Yoruba Arts and Culture, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said the recognition reflects the Lagos State Government’s commitment to developing the creative industry.
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s vision of positioning Lagos as a leading global destination for arts, culture and tourism in the coming years.
“We will continue to invest in the sector in which our youths have exhibited remarkable talents,” Sanwo-Olu said.