Details of the 2026 edition of the +234 Art Fair have been released, outlining plans for the third season of the contemporary art event scheduled to hold in Lagos.
The fair, organised by Ecobank Nigeria in partnership with Soto Gallery, will take place from March 5 to 8, 2026, at the Ecobank Pan-African Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, with the theme Inclusivity.
According to the organisers, the theme reflects a shared commitment to creative entrepreneurship, equitable access, and the deliberate expansion of opportunity within Nigeria’s contemporary art ecosystem.
Founder of Soto Gallery, Ms Tola Akerele, said the fair is designed to open access to artists who are often excluded from mainstream platforms.
“Inclusivity is about opening doors wider and changing who gets seen, supported, and celebrated. We are already receiving exceptional works from artists who might otherwise not have access to platforms like this. The application remains open, and I encourage Nigerian artists to seize this opportunity to be recognised among the continent’s finest,” Akerele said.
Also speaking, the Head of SME Partnerships and Collaborations at Ecobank Nigeria, Ms Omoboye Odu, described the 2026 edition as a purposeful intervention in Nigeria’s creative space.
“For the third edition of the +234 Art Fair, we celebrate Inclusivity as both a principle and a practice. Art belongs to everyone. This fair intentionally broadens the frame—moving beyond traditional centres of access to spotlight talent from the margins, from new geographies, and from voices that deserve to be heard,” she said.
Odu added that the fair is targeted at artists working across boundaries and outside established systems.
“If you are an artist working across boundaries, challenging perspectives, or creating outside established systems, this is your moment. +234 Art Fair 2026 is about building a more equitable creative future—together,” she said.
Over the years, the +234 Art Fair has grown into one of Lagos’ most important contemporary art platforms, with a clear focus on emerging and often ungalleried Nigerian artists.
Within a short period, the fair has connected local talent to collectors, patrons, institutions, and global audiences.
