Lagos Biennial to Feature Over 70 Artists at Eko Atlantic City

More than 70 artists from Nigeria and other parts of the world are expected to participate in the fifth edition of the Lagos Biennial, scheduled to hold at Eko Atlantic City from November 14 to December 6, 2026.

The international contemporary art exhibition, themed The Museum of Things Unseen, will explore overlooked histories, cultural memory and narratives often excluded from conventional museum collections.

The event will feature installations, sculpture, photography, film and live performances, alongside special pavilions presented by the European Union, Floating Museum Chicago and other international cultural organisations.

Founded in 2017 by Nigerian artist and curator Folakunle Oshun, the Lagos Biennial has developed into a platform for contemporary artistic expression and international cultural exchange.

Previous editions were held at the Nigerian Railway Corporation compound in Yaba in 2017, Independence House in 2019 and Tafawa Balewa Square in 2024.

The 2026 edition will be curated by Furen Dai, Chinyere Obieze and Sam Hopkins, under the artistic direction of Oshun.

The curatorial concept challenges conventional approaches to museums by examining whose histories are preserved, whose stories are excluded and how cultural institutions can better represent diverse experiences.

Speaking ahead of the exhibition, Oshun said the theme would encourage audiences to reconsider what museums preserve and what they leave out, while exploring possibilities for institutions that respond more closely to local histories.

He added that staging the exhibition at Eko Atlantic City would provide an opportunity to examine the relationship between Lagos's changing urban landscape and its cultural memory.

A major feature of the programme will be the presentation of the Àkéte Collection, an initiative of the Lagos Biennial aimed at establishing a permanent contemporary art museum in Lagos.

Other activities will include public conversations, performances and the Curatorial Lab Lagos, an international professional development programme for emerging curators.

The exhibition will hold a special preview on November 13 before opening to the public the following day. It will run on selected dates until December 6 at Eko Atlantic City, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Organisers say the fifth edition will bring together artists, curators, collectors and visitors from different countries, while creating opportunities for cultural exchange and engagement with contemporary art.