The Lagos International Theatre Festival (LITF) is set to return for its 2026 edition with a weeklong celebration of theatre, arts and culture, featuring local and international performers from November 9 to 15.
The festival, founded by renowned theatre producer Bolanle Austen-Peters, will hold its main festival weekend on November 14 and 15 at the MUSON Centre in Lagos.
The event brings together artists, audiences and industry stakeholders from Nigeria, other African countries and different parts of the world to celebrate creativity and promote cultural exchange through theatrical performances.
The 2026 edition will feature international productions from Kenya, Canada and Brazil, alongside several Nigerian productions from Lagos, Abuja, Enugu and Abeokuta. The programme will showcase established theatre practitioners, independent production companies, emerging talents and school performers.
This year’s theme, “The Masks We Wear,” focuses on the different identities and roles people assume in their everyday lives. The festival’s campaign message, “The Stage Is Everywhere,” highlights how performance and creativity extend beyond conventional theatre spaces into everyday life, culture and public discussions.
Speaking on the festival, its Director, Vanessa Jev, said the event continues to create connections between Nigerian theatre practitioners and their counterparts across Africa and the international creative community.
She explained that this year’s programme reflects the diversity of Nigerian theatre while providing opportunities for cultural exchange through international participation.
The festival activities began on Monday, November 9, with Theatre Meets Food, an event hosted by celebrity chef Hilda Baci. The gathering brings together food, theatre and members of Lagos’ creative community.
The programme also features Embassy Nights on November 10 and 11, organised in collaboration with the British and American embassies. The events provide opportunities for cultural interaction involving diplomatic representatives and leaders in the creative industry.
Activities will continue with the Opening Night Gala on Friday, November 13, which is expected to attract celebrities, artists, cultural leaders and other stakeholders.
The celebration will reach its peak during the Main Festival Weekend on November 14 and 15, when audiences will enjoy two days of live theatrical performances at the MUSON Centre.
Some of the productions scheduled for the festival include Under The Mango Tree from Canada, directed by Lennette Randall; Tristia: Blood Bird from Norway; tHERapy, directed by Tosin Adeyemi; and African Stories, directed by Winihin Jemide.
The festival will also feature school productions from Atlantic Hall, Evergreen College and Children International School, giving young performers an opportunity to showcase their talents.
Additional productions from Kenya and Brazil are also expected to feature in the programme, with further details to be announced.
Speaking about the significance of the festival, Founder Bolanle Austen-Peters said theatre provides an opportunity for society to reflect on its identity and how people present themselves to the world.
She noted that the 2026 edition is designed to encourage audiences in Lagos and beyond to recognise that performance and storytelling are part of everyday experiences, not just activities confined to theatre halls.
The Lagos International Theatre Festival 2026 is supported by the Lagos State Government, Afreximbank, Ledco, Wema Bank, Pillar Oil, Prime Atlantic and Amstel, alongside other international and cultural partners.
Organisers said information on ticket sales, the full programme and venue arrangements would be communicated in the coming weeks.
Further details about the festival are available on its official website, www.lagosinternationaltheatrefestival.ng, while updates can also be followed on Instagram, X and Facebook through @officiallitfest.
READ ALSO:
- Lagos International Theatre Festival Returns With Weeklong Celebration Of Arts And Culture
- Dangote Cement Suspends Plans For Proposed $1bn London Stock Exchange Listing
- Zamfara Records 3,850% Rise In Human Trafficking Cases As Borno Surges 2,670%
- INEC Deletes 1.6 Million Invalid Voter Records, Identifies 54 Officials for Possible Prosecution
- 2027: Appeal Court Swears In 375 Judges For Election Petition Tribunals
