Abuja: The National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) is collaborating with the Enugu State Government to host the 2026 National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST), an event designed to promote national unity and cultural diversity. The Director-General of NCAC, Mr. Obi Asika, announced that the festival, themed ‘Connected Culture’, will gather delegations from Nigeria’s 36 states.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the festival will occur in Enugu from November 21 to November 28. Mr. Asika stated that the eight-day competition will feature entertainment, cultural exchange, learning, and national celebration activities. NAFEST 2026 promises reimagined competitions, creative industry training, and major concerts to enrich the connected culture experience. Delegations from across the states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), will participate, making the festival more accessible and engaging for younger Nigerians.
Mr. Asika emphasized that with the postponement of the 2025 edition, the NCAC and Enugu government are committed to delivering a connected national festival reflecting Nigeria’s cultural diversity. The festival will build on the refreshed competition formats introduced at NAFEST 2024, including the ‘Swag Show’, ‘Dance off Naija’, ‘Sing off Naija’, ‘Naija Home Makeover’, and ‘Jollof Wars’. These formats aim to create a broad canvas for creative expression while demonstrating how Nigerian cultural traditions can inspire new products, experiences, and markets.
Asika also mentioned that NCAC is partnering with the British Council and other leading industry organizations to offer training programs in the creative sector to enhance Nigeria’s cultural heritage. NAFEST 2026 will provide a major platform for youth engagement, skills development, and creative industry capacity building. The council plans to deliver training programs and master classes across film, music, fashion, performing arts, and the creative economy, connecting emerging creatives with experienced practitioners and industry leaders.
The Governor of Enugu, Dr. Peter Mbah, expressed the state’s readiness to host Nigeria and the world, showcasing the state’s transformation and cultural heritage. Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Enugu, Dame Ugochi Madueke, echoed this sentiment, stating that Enugu looks forward to sharing the best of the Coal City with the world.
The News Agency of Nigeria also reports that Enugu last hosted NAFEST in 2007, and nearly two decades later, the Nigerian cultural Olympics return to the Coal City, ready to write a new chapter in history.