The Edo State Government has unveiled plans for the 2026 Edo Carnival as part of efforts to position the state as Nigeria’s leading cultural tourism destination and showcase its rich heritage to visitors from across the country and the diaspora.
The 13-day carnival, scheduled to hold in Benin City from December 13 to 26, is expected to attract more than 10,000 participants and create opportunities across the creative, tourism and hospitality sectors.
The plans were disclosed during the unveiling of the dates and activities for Edo Carnival 2026 in Lagos by the Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Planning Committee and Edo State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Emmanuel Okoebor.
Okoebor said the carnival was designed to showcase Edo’s cultural heritage, preserve its traditions and promote Benin City as a major tourist destination.
“Our vision is to build a carnival that belongs to the people, reflects the soul of Edo, welcomes the world and leaves a lasting economic, cultural and social impact,” he said.
According to him, Edo Carnival 2026 will go beyond entertainment by serving as a strategic platform for promoting the state’s rich cultural heritage, preserving its traditions for future generations and positioning Edo as a premier tourism destination in Nigeria and Africa.
The carnival village will be located at Garrick Memorial on Ekehuan Road.
Okoebor said the 2026 edition would provide a platform for professionals and businesses in the creative industry, including musicians, fashion designers, filmmakers, dancers, visual artists and culinary professionals, to showcase their talents and products.
He said the carnival would celebrate the “rich heritage, creativity, hospitality and contemporary identity of the Edo people,” while creating economic opportunities for businesses and communities.
The event is also expected to generate increased patronage for the tourism, hospitality, transportation, accommodation, food, fashion and retail sectors as the state seeks to attract visitors, brands, investors and partners from Nigeria and abroad.
“Edo Carnival 2026 seeks to create a world-class platform where culture meets creativity, entertainment meets tourism, and tradition meets innovation, positioning Edo State as a leading destination for cultural tourism, investment and creative expression,” Okoebor added.
The 13-day programme will feature a trade fair and exhibition, medical outreach, orphanage visitation, jean festival, pool party, food festival, bikers’ carnival, talent hunt, cultural carnival, fashion show, music concert, beauty pageant, parade and band competition, as well as an arts and crafts exhibition.
Technical partner for the event, Jacqueline Udoh of Peak Rendezvous Entertainment Global Limited, said the 2026 edition would be bigger than the previous carnival, which she said attracted about 1,000 participants.
Also speaking, the Secretary of the Planning Committee, Iryn Omorogiuwa, said the carnival would promote Edo’s culture and creativity by connecting the state’s past, present and future.
With its combination of cultural celebration, entertainment, creative expression and business opportunities, the Edo Carnival 2026 is being positioned as a major platform for showcasing the identity and economic potential of Edo State while strengthening Benin City’s appeal as a tourism destination.