Ecobank Nigeria, Soto Gallery Announce 2026 +234 Art Fair Focused on Inclusivity

Ecobank Nigeria, Soto Gallery Announce 2026 +234 Art Fair Focused on Inclusivity

Ecobank Nigeria, in partnership with Soto Gallery, has announced plans to host the third edition of the +234 Art Fair from March 5 to 8, 2026, at the Ecobank Pan-African Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The 2026 edition of the fair, themed “Inclusivity,” reflects the organisers’ shared commitment to creative entrepreneurship, equitable access, and the deliberate expansion of opportunities within Nigeria’s contemporary art ecosystem.

Since its launch, the +234 Art Fair has rapidly grown into one of Lagos’ leading contemporary art platforms, with a strong emphasis on emerging and often ungalleried Nigerian artists. The fair has become a vital gateway, connecting local creatives to collectors, patrons, cultural institutions, and global audiences, while contributing to the growth of Nigeria’s creative economy.

Speaking on the theme for the 2026 edition, Founder of Soto Gallery and Curator of the +234 Art Fair, Tola Akerele, said the focus on inclusivity is aimed at widening representation and redefining visibility within the art space.

“Inclusivity is about opening doors wider and changing who gets seen, supported, and celebrated,” Akerele said. “We are already receiving exceptional works from artists who may not ordinarily have access to platforms like this. The application remains open, and I encourage Nigerian artists to take advantage of this opportunity to be recognised among the continent’s finest.”

Also speaking, Omoboye Odu, Head of SME Partnerships and Collaborations at Ecobank Nigeria, described the upcoming fair as a strategic intervention designed to reshape how Nigerian creativity is discovered, supported, and sustained.

“For the third edition of the +234 Art Fair, we celebrate inclusivity as both a principle and a practice,” Odu said. “Art belongs to everyone, and this fair deliberately broadens the frame—moving beyond traditional centres of access to spotlight talent from the margins, new geographies, and voices that deserve to be heard.”

She added that the 2026 fair seeks to build a more equitable creative future by encouraging artists who work across boundaries, challenge perspectives, or operate outside established systems to participate.

The four-day event is expected to attract a wide audience, including art enthusiasts from across Nigeria, members of the African diaspora, senior government officials, policymakers, diplomats, collectors, and global art stakeholders.