Ecobank to Host 5th Adire Lagos Experience in June 2026, Deepens Pan-African Cultural Trade Push

Ecobank to Host 5th Adire Lagos Experience in June 2026, Deepens Pan-African Cultural Trade Push

Ecobank Nigeria has announced the fifth edition of its flagship cultural and creative industry platform, the Adire Lagos Experience scheduled to hold from June 11 to 14, 2026, at the Ecobank Pan African Centre (EPAC), Victoria Island, Lagos, as part of efforts to promote indigenous textile heritage and expand Pan-African creative commerce.

Ecobank Nigeria, a subsidiary of the Ecobank Group, said this year’s edition is themed “Threads Across Borders,” reflecting the growing global relevance of Adire while positioning it within Africa’s wider textile and cultural economy.

According to the bank, the four-day event will showcase over 100 vendors, with a strong emphasis on Nigerian exhibitors, underscoring the country’s status as the leading hub of Adire production. However, 10 percent of participating vendors will be drawn from other African countries to foster cross-border collaboration, cultural exchange, and business linkages within the continent’s creative industry.

Speaking ahead of the event, Omoboye Odu, Head of SMEs, Partnerships and Collaborations at Ecobank Nigeria, said the initiative is designed to balance cultural preservation with Pan-African integration.

She noted that while Adire remains a proudly Nigerian heritage craft, the platform also reflects Ecobank’s Pan-African mandate by opening space for other African creatives to share complementary textile traditions and build partnerships that strengthen the continent’s creative value chain.

Beyond exhibitions, the 2026 edition will feature indigenous cuisine, African music and cultural performances, as well as curated networking and business sessions aimed at connecting artisans, designers, merchants, buyers, and other stakeholders across the creative ecosystem.

Ecobank further disclosed that registration is now open for interested exhibitors, with selected participants eligible to receive complimentary booth spaces. Applications are expected to close on April 28, 2026.

The bank said the Adire Lagos Experience continues to serve as a strategic platform for transforming cultural heritage into enterprise, while reinforcing Nigeria’s position as a leader in Africa’s creative and textile economy.