Over the years, the GTCO Food & Drink Festival has grown into more than a celebration of food into a platform where creativity, enterprise, and community intersect, bringing together small businesses, emerging talents and established brands within a shared space of opportunity and expression, while serving as a meeting point for storytelling, innovation, and opportunity.

Thus, as thousands of food lovers, entrepreneurs and families brace up for the oncoming 9th edition of the GTCO Food & Drink Festival scheduled to hold from Friday, May 1 to Sunday, May 3, 2026 at Plot 1 Water Corporation Drive, Oniru Lagos, the organisers have emphasised commitment to creating platforms that enable people to thrive, connect and explore new possibilities and dedication to delivering experiences that are inclusive and memorable.

From traditional recipes passed down through generations to contemporary expressions of global cuisine, the GTCO Food & Drink Festival 2026 edition is set to showcase varieties of cuisines on display alongside the depth of the stories behind them.

With the theme ‘Everything Food and Drink, the festival will feature interactive masterclasses, live culinary demonstrations, food and wine tastings, and a vibrant marketplace showcasing small and medium-scale food businesses alongside established culinary brands. In addition to its wide range of food and drink offerings, the GTCO Food and Drink Festival is renowned for its family-friendly atmosphere, with a well-equipped play area and a variety of engaging activities for children, ensuring an unforgettable experience for the whole family.

According to the organisers during a briefing to announce the 9th edition of the oncoming festival at the Guarantee Trust Holding Company plc head office in Lagos during the week, about 204 free retail stalls will showcase the rich diversity and creativity of food culture; from time-honoured traditional dishes preserved across generations, to bold contemporary interpretations of global cuisine, creating space for every flavour, every technique, and every craving to find expression.

On expectations from the festival, the Group Chief Executive Officer of GTCO Plc, Segun Agbaje who reiterated the festival’s continued evolution as both a cultural and economic enabler said: “The GTCO Food and Drink Festival has, over the years, become a living expression of what we stand for as an institution: innovation, opportunity, and enterprise that is accessible to all. What makes this platform special is not just its scale, but its humanity. It brings together people from different walks of life around something universal – food and drink – and in doing so, it breaks barriers and builds connections that extend far beyond the event itself.”

Agbaje further said: “The festival remains a strong expression of our commitment to promoting enterprise by providing hundreds of food entrepreneurs with free retail platforms and access to a wider audience.”

Since inception, the GTCO Food and Drink Festival has positioned itself as one of Africa’s most prominent culinary gatherings, attracting participation from across Nigeria and increasingly from the wider continent and diaspora. Admission remains free and open to all, reaffirming the festival’s commitment to accessibility as a consumer-focused event that brings people together through food, drink, culture, and enterprise.