The Lagos International Festival of Illustration (LIFI) returned for its second edition from September 17 to 19, 2026, bringing together 36 Nigerian illustrators and nine internationally acclaimed illustrators from Switzerland, Poland and Italy for three days.

Hosted by the Book Buzz Foundation, LIFI was created to strengthen the illustration ecosystem in Nigeria, with a particular focus on children’s book illustration. Through workshops, portfolio clinics and networking sessions, the festival provides opportunities for emerging illustrators to develop their skills and explore different approaches to visual storytelling. 

In her opening speech festival organiser and Director Book Buzz Foundation, Lola Shoneyin, said, “last year, we invited illustrators from Spain, Slovenia and Latin America, along with 45 young Nigerian artists to take part in an experiment.”

She noted that the turnout this year “is proof that with a good idea, the right network and a lot of passion, much can be achieved.”

Shoneyin whose idea of a festival of such nature was inspired by a children book festival in Bologna, Italy, said she was led first to build a community of talented illustrators, create opportunities for work through networking, and help build a professional pipeline for children’s book illustrators in Nigeria.”

For this year’s international illustrators, there are Milly Miljkovic, an illustrator, visual artist, and lecturer at CISA in Lugano. Her research investigates perception across form, space and colour, bridging digital technologies with a deliberate return to manual practices and mixed media experimentation.

Sophie Hofmann, a Swiss illustrator, focuses on children’s picture books, illustration commissions and observing everyday’s moments and emotions, which she turns into illustrations.

Sonya Trolliet, also from Switzerland, works on ideas that revolve around awkwardness, a sense of otherness, and power dynamics. Experimentation plays a central role in her visual exploration.

For Zosia Frankowska, an illustrator of graphic books, she is interested in birds. She leads nature walks and workshops devoted birds while Zosia Dzierżawska is an illustrator and comics author with a passion for storytelling, history and architecture.

Also involved is Joanna Rusinek from Poland who has illustrated more than 100 books; Giulia Orecchia, who likes to explore the expressive potential of images and their role in engaging young audiences.

Giulia also leads workshop for children, adults and individuals experiencing mental health challenges; Cynthia Alonso is an Argentine-Italian whose work reflects a deep love of visual storytelling, blending tenderness, nostlgia,and curiosity with a strong sense of narrative. Her books explore emotional depth with warmth and sensitivity, creating stories that resonate with readers of all ages. Elenia Beretta, from Italy, is co-founder of Picturebooks Berlin and organises Drawing Nights Berlin, a monthly drawing event.

Between the first edition and now, when the Nigeria Picture Book project began, over 20 spmeting books have been made to fill in the gap. Already, plans are afoot to present 20 of such picture books, written and illustrated by Nigerians on October 7 in Abuja.

“Some of the illustrators in those books were with us at the first LIFI,” she said.

This year, the BBF Children’s Book Awards will be holding with two new yearly honours: The Mabel, named after Mabel Segun, which recognises excellence in children writing and The Bruce, named for Bruce Onobrakpeya, celebrates excellence in children’s book illustration.

Shoneyin admonished the 36 participants this year to improve their craft, learn discipline, because talent is everywhere, but commitment is rare.

She said, “you are not here merely to become good enough for the nigerian market. You are here to become impossible for the global market to ignore.”

The festival is supported by the Lagos State government, EUNIC Spaces of Culture, the EUNIC Cluster in Nigeria, Sterling Bank, the Italian Embassy, Pro Helvetia, the Embassy of Poland, the University of Lagos and Yaba College of Technology.