The Olokun Festival Foundation (OFF) has announced plans to host the 24th edition of the Olokun World Festival in Badagry, Lagos State, with more than 100,000 visitors and over 30 traditional rulers expected to participate in the cultural celebration.

The festival, scheduled for October 19 and 20, 2026, will take place at Kakanfo-Falola Beach, a developing tourism facility in Badagry.

Organisers said the event would bring together traditional institutions, cultural groups, tourists and participants from Nigeria and several countries to celebrate Yoruba heritage, spirituality and cultural identity.

In a statement signed by the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland and Chief Promoter of the Olokun Festival Foundation, Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams, the foundation said preparations were underway for activities leading to the festival’s grand finale on October 20.

The organisers described the annual gathering as an opportunity to preserve Yoruba traditions while promoting cultural tourism and economic activities in Badagry.

The Olokun World Festival centres on the cultural and spiritual traditions associated with Olokun, a deity linked to the deep sea in Yoruba traditional belief.

Within Yoruba religious and cultural traditions, Olokun is associated with the ocean, wealth, abundance and the mysteries of the natural world.

The festival brings these traditions into public view through ceremonial activities, artistic performances and community gatherings.

According to the foundation, the celebration is intended to strengthen cultural identity among Yoruba communities and provide an opportunity for visitors to learn about indigenous customs.

The organisers said the festival has developed into an international cultural gathering, attracting participants from within Nigeria and the diaspora.

They added that this year’s edition would feature traditional ceremonies, entertainment and other activities designed to showcase aspects of Yoruba heritage.

Although the main festival is scheduled for October 19 and 20, preliminary activities will begin on Tuesday, October 13.

According to the programme released by the foundation, the opening activity will be a prayer session at Oodua House in Ikeja, Lagos, beginning at 11 a.m.

A beauty pageant to select a new Miss Olokun will follow on Saturday, October 17, at 4 p.m.

The programme will continue on Monday, October 19, with Olosa Day at Kakanfo-Falola Beach in Badagry.

Activities scheduled for the day include a boat regatta at 2 p.m. and a midnight prayer session.

The foundation said members of the Oodua Peoples’ Congress (OPC) would participate in a special vigil associated with the traditional celebration.

According to the organisers, prayers will be offered for Nigeria, Yorubaland and Yoruba communities around the world.

The festival’s grand finale is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, October 20, at Kakanfo-Falola Beach.

The foundation said the final day would feature cultural and spiritual activities reflecting Yoruba traditions.

The Olokun Festival Foundation said it was expecting participants from several African, European and American countries.

According to the statement, groups from the Republic of Benin, Togo, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire had indicated plans to attend.

Other expected participants are from France, the United Kingdom, Brazil, the United States and countries in the Caribbean.

The foundation said the international participation reflected the festival’s appeal to people interested in Yoruba history, culture and traditional practices.

Yoruba cultural influences extend beyond West Africa, particularly to communities in parts of the Americas and the Caribbean where elements of African religious and cultural traditions have been preserved.

The organisers believe the gathering provides opportunities for cultural exchange between visitors from these communities and their counterparts in Nigeria.

However, the projected attendance of more than 100,000 people has not been independently verified.

The foundation also released a list of prominent personalities expected to attend the festival.

They include Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Toke Benson-Awoyinka.

Local government officials listed among the expected guests include the Chairman of Badagry Local Government Area, Babatunde Hunpe; Chairman of Badagry West Local Council Development Area, Rauf Kayode; and Chairman of Olorunda Local Council Development Area, Peter Ajose.

The organisers said more than 30 traditional rulers were expected to participate.

Among them is the Aholu of Kweme Kingdom, Oba Olalekan Sejiro James Henwa, Ogungbe Okiki Arolagbade II, who has been designated as the royal father of the day.

The Regent of Badagry, White Cap Chief Ajose Oloyede, Huji Tose II, Finhento of Badagry, was also listed among the traditional figures expected at the celebration.

The statement did not include separate confirmations from all the public officials and traditional rulers named.

The organisers said Kakanfo-Falola Beach, which hosted the event for the first time in 2025, would again serve as the venue.

The foundation described the beach as part of a broader effort to develop tourism infrastructure in Badagry.

According to the statement, plans for the site include recreational facilities, a hotel, a conference hall, a gymnasium and an Olympic-size swimming pool.

Other proposed facilities include a mini stadium and courts for sporting activities such as tennis and beach soccer.

The organisers said the development was intended to position the location as a destination for cultural events, recreation and tourism.

However, the foundation did not provide a completion timetable, investment value or detailed information about the current stage of construction.

Beyond its cultural significance, the foundation said the festival was expected to generate commercial activities for businesses operating in Badagry and surrounding communities.

Large cultural gatherings can create demand for accommodation, transport, food services, entertainment, crafts and other tourism-related activities.

The organisers claimed that the Olokun World Festival contributes hundreds of millions of naira annually to the local economy through tourism and associated spending.

However, no independent economic impact assessment or supporting financial data accompanied the announcement.

The foundation maintained that continued investment in cultural tourism could help create business opportunities while drawing attention to Badagry’s historical and cultural attractions.

The coastal town is already associated with heritage tourism, making it a location of interest for cultural events seeking to attract visitors from Nigeria and abroad.

Adams, who signed the announcement, invited Nigerians and international visitors to participate in the festival.

The foundation said the event was intended to promote cultural pride, unity and greater appreciation of Yoruba traditions.

It also expressed optimism that the 24th edition would attract increased participation from cultural groups, traditional institutions and visitors from the diaspora.

With activities scheduled to begin on October 13, organisers are preparing for the main celebrations at Kakanfo-Falola Beach on October 19 and 20.

The festival is expected to provide another opportunity for Badagry to showcase its cultural heritage while drawing attention to the role of traditional festivals in Nigeria’s tourism sector.