October brings plenty to see on Lagos’ art scene, from gallery exhibitions and photography shows to painting, mixed media, and other creative work. This month’s exhibitions explore Nigerian history, identity, memory, and everyday life, while also giving space to younger and emerging artists.

If you enjoy visiting galleries or simply want to spend a few hours looking at something new, here are 10 art shows and exhibitions to add to your October plans.

1. The Amalgamation: Woven by Diversity

Timed to coincide with Nigeria’s Independence anniversary, The Amalgamation: Woven by Diversity looks at the country’s history and diversity through visual and performing arts. Curated by Dr Mudiare Onobrakpeya, the exhibition revisits the 1914 amalgamation and its continuing place in conversations about Nigeria. It will feature visual works alongside other creative expressions, making it broader than a conventional gallery exhibition. The show runs throughout October, giving visitors plenty of time to see it.

Date: October 1–30, 2026
Location: The Art Hotel, Chief Yesufu Abiodun Oniru Road, Oniru, Victoria Island, Lagos
Admission: No public admission fee listed.

2. LOGOS & heART 2.0

LOGOS & heART 2.0 returns to the University of Lagos on October 10 with “A Foolish Old Story” as its theme. The event combines visual art with theatre, music, film, spoken word, fashion, worship, panel conversations and other creative forms. Its art exhibition will give artists an opportunity to interpret the theme visually, while the wider programme brings performers and other creatives together for a full-day experience. It is a particularly different option for people who want an art outing that extends beyond the traditional gallery setting.

Date: Saturday, October 10, 2026
Location: Main Auditorium, University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos
Time: From 11 am
Admission: Free; registration is compulsory.

3. What Is Given

What Is Given brings together artists from Nigeria and Ghana in an exhibition centred on inheritance, memory, identity, materiality and place. The artists featured are Omolola Coker, Emmanuel Ellis, Vincent Frimpong and Edward Prah, with additional works from Dr Myma Belo-Osagie’s private collection included in the Lagos presentation. The exhibition moves across painting, photography, sculpture and installation, offering different interpretations of what people inherit and how those things can be transformed.

Date: September 27–October 21, 2026
Location: Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art, Pan-Atlantic University, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos
Admission: No public admission fee listed.

4. Woven Realms

Ruth Ige’s Woven Realms continues at Kó Art Space in Ikoyi this October. The solo exhibition brings together paintings and works on paper inspired by African culture, mythology, history and imagined worlds. Ige works extensively with shades of blue, creating scenes that can suggest landscapes, water and night skies. Some of the works on paper incorporate West African indigo and dried leaves, adding a material connection to the ideas running through the exhibition. The show is open until the middle of October.

Date: September 10–October 17, 2026
Location: Kó Art Space, 36 Cameron Road, Flat 1A, Ikoyi, Lagos
Admission: No public admission fee listed.

5. Echoes of the Commute

Olumuyiwa Afolabi Olusola turns his attention to the ordinary journeys that shape life in Lagos in Echoes of the Commute. The artist’s third solo exhibition will feature 45 works, including what he describes as Nigeria’s largest watercolour painting, measuring eight by four feet. Rather than treating commuting simply as traffic and congestion, the exhibition considers the movement, waiting, encounters and memories contained within everyday journeys. It offers a chance to see a familiar part of Lagos life translated into watercolour.

Date: October 10–24, 2026
Location: Mydrim Gallery, 74 Norman Williams Street, South-West Ikoyi, Lagos
Admission: No public admission fee listed.

6. Epignosis I: Our Story First

Kokopelli Gallery marks its fifth anniversary with Epignosis I: Our Story First, bringing two generations of artists into the same exhibition. The show pairs established artist Gbolahan Ayoola with five artists from the gallery’s inaugural Once Upon a Time residency: Estifanos Gashaw, Vurzie Kimnaton, Victor Anachuna, Falhone Ogoun and Putin Bempong. Their works respond to the idea of African stories being told by Africans themselves. The exhibition uses a “call and response” approach, connecting established practice with newer voices from across the continent.

Date: September 12–November 8, 2026
Location: Kokopelli Gallery, 17 Ademola Street, off Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos
Admission: No public admission fee listed.

7. Until We Meet Again

Ka Ọ Dị Mgbe Anyi G’Afụ Ozo (Until We Meet Again) brings together Yusuff Aina, Ololade Lawal, Daniel Oruwhone, Ofem Ubi, Blessing Bulus and Oyewole Lawal at the Centre for Contemporary Art, Lagos. The exhibition considers personal and collective experiences through the work of six artists. Its programme also extends beyond simply viewing the works, with conversations and related activities connected to the exhibition. For visitors who want to explore contemporary art outside the commercial gallery circuit, the exhibition offers another option in Yaba.

Date: August 30–October 17, 2026
Location: Centre for Contemporary Art, Lagos, 9 McEwen Street, Sabo, Yaba, Lagos
Admission: Registration required; public admission fee not stated.

8. The Weight of Traces

At Soto Gallery, The Weight of Traces brings together Odama Paulcy, Ronke Komos, Lola Mariam Alli and Oluchi Anaghoba. The group exhibition considers the marks experiences leave behind, with four artists approaching ideas of memory, history and place through their individual practices. The exhibition is one of the shorter October options, so visitors will need to plan for the first part of the month. It is located in Ikoyi, making it possible to combine a gallery visit with other stops around the neighbourhood.

Date: September 13–October 10, 2026
Location: Soto Gallery, 10 Omo Osagie Street, Ikoyi, Lagos
Opening hours: 12pm–6pm
Admission: No public admission fee listed.

9. Borders & Other Myths

Borders & Other Myths brings together Cortney Herron, Chigozie Obi, Carine Mansan, Hamed Maiye, Myles Igwebuike and Ernest Amabibi at Affinity Gallery. The exhibition looks at borders not only as geographical boundaries but as ideas that can shape identity, belonging and how people understand places. With works by artists working across different practices, the group show offers several perspectives within one exhibition. It continues into the first 10 days of October, making it another early-month option for art lovers.

Date: September 13–October 10, 2026
Location: Affinity Gallery, Unit 2, 1–7 Muri Okunola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos
Admission: No public admission fee listed.

10. Visual Explorations VIII

Ogirikan Art Gallery returns with the eighth edition of its Visual Explorations series in October. The exhibition will showcase emerging West African artists, continuing the gallery’s focus on giving younger artists space to present their work. Unlike exhibitions that centre on a single artist or theme, the series offers visitors an opportunity to encounter different artistic approaches in one place. The exhibition opens later in the month and runs for less than two weeks, so it is one to keep in mind when planning an October gallery visit.

Date: October 19–30, 2026
Location: Ogirikan Art Gallery, Lagos
Admission: No public admission fee listed.