GTCO set for food and drink festival

The upcoming 2026 GTCO Food and Drink Festival, announced this week at a press briefing in Victoria Island, Lagos, promises to be the most expansive yet. Organizers have confirmed the ninth edition will run from Friday, May 1 to Sunday, May 3, 2026, at the GTCentre. This year's theme, "Everything Food and Drink," underscores a commitment to showcasing the rich tapestry of global culinary expressions.

With over 6,000 vendor applications received, more than 200 participants have been granted free retail stalls to display a wide array of offerings, from traditional Nigerian fare to contemporary global dishes. This inclusive approach ensures a diverse representation of flavors and culinary techniques, creating a vibrant marketplace for both established brands and small, medium-scale food businesses.

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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.

Addressing past challenges, the organizers have collaborated with the Lagos State Government to enhance space, security, and safety for attendees. The festival's rich lineup includes interactive masterclasses, live culinary demonstrations, and tastings, solidifying its role as a significant cultural and economic event. Group Chief Executive Officer Segun Agbaje highlighted the festival's evolution as a platform that embodies the bank's values of innovation, opportunity, and enterprise, emphasizing its power to break down barriers and build connections through the universal language of food.

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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.