Lagos Arts and Health Festival 2026 to Reimagine City as Living Body

Lagos is set to be reimagined not just as a concrete metropolis, but as a vibrant, living entity through the Lagos Arts and Health Festival (LAHF) 2026. Themed 'Lagos as a Body – Creative Care in Action,' the festival aims to highlight the city's pulse as shaped by its inhabitants' emotions, creativity, labor, and collective care.

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There is a growing body of empirical research demonstrating that the arts are a powerful resource for human well-being.

The initiative, endorsed by the Lagos State Government's Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, and co-produced by several foundations and production houses, promises a diverse range of activities. These include mental health programming for youth, arts outreach in clinical and correctional settings, sensory and somatic workshops, farmers’ markets, live performances, and a citywide health fair. Beyond immediate engagement, LAHF seeks to foster long-term development through policy dialogues and research forums to integrate creative health into Lagos's future.

Dr. Kunle Adewale, Chair and Global Development Lead of the Global South Arts and Health Initiative, underscored the empirical evidence linking arts to well-being. "These creative engagements support emotional balance, reduce stress, and foster a sense of wholeness in individuals and communities," he stated, highlighting how activities like dancing, singing, and nature walks aid in relaxation and recovery.

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These creative engagements support emotional balance, reduce stress, and foster a sense of wholeness in individuals and communities.

Echoing this sentiment, Ms. Aisha Augie, LAHF Advisory Member and Director General of the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC), declared, "culture has always been Africa’s first system of care." She added that the festival's theme "returns the arts to their oldest work, holding communities together, tending to what hurts, and making wellbeing a shared inheritance rather than a private privilege for a few."

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culture has always been Africa’s first system of care.

Consultant Psychiatrist Dr. Gbonjubola Abiri noted that mental health flourishes in supportive environments, and LAHF provides a crucial platform to harness creativity and community for well-being. Co-Director Dr. Fola David posed a provocative question: "if Lagos were a patient sitting in front of us, how would we care for it?" This framing invites a deeper consideration of the city's health and the role of creative care in its future.

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With ‘Lagos as a Body,’ the festival returns the arts to their oldest work, holding communities together, tending to what hurts, and making wellbeing a shared inheritance rather than a private privilege for a few.