Organisers of Make Music Lagos have unveiled plans for the 2026 edition of World Music Day (Fête de la Musique), reaffirming their commitment to promoting music accessibility, cultural exchange and talent development across Nigeria.
The initiative, organised in partnership with the Alliance Française de Lagos and supported by the French Embassy in Nigeria, will feature a series of events leading up to the annual Shutdown Concert scheduled for June 21.
World Music Day, celebrated in more than 1,000 cities across over 120 countries, encourages public participation in music and provides platforms for emerging talents and cultural collaborations.
This year’s programme began with a Songwriters’ Workshop on June 12 and will continue with a full day of industry activities on June 18, including the Music Business Conference, Album Listening Party and Catalogue Review Sessions.
The celebrations will culminate with the highly anticipated Shutdown Concert, regarded as Lagos’ flagship public music event, bringing together established stars, emerging talents, live bands and music enthusiasts.
The 2026 edition will feature performances from acclaimed Nigerian artists, including Johnny Drille, Made Kuti, The Cavemen, Rotimi Keys, Dotti the Deity and Ifé.
Earlier this year, Make Music Lagos also hosted its Battle of the Bands competition aimed at discovering and nurturing emerging live performers. The finalists — The African Folk Band, TÈMÍDÙN and The Royal Bards — will battle for the top prize during the grand finale at the Shutdown Concert.
Speaking on the forthcoming celebration, Make Music Lagos Director, Adeola Akinyemi, said the platform continues to create opportunities for artists, audiences and industry stakeholders to connect and thrive.
“We create spaces for artists to be discovered and for audiences to experience music in new ways while strengthening the entire ecosystem,” Akinyemi stated.
Regional Music Attachée for the French Embassy, Margaux Demeersseman, said the partnership shares a vision of transforming the music industry and bringing together artists, audiences and key industry players through World Music Day.
Director of Alliance Française de Lagos, Marc Brébant, described World Music Day as one of the world’s most powerful celebrations of creativity and community, noting that the initiative promotes artistic expression and cultural exchange.
Building on the success of previous editions, organisers expect the 2026 celebration to further boost live music culture and public engagement in Lagos. The 2025 Shutdown Concert attracted more than 5,000 attendees and featured performances by M.I Abaga, Johnny Drille, Chike and Gaise Baba.
Since its launch in Nigeria in 2016, Make Music Lagos has grown into one of the country’s leading music platforms, promoting artist development, music education and cultural engagement through live performances and collaborative projects.
