Lagos Fringe Festival returns in 9th edition with ‘Let’s Play’ November 3 – 8
By Editor
“LAGOS Fringe Festival returns from November 3 to 8 and this year with the theme is ‘Let’s Play’, say organisers. “‘Let’s Play’ is an invitation, not a command. It’s the moment before the rules begin, when the stage is still empty and anything can happen. As curators, we’re taking that moment and stretching it across the entire festival. Six days of theatre, film, music, performance, mischief and magic across the city. The stage is set, the mask is on, and the only rule is, there are no rules!”
Festival Director, Kenneth Uphopho, who also doubles as the Managing Partner at Pawstudios Africa, producers of Lagos Fringe, shared his thoughts Lagos Fringe 2026 thus: ‘’Play is our oldest, most radical art form. It’s where laughter becomes strategy and the line between stage and crowd disappears completely. This year, in the light of present realities, we’re asking: What happens when artists treat the world as a playground? When performance becomes a game with stakes and not just dialogue? When audiences stop being spectators and become players? The shows and workshops at the Lagos Fringe this year will use games, role-play, improvisation, and spontaneity to crack open serious conversations about power, identity, and community with artists also researching how we live by playing with how we live.”
Some of the events featuring this year are Lagos Fringe Eat Drink fiesta, Christmas In November, Baddies In Bikini Pool Party, Family Day BBQ Pool Party, Rave, Lagos Fringe Opening, CentreStage, an open mic event, Y2K Party, Women in the Arts, Irie Vibes, Film screening, Fashion Show, Theatre including workshops (How to make money on Snapchat & YouTube as a content creator, AI prompt for video creation, Play Reading and Making a show workshop) and Founders Conversation.
Festival Producer and convener of Women In the Arts, Brenda Fashugba said, “We’re programming work that needs an audience to finish it. Work that trades perfection for participation. We’re not asking artists to be frivolous. We’re asking them to be free. So everyone should come ready to play. Bring your rules, your curiosity, your skepticism. Bring your body. The game starts when you arrive. There will be no sitting in the dark. It’s raw, open mics, daring stage experiments, electric visual takeovers, and yes, a massive pool party, too, You’re not invited to watch. You’re invited to play.”
The Lagos Fringe 2026 edition promises exciting activities in collaboration with J. Randle Centre, Freedom Park, Women In the Arts, Temple Productions and the British Council. With a multi-space and city takeover, the full programme unveiling for the festival will be published soon on the website: www.LagosFringe.com. Get tickets and festival passes for early bird access, line-ups, and venues.
The Country Director, British Council Nigeria, Donna McGowan (left); founder and Festival Director, Lagos Fringe, Kenneth Uphopho; Lagos Fringe participant from Brazil, Ble Souza and Co-Founder, Lagos Fringe and Convener Women In the Arts Collective, Brenda Fashugba at Lagos Fringe Festival 2025 opening ceremony
