Lagos State is set to host what officials describe as one of the world’s largest gatherings of traditional worshippers on Thursday, August 20, 2026, as more than three million people are expected to participate in celebrations marking the 2026 Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Day.
To enable residents and visitors to fully participate in the festivities, the Lagos State Government has declared Thursday a work-free day for public servants, political appointees and other government employees.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Idris Aregbe, made this known in a statement issued on Wednesday, describing Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Day as far more than a public holiday.
“Ìṣẹ̀ṣe is not a relic. It is a living expression of our traditions and a celebration of Yoruba spirituality as an important part of Nigeria’s cultural and religious landscape,” Aregbe said.
He noted that the Yoruba are among Africa’s largest ethnic groups, with an estimated global population of more than 55 million, many of whom continue to preserve and pass their cultural traditions to younger generations.
According to him, the preservation of Yoruba culture over generations has also helped sustain Ìṣẹ̀ṣe festivals among Yoruba communities in countries including Cuba, Brazil and across the Caribbean.
“When the drums sound in Lagos on Thursday, they answer drums in Havana, in Salvador, in Port of Spain. Fifty-five million people and counting. Lagos is not observing a local holiday. Lagos is standing at the centre of a global heritage,” Aregbe said.
Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Day marks the culmination of a week-long programme of traditional activities across the state. Lagos has observed the occasion as a work-free day since 2023, following a request by the Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs.
Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has maintained the declaration annually as part of his administration’s emphasis on indigenous culture, heritage and religious inclusiveness under the THEMES+ development agenda.
Aregbe praised Sanwo-Olu for continuing to support the celebration and commended traditional rulers and practitioners for preserving Yoruba heritage.
“We thank His Excellency, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu. It takes real conviction for a leader to stand publicly with heritage, and he has done so without hesitation and without apology,” he said.
He also paid tribute to the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu I, other traditional rulers, White Cap Chiefs, Babaláwo, Ìyánífá, Olóòrìṣà and other custodians of Yoruba traditions.
“Governments come and go. Custodians carry the culture,” Aregbe said.
This year’s programme will include prayers, traditional rites, processions, drumming and cultural performances dedicated to the Òrìṣà. The activities will be coordinated by the Association of African Traditional Religion Nigeria and Overseas (AATREN).
Aregbe called on participants to observe the celebrations peacefully and respectfully, stressing that the event is intended to promote cultural pride and inclusiveness.
“Three million voices rising in honour of tradition is not noise. It is history, faith and cultural pride in harmony,” he said.
“Whether you worship in a mosque, a church or a grove, Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Day belongs to you, because heritage has no denomination. Lagos remains the city where every heritage finds its place.”
