Design Week Lagos returns from 18 to 25 October 2026, with the National Theatre as its hub and activity spread across the city. The official opening is on 21 October. This year's theme, "Making a New Africa: From Material to Market", is about moving African design from idea to production and to products that can reach a market.
The festival was founded by Titi Ogufere. Its curatorial programme is led by Chicago designer Norman Teague, working with Nana Biamah-Ofosu, Ousmane Mbaye and Júlio Rafael on anglophone, francophone and lusophone perspectives.
The flagship Design + Innovation Exhibition presents "180 New Ideas" by more than 100 designers, studios and innovators: furniture, lighting, materials, textiles, product design, architecture and prototypes. A retrospective, "Demas Nwoko: A Living Legacy", looks at Demas Nwoko's architecture, art and design in the year he turns 90.
On 21 October, the IDEA Honours go to architect Lesley Lokko, SaloneSatellite founder Marva Griffin and artist Yinka Shonibare, with plaques designed by Demas Nwoko. Architects Tosin Oshinowo and Studio Contra are creating installations for the festival hub, and a pre-launch of a Design Museum Africa is planned at the Yoruba Museum.
The programme also includes an industry forum, talks, workshops, a student competition and research from five design schools, including Yale and the Royal College of Art. 2026 also marks ten years of Made by Design, the festival's trade platform for interiors, furniture and product design.
