By Esther Onyegbula

Make Music Lagos, in partnership with Alliance Française de Lagos and with support from the French Embassy in Nigeria, has unveiled plans for the 2026 edition of World Music Day (Fête de la Musique), with organisers promising a city-wide celebration aimed at promoting music accessibility, artistic discovery and cultural exchange.

The annual event, celebrated in over 1,000 cities across more than 120 countries, will culminate in the highly anticipated Shutdown Concert on June 21, bringing together leading Nigerian music stars, emerging talents, industry professionals and music enthusiasts in Lagos.
Speaking on the significance of the initiative, Director of Make Music Lagos, Adeola Akinyemi, said the platform has continued to create opportunities for artists while strengthening Nigeria’s music ecosystem.

According to him, “Make Music Lagos continues to serve as a platform where creativity, community and opportunity intersect. Every year, we create spaces for artists to be discovered, for audiences to experience music in new ways and for industry stakeholders to come together in meaningful conversation.
“Our vision remains simple; to make music accessible to everyone while creating opportunities that strengthen the ecosystem.”

The 2026 programme, according to organisers, features a series of activities designed to engage different stakeholders within the music industry. The celebrations commenced with a Songwriters’ Workshop held on June 12, while a Music Business Conference, Album Listening Party and Catalogue Review Sessions are scheduled for June 18.

The festivities will peak on June 21 with World Music Day and the Shutdown Concert, widely regarded as Lagos’ flagship public music celebration.

This year’s concert will feature performances from some of Nigeria’s most celebrated music acts, including Johnny Drille, Made Kuti, The Cavemen, Rotimi Keys, Dotti the deity and Ifé, alongside emerging performers from across the country.
Organisers said the event is expected to further strengthen live music culture and provide a platform for collaboration among artists and industry stakeholders.

Also speaking, Regional Music Attachée for the French Embassy, Margaux Demeersseman, described the partnership with Make Music Lagos as a shared commitment towards advancing the music sector.

“With Make Music Lagos, we share a common vision of bringing to life initiatives that are truly transformative for the music sector. There is no better moment than the Fête de la Musique to advance this vision and bring together artists, audiences, and industry key players where everyone finds their stage,” she said.

A major highlight of this year’s event is the grand finale of the Battle of the Bands competition, which was launched earlier in the year to identify and nurture emerging live-performing talents.

Following a competitive selection process, The African Folk Band, TÈMÍDÙN and The Royal Bards emerged as the top three finalists and are expected to compete for top honours during the Shutdown Concert.

As a longstanding cultural partner and co-convener of the initiative, Alliance Française de Lagos said it remains committed to fostering artistic collaboration and cultural exchange through music.

Director of Alliance Française de Lagos, Marc Brébant, said World Music Day remains one of the world’s most powerful cultural celebrations.
“World Music Day represents one of the most powerful celebrations of culture, creativity, and community across the world. We are proud to support a movement that encourages participation, artistic expression, and cultural exchange, while bringing people together through the shared experience of music,” he said.

Organisers noted that the event has grown significantly over the years, becoming one of Nigeria’s most impactful music initiatives through its focus on live performances, music education, artist development and industry engagement.

The growth of the initiative was evident in 2025 when the Shutdown Concert attracted more than 5,000 attendees and featured performances by MI Abaga, Johnny Drille, Chike and Gaise Baba.

Building on the success of previous editions, stakeholders expressed optimism that the 2026 celebration would deepen public engagement with music while creating new opportunities for emerging talents.

The event is supported by Alliance Française de Lagos, the French Embassy in Nigeria, Showgear Nigeria, Creative Industries Initiative For Africa, Lekan Bamidele and Co, media partners and other stakeholders within the creative industry.

Make Music Lagos is the Nigerian edition of the global Make Music Day (Fête de la Musique) movement, a free annual music celebration held every June 21 across more than 1,000 cities in over 120 countries. Since its launch in Nigeria in 2016, the initiative has promoted music discovery, cultural exchange, artist development and community engagement through performances, educational programmes and public music experiences.