Make Music Lagos has unveiled plans for the 2026 celebration of World Music Day (Fête de la Musique), reaffirming its commitment to making music accessible to all while creating opportunities for artistic discovery, cultural exchange, and community engagement.
- +Make Music Lagos partners Alliance Française to celebrate World Music Day 2026
Hosted in collaboration with Alliance Française de Lagos and supported by the French Embassy in Nigeria, this year’s celebration will bring together artists, music professionals, cultural stakeholders and audiences for a series of activities culminating in the annual Shutdown Concert on June 21, World Music Day.
Hosted in collaboration with Alliance Française de Lagos and supported by the French Embassy in Nigeria, this year’s celebration will bring together artists, music professionals, cultural stakeholders and audiences for a series of activities culminating in the annual Shutdown Concert on June 21, World Music Day.
Celebrated in more than 1,000 cities across over 120 countries, the World Music Day is a global movement dedicated to encouraging free musical participation, supporting emerging talent, and using music as a tool for community engagement and cultural connection.
In Nigeria, Make Music Lagos has become one of the country’s most impactful music initiatives, creating platforms for live performance, music education, industry engagement, and artist development over the last decade.
This year’s programme features a diverse lineup of activities designed to engage different segments of the music ecosystem. Activities include the Songwriters’ Workshop which took place on June 12, and a full day of industry-focused programming on June 18, including the Music Business Conference (MBC), Album Listening Party and Catalogue Review Sessions.
The celebrations will culminate on June 21 with World Music Day and the Shutdown Concert, Lagos’ flagship public music celebration, bringing together established and emerging artists, live bands, music enthusiasts, and cultural stakeholders for a city-wide showcase of creativity and collaboration.
The 2026 Shutdown Concert will feature performances from some of Nigeria’s most celebrated artists, including Johnny Drille, Made Kuti, The Cavemen, Rotimi Keys, Dotti the deity and Ifé, alongside emerging talents and live performers from across the country.
Earlier in the year, Make Music Lagos officially kicked off its activities with the Battle of the Bands, a platform designed to spotlight and develop emerging live-performing talent. Following a highly competitive showcase, The African Folk Band, TÈMÍDÙN and The Royal Bards emerged as the top three finalists and will return to compete in the grand finale at the Shutdown Concert on World Music Day.
Speaking on this year’s celebration, Adeola Akinyemi, Director, Make Music Lagos, said, “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.”
Speaking, Regional Music Attachée for the French Embassy, Margaux Demeersseman, said, “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.”
As a longstanding cultural partner and co-convener of the initiative, Alliance Française de Lagos continues to play a central role in supporting cultural exchange, artistic collaboration, and community engagement through music. On his part, Director, Alliance Française de Lagos, Marc Brébant, noted, “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.”
Building on the success of previous editions, the World Music Day celebration 2026 is expected to further strengthen live music culture, support emerging talent and deepen public engagement with music across Lagos.
In 2025, the Shutdown Concert attracted over 5,000 attendees and featured performances from MI Abaga, Johnny Drille, Chike and Gaise Baba, reinforcing its position as one of the city’s most anticipated annual music celebrations.
With continued support from Alliance Française de Lagos, the French Embassy in Nigeria, Showgear Nigeria, Creative Industries Initiative For Africa (CIIFA), Lekan Bamidele and Co, Media partners and the wider creative community, World Music Day 2026 promises another memorable celebration of music’s ability to connect people, inspire creativity, and strengthen communities.
Make Music Lagos is the Nigerian edition of the global Make Music Day (Fête de la Musique) movement, a free annual celebration of music held every June 21 in over 1,000 cities across over 120 countries worldwide.
Since its launch in Nigeria in 2016, Make Music Lagos has created platforms that promote music discovery, artist development, cultural exchange and community engagement through live performances, educational programmes, collaborative projects and public music experiences.
