Design Week Lagos 2026 Explores Africa's Manufacturing Future with 180 New Ideas
Design Week Lagos is set to take place from 18 to 25 October 2026, under the theme Making a New Africa: From Material to Market, at the National Theatre Lagos and various locations throughout the city. This year's event will present 180 New Ideas, featuring more than 100 designers from diverse fields, categorized into five perspectives: Nigeria, the African diaspora, and the regions of Anglophone, Francophone, and Lusophone Africa, with contributions from 58 nations. The curatorial program is led by Norman Teague, alongside Nana Biamah-Ofosu, Ousmane Mbaye, and Júlio Rafael. The festival kicks off on 21 October with the IDEA Honours, honoring Lesley Lokko OBE, Marva Griffin, and Yinka Shonibare CBE, while Aliko Dangote will deliver the keynote address. Titi Ogufere highlights the importance of transforming ideas into tangible products and industries.
Key facts
- Design Week Lagos 2026 runs 18 to 25 October 2026 at the National Theatre Lagos and across the city
- The edition is titled Making a New Africa: From Material to Market
- 180 New Ideas features more than 100 designers, studios and innovators across five perspectives: Nigeria, the African diaspora, Anglophone Africa, Francophone Africa and Lusophone Africa
- The programme reaches participants, partners and audiences in 58 countries
- Norman Teague leads the curatorial programme with Nana Biamah-Ofosu, Ousmane Mbaye and Júlio Rafael
- IDEA Honours on 21 October recognise Lesley Lokko OBE, Marva Griffin and Yinka Shonibare CBE, with plaques by Demas Nwoko
- Aliko Dangote delivers the Industry Forum opening keynote
- Made by Design marks its tenth anniversary and the Design Museum Africa pre-launches at the Yoruba Museum
Entities
Artists
- Titi Ogufere
- Norman Teague
- Nana Biamah-Ofosu
- Ousmane Mbaye
- Júlio Rafael
- Lesley Lokko
- Marva Griffin
- Yinka Shonibare
- Demas Nwoko
- Aliko Dangote
- Jomo Tariku
- Tosin Oshinowo
- Olayinka Dosekun-Adjei
- Jeffrey Adjei
- Adeyemo Shokunbi
- Adaora Enwonwu
- Athanasius Johnson
- Richard A. Aina
- Olaoluwa AJ Durotoye
- Nicole Adaora Enwonwu
- Myles Igwebuike
- Odema Acacia Saleh
- Joan Eric Udorie
Institutions
- Design Week Lagos
- National Theatre Lagos
- Norman Teague Design Studios
- SaloneSatellite
- Dangote Group
- Studio Contra
- Polar Bear Studios
- Yale
- Royal College of Art
- Yoruba Museum
- Design Museum Africa
- Made by Design
- Venice Architecture Biennale
- IDEA Honours
- IDEA Awards
- Artplugged
- Salone del Mobile Milano
- International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers (IFI)
- Africa Design Network
- Essential Media Group
- National Theatre, Lagos
- Paris Design Week
- London Design Festival
Locations
- Lagos
- Nigeria
- Chicago
- United States
- Milan
- Italy
- Paris
- France
- London
- United Kingdom