Timothy Omobude 
Over 15,000 visitors have been targeted for the 2026 Edo carnival as the momentum is getting higher and drums rolling out and the streets of the ancient city of Benin come alive with colours, costumes and the unmistakable energy of its youths, the 14-day spectacle will be more than a carnival. It will be a statement of identity — and an invitation to the world to experience the history, creativity and commercial possibilities of Edo State.
The much anticipated event is part of effort by Edo State Government moves to build on the foundation laid by last year’s maiden edition and transform the annual celebration into a major cultural and economic platform.
The carnival with the theme, Spirit of Edo, will be hold between December 13 and 26, at the Carnival Village at Garrick Memorial Ground, Ekehuan Road, Benin City, Edo State capital. Organisers are targeting 15,000 visitors at the carnival.
Briefing journalists in Lagos on Thursday to formally commence preparations, Edo State Commissioner for Finance and Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Planning Committee, Emmanuel Okoebor, said the government was determined to deliver a carnival that would reflect the depth of Edo’s heritage while presenting a modern and forward-looking state to Nigeria and the world.
The 2026 edition is organised in partnership with Dan Eromosele led Peak Rendezvous Entertainment Global Limited and the Edo State Government. While Peak Rendezvous is expected to bring its creative and organisational expertise to the event, the government, through the inter-ministerial committee, will provide institutional coordination and support.
For Okoebor, however, the carnival is not simply about entertainment. It is about turning culture into an economic asset. Edo’s history, traditions, arts and craftsmanship, he noted, provide a powerful foundation for a celebration capable of attracting visitors and stimulating economic activity across several sectors.
Hotels, restaurants, transport operators, fashion designers, food vendors, artisans, entertainers and other businesses, he explained, all stand to benefit when the state attracts visitors for the carnival.
“When visitors come into Edo State, they stay in our hotels. They patronise our restaurants. They use our transport system. They purchase from our vendors and experience our communities,” he said.
The government’s vision, therefore, extends beyond staging an annual parade. It is to create an enduring cultural brand that Edo people can claim as their own and that visitors will anticipate year after year.
The committee is expected to work with traditional institutions, cultural groups, creative practitioners, private-sector partners, entertainers, hospitality operators, local businesses, security agencies and residents.
Okoebor stressed that the carnival must not be designed exclusively within government offices, but should reflect the creativity and diversity of Edo’s people.
He also pledged that accountability and value for money would remain central to the planning process, with the government seeking partnerships and sponsorships to expand the carnival’s reach while ensuring prudent deployment of public resources.
As preparations gather momentum, the 2026 Edo Carnival is shaping up as an attempt to bridge heritage and enterprise — preserving the story of where Edo has come from while using culture to create opportunities for the future.
“The 2026 Edo Carnival will celebrate where we have come from, showcase who we are today, and present to the world the Edo State we are building for tomorrow,” Okoebor said.
Edo State Commissioner for Culture and Creative Economy counterpart Hon. Chris Okaeben assured that within the cultural and creative economy space in the state much is happening, adding that under his stewardship as a commissioner for arts, culture and the creative economy there’s so much to do. “Our ground is fertile. The spaces are valuable. There’s so much to export from Edo State. Culture is not just all about entertainment. It’s not all about jamboree. It’s about transferring knowledge from one generation to another,” he noted.
The carnival will feature food festival, music talent hunt, carol night, Bikers carnival, children’s carnival, cultural carnival, boat regatta, international carnival, Art and craft exhibition, Miss Edo Carnival Queen pageant, music concert and fashion show. Also on parade are six Idia Band, Phoenix Band, Heritage Band, Bronze Band, Dynasty Band and Igodomigodo Band.
The Carnival Village has been thoughtfully designed as a vibrant, secure and well-organised entertainment destination, bringing together culture, tourism, entertainment, hospitality, commerce and a festive Christmas experience within an integrated venue. Among the sponsors of the carnival are First Bank, Premium Bank, and Guinness.
