The Lagos State Government has declared Thursday, August 20, 2026, a work-free day to allow residents and visitors to participate in this year’s Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Day celebrations.
The state government said more than three million people are expected to participate in activities marking the annual celebration, which promotes Yoruba traditional religion, culture and indigenous heritage.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Idris Aregbe, announced the arrangement in a statement issued on Wednesday, describing Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Day as more than an ordinary public holiday.
Aregbe said the celebration represents a living expression of Yoruba traditions and spirituality, noting its significance within Nigeria’s broader cultural and religious landscape.
“Ìṣẹ̀ṣe is not a relic. It is a living expression of our traditions and a celebration of Yoruba spirituality as an important part of Nigeria’s cultural and religious landscape,” he said.
According to him, the Yoruba people, whose population is estimated at more than 55 million globally, have continued to preserve and transmit their cultural practices across generations.
He added that the observance of Yoruba traditions has extended beyond Nigeria, with Ìṣẹ̀ṣe celebrations also taking place among Yoruba communities and descendants in countries including Cuba, Brazil and parts of the Caribbean.
“When the drums sound in Lagos on Thursday, they answer drums in Havana, in Salvador, in Port of Spain. Fifty-five million people and counting. Lagos is not observing a local holiday. Lagos is standing at the centre of a global heritage,” Aregbe said.
The 2026 celebration marks the climax of a week-long programme of traditional activities. Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Day has been observed as a work-free day in Lagos since 2023, following a request by the Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has continued the practice annually as part of his administration’s commitment to promoting indigenous heritage and religious inclusiveness under the THEMES+ agenda.
Aregbe commended the governor for his support for the celebration and acknowledged the role of traditional rulers and cultural custodians in preserving Yoruba heritage.
He specifically recognised the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu I, other traditional rulers, White Cap Chiefs, Babaláwo, Ìyánífá, Olóòrìṣà and other custodians of Yoruba traditions.
The special adviser said this year’s programme would feature traditional prayers, rituals, processions, drumming and other cultural performances dedicated to the Òrìṣà. The activities will be coordinated by the Association of African Traditional Religion Nigeria and Overseas.
Aregbe urged participants to celebrate peacefully and respect people of different religious backgrounds.
He said the event was intended to showcase Lagos as a city where cultural and religious diversity can coexist.
“Three million voices rising in honour of tradition is not noise. It is history, faith and cultural pride in harmony. Whether you worship in a mosque, a church or a grove, Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Day belongs to you, because heritage has no denomination. Lagos remains the city where every heritage finds its place,” he said.
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