The Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) has announced its partnership with Ecobank Nigeria and Soto Gallery for the third consecutive year to host the 2026 edition of the +234 Art Fair, a major platform spotlighting Nigeria’s growing creative economy.
In a statement on Thursday, AFC said the four-day international exhibition, themed “Inclusivity,” will hold from March 5 to March 8 at the Ecobank Pan-African Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos.
According to the organisers, the theme reflects a shared commitment to broadening access within the creative sector, strengthening entrepreneurship, and promoting wider participation across Nigeria’s contemporary art ecosystem.Ecobank completes $300m Eurobond Repayment
The fair positions art not only as cultural expression but also as a catalyst for economic diversification, youth empowerment, and cross-border trade.
The event will feature curated exhibitions, panel discussions, live art installations, masterclasses, workshops, and high-level networking sessions aimed at fostering deeper collaboration between the arts and finance communities.
It is expected to attract artists, collectors, investors, diplomats, cultural institutions, and business leaders from across Africa and beyond.Ecobank launches business app to drive SME growth in Nigeria
Commenting on the initiative, AFC President and CEO, Samaila Zubairu, said the corporation remains committed to championing platforms that unlock both the commercial and cultural value of Africa’s creative industries.
“Now in our third year of supporting the +234 Art Fair, AFC remains committed to championing platforms that unlock the commercial and cultural value of Africa’s creative industries,” he said, noting that the collaboration supports African artists in scaling their reach and retaining value on the continent.
Managing Director and Regional Executive of Ecobank Nigeria, Bolaji Lawal, said the bank recognises the transformative potential of the creative sector and is dedicated to enabling African creatives to access markets and opportunities locally and internationally.
Founder of Soto Gallery and Curator of the fair, Tola Akerele, described the event as more than an exhibition but a movement to amplify Nigerian voices and connect artists to broader markets.
She disclosed that hundreds of artworks have already arrived at the 2,000-square-metre venue in preparation for the exhibition.
Inspired by Nigeria’s international dialling code “+234,” the fair showcases both emerging and established artists while encouraging dialogue on the role of the creative economy in advancing sustainable development.
Event highlights include large-scale exhibitions, an art-focused bookstore, an immersive children’s creative space, curated culinary experiences, a VIP collectors’ lounge, and interactive masterclasses and workshops.
The +234 Art Fair has grown into one of Nigeria’s most influential cultural platforms. Across its 2024 and 2025 editions, it attracted over 18,000 visitors, with artist participation rising from 200 exhibitors in 2024 to 260 in 2025.
More than 1,100 artworks spanning painting, sculpture, photography, digital art, and children’s art were showcased over the two years, reinforcing its expanding impact within the creative community
