The 2026 Lagos International Theatre Festival (LITF) will take place in November, bringing together performers and productions from Nigeria, Kenya, Canada and Brazil for its third edition.

The wider festival programme will run from 9 to 15 November, with the main performance weekend scheduled for 14 and 15 November at the MUSON Centre in Lagos.

This year’s festival is themed “The Masks We Wear,” with the accompanying statement “The Stage Is Everywhere.”Organisers say the theme examines the different roles and identities people assume in everyday life, while encouraging audiences to see theatre beyond conventional performance spaces.

Launched in 2024, LITF has featured stage productions, experimental performances, emerging theatre-makers and discussions around the creative industries. Organisers say more than 25,000 people have attended its programmes since its inception.

The 2026 edition will feature an international line-up alongside productions from different parts of Nigeria.

Among the international works is Grand Theatre’s Under the Mango Tree from Canada, while productions from Kenya and Brazil will also feature in the programme.

Nigerian productions will come from Abuja, Abeokuta, Enugu and Lagos, with works including tHERapy, Monkey Laundry, Behind Closed Doors and Men-Oh-Pause.

The festival programme will also include selected productions from Atlantic Hall, Evergreen College and Christian International School.
LITF founder Bolanle Austen-Peters said this year’s theme was intended to encourage audiences to reflect on identity and the different roles people play in daily life.

“The Masks We Wear is a theme that speaks to all of us. We all play different roles in our lives, and theatre allows us to examine those roles, question them, and perhaps see ourselves differently,” she said.

“This year, we are also reminding audiences that theatre is not restricted to a theatre building. The stage is everywhere.”
Festival Director Vanessa Jev said the international line-up would expose audiences to a broader range of theatrical traditions and perspectives.

The festival will begin with a series of events across Lagos ahead of the main performance weekend.
Theatre Meets Food, hosted by Nigerian chef Hilda Baci, is scheduled for 9 November, followed by Embassy Nights on 10 and 11 November.

Conversations & Culture will take place on 12 November, while the festival’s Opening Night Gala is scheduled for 13 November.
The main theatre programme will then take place at the MUSON Centre on 14 and 15 November.

Founded by Nigerian theatre and film producer Bolanle Austen-Peters, LITF is supported by the Lagos State Government and international cultural partners.