ART X Lagos Enters Its Second Decade, Reflecting on African Modernism and the Future of Contemporary Art
Founded by Tokini Peterside-Schwebig in 2016, the West African art fair returns this November with 15 exhibitors and a programme connecting cultural heritage, contemporary practice and the next generation of African artists.
As ART X Lagos prepares to open its 11th edition from 5 to 8 November 2026 at the Federal Palace in Lagos, the fair finds itself at a significant moment in its institutional history. Having celebrated its tenth anniversary last year, the organisation enters a new decade with a programme that looks both backwards and forwards, exploring the relationship between African cultural inheritance, artistic innovation and the future of the continent's creative industries.
Under the theme A New Chapter, A New Decade, this year's edition draws inspiration from Nigerian modernism and the generations of artists, architects and cultural thinkers who challenged inherited artistic hierarchies by developing new visual languages rooted in local knowledge and traditions.
The theme also raises a broader question for Africa's contemporary art ecosystem: how can cultural institutions build sustainable futures while remaining connected to the histories that shaped them?
Established in 2016 by Nigerian cultural entrepreneur Tokini Peterside-Schwebig, ART X Lagos emerged at a time when international interest in contemporary African art was expanding, but opportunities for artists and galleries to engage collectors and institutions within the continent remained uneven. Rather than positioning Lagos simply as another destination on the international art calendar, ART X Lagos sought to create a platform rooted in the city's own cultural energy.
Over the past decade, the fair reports having attracted artists and galleries from more than 70 countries and participants from 170 nations worldwide. Its development has also extended beyond the conventional commercial art fair model. Through ART X Talks, ART X Live!, ART X Cinema, the ART X Prize and professional development initiatives, the organisation has developed a multidisciplinary programme connecting artistic production with education, performance, film and critical dialogue.
The 2026 edition will feature 15 galleries across its Main and Spotlight sections. Participating galleries include Nigeria's kó, Nike Art Gallery, Affinity Art Gallery and SMO Contemporary Art, alongside Afriart Gallery from Uganda, Gallery 1957 from Ghana and TAFETA from the United Kingdom. The Spotlight section will feature Adegbola Gallery, Nomadic Art Gallery and Windsor Gallery, providing focused presentations by emerging Nigerian galleries.
One of the edition's central presentations is Ladi Kwali: Beyond the Vessel, an exhibition dedicated to pioneering Nigerian ceramic artist Ladi Kwali (1925–1984). Conceived by curator Dr Jareh Das, the exhibition brings together ceramics, archival materials and works by other women potters to reconsider Kwali's contribution to modern artistic practice and the transmission of cultural knowledge.
Ten years after its founding, ART X Lagos occupies an established position within the continent's cultural calendar. The fair's 2026 theme suggests that its future will be shaped not only by its international ambitions, but also by a renewed engagement with the artistic histories and intellectual traditions of the continent.
ART X Lagos takes place from 5 -8 November 2026 at the Federal Palace, Lagos, Nigeria. Further information is available at https://www.artxlagos.com/
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