By Ayomide Otitoju
Ecobank Nigeria, in partnership with Soto Gallery, has announced plans to host the third edition of the +234 Art Fair, scheduled to take place from March 5 to 8, 2026, at the Ecobank Pan-African Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The announcement comes as Ecobank Nigeria also rolls out a new edition of its Super Rewards Campaign in celebration of the Ecobank Group’s 40th anniversary, reinforcing the bank’s long-standing support for entrepreneurship, culture and creative industries across Africa.
The 2026 edition of the +234 Art Fair is themed “Inclusivity,” reflecting the shared commitment of Ecobank and Soto Gallery to creative entrepreneurship, equitable access and the intentional expansion of opportunities within Nigeria’s contemporary art ecosystem.
Since its inception, the +234 Art Fair has grown into one of Lagos’ leading contemporary art platforms, with a strong emphasis on emerging and often ungalleried Nigerian artists. The fair has become a vital gateway for connecting local talent to collectors, patrons, cultural institutions and global audiences, while contributing to the growth of Nigeria’s creative economy.
Speaking on the upcoming edition, Founder of Soto Gallery and Curator of the +234 Art Fair, Tola Akerele, said the theme underscores a deliberate effort to broaden representation and visibility within the art space.
“Inclusivity is about opening doors wider and changing who gets seen, supported, and celebrated,” Akerele said. “We are already receiving exceptional works from artists who might otherwise not have access to platforms like this. The application remains open, and I encourage Nigerian artists to seize this opportunity to be recognised among the continent’s finest.”
Also commenting, Omoboye Odu, Head of SME Partnerships and Collaborations at Ecobank Nigeria, described the 2026 fair as a strategic intervention aimed at reshaping how Nigerian creativity is discovered, supported and sustained.
“For the third edition of the +234 Art Fair, we celebrate inclusivity as both a principle and a practice,” Odu said. “Art belongs to everyone. This fair intentionally broadens the frame—moving beyond traditional centres of access to spotlight talent from the margins, new geographies and voices that deserve to be heard.”
She added that the fair is designed to build a more equitable creative future by encouraging artists who challenge perspectives and work outside established systems to take advantage of the platform.
The 2026 +234 Art Fair is expected to attract a diverse audience, including art enthusiasts from across Nigeria, members of the African diaspora, senior government officials, policymakers, the diplomatic community, collectors and global art lovers.
