2026 Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Day: Lagos Declares Thursday Work-Free As Residents Celebrate Yoruba Heritage

The Lagos State Government has declared Thursday, August 20, 2026, a work-free day for public servants, political appointees, and other residents as the state joins millions of people in celebrating the 2026 Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Day.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Idris Aregbe, announced the declaration on Wednesday, describing Ìṣẹ̀ṣe as a living expression of Yoruba tradition and spirituality.

Aregbe said the celebration is expected to attract more than three million traditional worshippers and participants across Lagos, describing the state as a global centre for Yoruba heritage.

“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,” Aregbe said.

He noted that Ìṣẹ̀ṣe traditions have continued to thrive among Yoruba communities outside Africa, including in Cuba, Brazil and the Caribbean.

According to him, the Lagos celebration will form part of a wider global expression of Yoruba heritage, with traditional activities also connecting communities across the diaspora.

Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Day marks the culmination of a week-long programme of traditional activities and 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 Olusola Sanwo-Olu has maintained the declaration annually as part of his administration’s commitment to indigenous values and religious inclusiveness under the THEMES+ Agenda.

The 2026 celebration will feature prayers, rituals, processions, traditional drumming and cultural displays dedicated to the Òrìṣà. The Association of African Traditional Religion Nigeria and Overseas (AATREN) is coordinating activities.

Aregbe urged participants to observe the celebrations peacefully and respectfully, stressing that the event reflects Lagos’ diverse cultural and religious heritage.

The Special Adviser also acknowledged the role of traditional rulers, cultural custodians, Babaláwo, Ìyánífá, Olóòrìṣà and other stakeholders in preserving Yoruba traditions.

He described the celebration as an opportunity for Lagos to reaffirm its position as a city where different cultural and religious traditions can coexist.