The Lagos State Government has declared Thursday, August 20, 2026, a work-free day to enable residents to participate in activities marking the 2026 Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Day celebration.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Idris Aregbe, announced the development in a statement issued on Wednesday.
Aregbe said the declaration would allow residents and visitors to participate fully in the celebration, which is expected to attract more than three million traditional worshippers.
He described Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Day as more than a public holiday, saying it represents an important aspect of Yoruba spirituality and cultural 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.
According to him, the Yoruba people, estimated to number more than 55 million globally, have continued to preserve their traditions and pass them on to younger generations.
He added that Yoruba cultural practices have also remained significant in countries including Cuba, Brazil and parts of the Caribbean, where people of Yoruba descent live.
Aregbe said the celebration in Lagos reflects the global reach of Yoruba heritage.
“Lagos is not observing a local holiday. Lagos is standing at the centre of a global heritage,” he said.
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 Sanwo-Olu has continued the practice annually as part of his administration’s commitment to indigenous values and religious inclusiveness under the THEMES+ Agenda.
Aregbe commended the governor for supporting the celebration and also acknowledged traditional rulers and custodians of Yoruba culture for preserving the heritage.
He specifically recognised the contributions of the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu I, traditional chiefs, Babaláwo, Ìyánífá, Olóòrìṣà and other custodians of Yoruba traditions.
“Governments come and go. Custodians carry the culture,” Aregbe said.
The 2026 Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Day celebration will feature prayers, rituals, processions, drumming and cultural displays dedicated to the Òrìṣà. The activities will be coordinated by the Association of African Traditional Religion Nigeria and Overseas.
Aregbe urged participants to celebrate peacefully and respectfully, saying the event is intended to promote cultural pride and unity.
“Three million voices rising in honour of tradition is not noise. It is history, faith and cultural pride in harmony,” he said.
He added that the celebration is open to Lagos residents regardless of their religious affiliation, describing heritage as a shared cultural identity.
“Whether you worship in a mosque, a church or a grove, Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Day belongs to you, because heritage has no denomination. Lagos remains the city where every heritage finds its place,” Aregbe said.