… targets Africa’s premier sports tourism festival
Lagos State has unveiled plans for the inaugural Lagos Grand Horse Race 2026, a three-day sports, tourism and cultural festival, as organisers seek to position the state as Africa’s leading destination for horse racing and sports tourism.
Speaking at a media briefing in Lagos, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs Oloruntoyin Bopo Oyekan-Ismaila, said the initiative aligns with the state’s vision of leveraging sports, culture and entertainment to drive tourism and economic development.
Represented by the Director of Administration and Human Resources in the ministry, Mr Taoreed Dosunmu, the Permanent Secretary noted that the event would serve as a major platform for showcasing Lagos as a global tourism destination while creating economic opportunities for businesses and residents.
According to her, the Lagos Grand Horse Race 2026 is designed to combine sports, fundraising, music, fashion, food and cultural exhibitions, making it a unique attraction for visitors from within and outside Nigeria.
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She said the event is expected to generate significant economic activities for hotels, restaurants, transport operators, artists, tour operators and other stakeholders in the hospitality and tourism value chain.
“The Lagos Grand Horse Race will provide a significant boost to tourism, culture and the economy. It will also strengthen destination branding and reinforce Lagos’ position as Africa’s leading destination for sports and cultural activities,” she said.
Oyekan-Ismaila added that the initiative forms part of the government’s broader strategy to promote tourism through public-private partnerships and innovative cultural events.
The Convener of the Lagos Grand Horse Race, Femi Fashoro, described the initiative as a transformative project aimed at redefining the perception of sports, tourism, culture and enterprise in Lagos and Nigeria.
He said the event was conceived to establish Africa’s premier horse racing, cultural and entertainment festival while creating new economic opportunities for the state.
“The Lagos Grand Horse Race was born from a simple ambition: to create Africa’s premier horse racing, cultural and entertainment festival, and to position Lagos as a global destination for sports tourism and lifestyle experiences,” Fashoro said.
He noted that Lagos was selected because of its reputation as Africa’s creative and commercial hub, adding that the state possesses the innovation, resilience and global appeal required to host an international horse racing festival.
Drawing comparisons with renowned horse racing destinations such as Dubai, Kentucky, Ascot and Melbourne, Fashoro said Nigeria deserved a globally recognised horse racing event capable of driving tourism and economic growth.
According to him, the festival will go beyond sport by serving as a platform for economic diversification, youth empowerment, agricultural development and private sector investment.
The 2026 edition, themed “Race Into The Future”, will feature world-class horse racing, ceremonial parades, cultural performances, fashion showcases, food festivals, exhibition zones, VIP hospitality villages and nightly entertainment.
Traditional horsemen from different parts of Nigeria are also expected to participate, showcasing the country’s equestrian heritage alongside modern entertainment, technology and media experiences.
Fashoro said organisers expect the event to increase hotel occupancy, stimulate spending across the hospitality, transport and food sectors, create employment opportunities and provide global media exposure for Lagos.
He projected attendance of tens of thousands of visitors and millions of impressions across television, digital and social media platforms worldwide.
The convener also invited investors and corporate organisations to partner with the initiative through various sponsorship categories, including Title, Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze packages, each offering branding opportunities and hospitality benefits.
On safety, Fashoro assured participants that international standards would be maintained throughout the event, with medical personnel, emergency responders, veterinary professionals, security agencies, traffic managers and horse welfare experts deployed to ensure the safety of spectators and horses.
He announced that sponsorship applications, partnerships, media accreditation, rider registration, volunteer enrolment and vendor onboarding had officially commenced.
Fashoro expressed appreciation to the Lagos State Government, relevant ministries, security agencies, traditional institutions, corporate partners, investors and the media for supporting the initiative.
He described the Lagos Grand Horse Race as “a national institution in the making” and urged stakeholders across the public and private sectors to participate in what he said would become one of Nigeria’s flagship sports and tourism events.
