Flavour Without Borders: GTCO returns with Africa’s premier food and drink festival

For three days this May, the Lagos coastline will transform into Africa’s most expansive culinary marketplace as the GTCO Food and Drink Festival returns for its 9th edition.

Far more than a seasonal fair, the festival has evolved into a high-octane economic engine, offering over 200 small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) a global stage to showcase their innovations—all at zero cost for stall participation.

This year’s theme, ‘Everything Food and Drink,’ signals a deepened focus on the entire value chain of the culinary arts. From the preservation of time-honored traditional recipes to the bold entry of contemporary global fusion, the festival is designed as a meeting point where culinary heritage intersects with modern market opportunities.

Segun Agbaje, Group CEO of GTCO Plc, views the event as a manifestation of the institution’s commitment to “innovation and enterprise.”

Ahead of the 2026 showcase, Agbaje noted that the platform’s true power lies in its ability to break barriers, using the universal language of food to build connections that transcend the event and drive long-term economic participation.

Over the years, the GTCO Food and Drink Festival has grown far beyond a seasonal celebration to become a culturally significant platform where food and drink serve as a meeting point for storytelling, innovation, and opportunity.

The Festival will feature 204 free retail stalls, showcasing the rich diversity and creativity of our food culture; from time-honoured traditional dishes preserved across generations, to bold contemporary interpretations of global cuisine, creating space for every flavour, every technique, and every craving to find expression.

Visitors can expect a rich programme featuring interactive masterclasses, live culinary demonstrations, food and wine tastings, and a vibrant marketplace showcasing small and medium-scale food businesses alongside established culinary brands.

In addition to its wide range of food and drink offerings, the GTCO Food and Drink Festival is renowned for its family-friendly atmosphere, with a well-equipped play area and a variety of engaging activities for children, ensuring an unforgettable experience for the whole family.

Speaking ahead of the 2026 edition, Agbaje, emphasized the Festival’s continued evolution as both a cultural and economic enabler: “The GTCO Food and Drink Festival has, over the years, become a living expression of what we stand for as an institution: innovation, opportunity, and enterprise that is accessible to all.

“What makes this platform special is not just its scale, but its humanity. It brings together people from different walks of life around something universal—food and drink—and in doing so, it breaks barriers and builds connections that extend far beyond the event itself.”

Since inception, the GTCO Food and Drink Festival has positioned itself as one of Africa’s most prominent culinary gatherings, attracting participation from across Nigeria and increasingly from the wider continent and diaspora.

Admission remains free and open to all, reaffirming the Festival’s commitment to accessibility as a consumer-focused event that brings people together through food, drink, culture, and enterprise.

The festival will hold from Friday, May 1st to Sunday, May 3rd, 2026, at GTCentre, Plot 1 Water Corporation Drive, Oniru, Victoria Island, Lagos.