LAGOS, NIGERIA — The Lagos Biennial is proud to announce that it will officially host the 26th Annual Board Meeting of the International Biennial Association (IBA). The prestigious event will take place this November, coinciding with the highly anticipated 5th edition of the Lagos Biennial.
An elite IBA delegation, led by IBA President Hoor Al Qasimi, will travel to Lagos to participate in the board meeting and immerse themselves in the biennial’s programming. This monumental gathering marks a significant moment for the African continent, positioning Lagos as a primary global hub for contemporary art and institutional dialogue.
The 2026 edition of the Lagos Biennial, running from November 14 to December 6, 2026, is themed The Museum of Things Unseen. Curated by Chinyere Obieze, Furen Dai, and Sam Hopkins under the artistic direction of Folakunle Oshun, this year’s iteration operates as a speculative, conceptual museum. It brings together a rare collection of hidden or excluded works to critically examine the global forces, historical biases, and political structures that shape contemporary art preservation and circulation.
The convergence of the IBA Board Meeting and the Lagos Biennial highlights the growing international significance of the West African art capital. Beyond the closed-door executive sessions, the visiting delegation of global curators, museum directors, and cultural practitioners will engage directly with local artists and institutions, fostering deeper transnational collaborations.
“We are thrilled to welcome President Hoor Al Qasimi and the entire IBA delegation to Lagos,” said Folakunle Oshun, Founder and Director of the Lagos Biennial. “Hosting the 26th Annual Board Meeting amidst The Museum of Things Unseen underscores our shared commitment to challenging traditional art canons and building more inclusive, global networks for contemporary art discourse.”
Further details regarding the schedule of public panels, international colloquiums, and the unveiling of the permanent Àkéte Collection will be released in the coming weeks.
