2026 Isese Day: Lagos State Declares Thursday Work-Free-Day

The Lagos State Government has declared work-free-day for tomorrow, being Thursday, August 20, for the celebration of the 2026 Isese Day.

The Isese Day celebration marks the largest single gathering of traditional worshippers anywhere in the world, with over three million residents of Lagos expected to observe the ceremonies.

Governor BABAJIDE SANWO-OLU’s Special Adviser on Tourism, Arts and Culture, IDRIS AREGBE, announced the holiday in a statement.

AREGBE said Isese is a living expression of traditions and a celebration of Yoruba spirituality, which he described as an important part of Nigeria’s cultural and religious landscape.

He said the Isese Day celebration is observed by more than fifty-five million people all over the world, including Cuba, Brazil, and the Caribbean, with Yoruba ancestry.

The Governor’s Special Adviser said the Isese Day celebration in Lagos will feature prayers, rituals, processions, and cultural displays, coordinated by the Association of African Traditional Religion Nigeria and Overseas.