The Lagos State Government has declared Thursday, August 20, 2026, a work-free day for residents to celebrate this year’s Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Day, with more than three million traditional worshippers expected to take part in events across the state.
The announcement was made on Wednesday by the Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Idris Aregbe.
Aregbe said the decision was aimed at giving Lagosians and visitors the opportunity to fully participate in the week-long cultural and spiritual activities marking the annual celebration.
But the government stressed that Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Day goes beyond simply having a day off work, describing it as a major celebration of Yoruba spirituality, culture and identity.
Aregbe said Ìṣẹ̀ṣe remained a living tradition rather than a relic of the past, with Yoruba cultural practices continuing to thrive among millions of people across the world.
“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,” he said.
He said the global Yoruba population was estimated at more than 55 million, noting that descendants of Yoruba people had also kept the traditions alive in places such as Cuba, Brazil and the Caribbean.
According to him, Lagos would effectively become the global focal point of the celebration when traditional activities peak on Thursday.
“When the drums sound in Lagos on Thursday, they answer drums in Havana, in Salvador, in Port of Spain. Fifty-five million people and counting. Lagos is not observing a local holiday. Lagos is standing at the centre of a global heritage,” Aregbe said.
The 2026 celebration marks the latest edition of a practice that has seen Lagos observe Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Day as a work-free day since 2023, following a request by the Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs.
Sanwo-Olu has continued the practice annually, with the state government linking it to its commitment to indigenous culture, heritage and religious inclusiveness under the THEMES+ development agenda.
Aregbe praised the governor for maintaining the tradition, saying his administration had demonstrated strong support for the preservation of indigenous heritage.
He also commended traditional rulers and cultural custodians, including the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu I, traditional chiefs, Babaláwo, Ìyánífá, Olóòrìṣà and others involved in preserving Yoruba traditions.
“Governments come and go. Custodians carry the culture,” Aregbe said.
The tourism adviser urged worshippers and other participants to celebrate peacefully and responsibly, saying the event should serve as a platform for cultural pride, unity and peaceful coexistence.
“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 was open to all Lagosians regardless of their religious background.
“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.
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