The Lagos Advertising and Ideas Festival, LAIF, will hold its 21st edition on November 27 and 28, 2026, with organisers unveiling a new governing board and outlining plans to position the awards as a stronger platform for recognising creative excellence across Nigeria and Africa.
The milestone edition, themed Glitch to Great, was announced during a media briefing in Ikeja, Lagos, where leaders of the advertising and marketing communications industry presented the festival’s new leadership and shared plans for expanding its influence beyond Nigeria. The event also confirmed that entries for this year’s awards will open in August after the completion of technical preparations.
Speaking at the briefing, the Advertising Association of Nigeria, AAAN, said the festival’s focus has evolved beyond celebrating local achievements to building a globally respected benchmark for creative excellence. Brandspur Brand News reports that industry stakeholders believe the next phase of LAIF will require stronger innovation, higher creative standards and greater continental recognition for Nigerian agencies.
The newly appointed board will be chaired by Funke Adekola, Managing Director of Dentsu Creative, alongside Vice Chairman Jumoke Akinyemi. According to the organisers, the board brings together representatives from agencies, media organisations and client businesses to strengthen transparency, commercial relevance and stakeholder confidence as the festival enters its third decade.
Organisers also revealed that the Young LAIFers and UniLAIFers competitions will return during the awards week to provide opportunities for emerging professionals and university students to showcase their creative abilities, reinforcing the festival’s commitment to talent development.
Industry leaders said the anniversary edition represents more than a celebration of LAIF’s history, describing it as the beginning of a new phase aimed at increasing regional participation, attracting more international recognition and establishing Lagos as a leading destination for creative advertising excellence in Africa.
