The Lagos State Government has declared Thursday, August 20, 2026, a work-free day for public servants to enable residents, tourists, and traditional worshippers to participate fully in activities marking the 2026 Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Day celebration.
The decision was officially communicated in a state circular and confirmed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Hon. Idris Aregbe, in a statement issued on Wednesday, August 19, 2026. According to the directive issued on behalf of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, normal government business will resume on Friday, August 21, 2026, at 8:00 a.m.
Describing the Ìṣẹ̀ṣe celebration as a vital component of Yoruba spirituality and cultural identity, Hon. Idris Aregbe emphasized that the event goes far beyond a routine day off.
“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,” Aregbe stated. “When the drums sound in Lagos on Thursday, they answer drums in Havana, in Salvador, in Port of Spain… Lagos is standing at the centre of a global heritage.”
Aregbe commended Governor Sanwo-Olu for maintaining religious inclusiveness and upholding the administration’s THEMES+ agenda by continually supporting indigenous institutions. He also paid homage to traditional leaders, including the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu I, royal fathers, White Cap Chiefs, and traditional priests (Babaláwo, Ìyánífá, and Olóòrìṣà) for preserving these ancestral practices.
The work-free day marks the culmination of a week-long series of traditional rites, prayers, and cultural displays across the state.
Over three million traditional worshippers and visitors are expected to join the gathering, making it one of the largest single traditional cultural observances globally.
Celebrations will be hosted across major shrines, groves, and designated cultural arenas throughout Lagos, including prominent traditional centers in Lagos Island, Badagry, Ikorodu, Epe, and Ikeja.
The activities, which feature processions, sacred drumming, rituals, and cultural performances dedicated to the Òrìṣà are coordinated by the Association of African Traditional Religion Nigeria and Overseas (AATREN).
First observed as an official work-free day in Lagos in 2023 following requests from the Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs, Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Day continues to reflect the state’s commitment to preserving Yoruba heritage and fostering peaceful religious co-existence. State authorities have urged all residents and attendees to observe the day peacefully and respectfully.
