Lagos is once again taking centre stage as the city readies itself for a creative explosion with the return of the 8th Lagos Fringe Festival, holding from November 18 to 23, 2025, at Freedom Park, Lagos Island.
The multi-disciplinary arts showcase, produced by PAWSTUDIOS Africa, promises to deliver an immersive experience that redefines the boundaries between art, culture, and technology.
Redefining Creativity Through “Hybrid Identities”
This year’s edition pulses to the theme “Hybrid Identities: Merging Boundaries,” a timely exploration of how heritage and innovation coexist in modern African art. From AI-powered performances to 3D-printed costumes, the festival challenges creators to explore what it means to belong in a world where technology and tradition are constantly converging.
In the words of the organisers, the 2025 edition isn’t just about entertainment—it’s about reclaiming creative identity in a rapidly digitising era. Artists, filmmakers, and performers from across Africa and the diaspora will experiment with storytelling forms that blur the line between human experience and technological expression.
Innovation Meets Expression
This year’s Creative Tech Workshop Series will push the boundaries of design and narrative, introducing participants to new-age tools like artificial intelligence, digital fabrication, and virtual reality. Attendees will witness firsthand how innovation is reshaping production design, sound, and performance.
Lights, Camera, Recognition — The Lagos Fringe Film Awards
For the first time, the festival will honour cinematic excellence through the Lagos Fringe Film Awards, spotlighting emerging and established filmmakers across short films, documentaries, and experimental cinema. It’s a celebration of African storytelling that transcends borders and genres.
Collaboration at the Core
At the heart of the festival lies Ideas-Xchange, a platform for conversations that connect the dots between art, policy, and sustainability. Panels and workshops will explore key topics such as creative economy evolution, intellectual property, and sustainable cultural production—driving the dialogue beyond the stage into the real world.
A Marketplace for Creativity
The Fringe Market returns bigger and bolder, showcasing local artisans, eco-conscious designers, and creative entrepreneurs. Here, fashion meets function, as handmade crafts and sustainable innovations reflect the growing synergy between art and business.
Beyond a Festival — A Cultural Movement
More than an annual celebration, Lagos Fringe Festival 2025 is shaping up to be a cultural movement—one that redefines what it means to be Nigerian, African, and global. As Lagos continues to rise as a creative capital, the festival amplifies its role as a catalyst for identity formation, innovation, and inclusion.
This November, Freedom Park won’t just host performances—it will host a conversation. One where art meets tech, heritage meets modernity, and Lagos reaffirms its place as Africa’s creative heartbeat.
