Lagos launches inaugural Street Art Festival to showcase public murals

Lagos opened its inaugural Street Art Festival titled Legendary Lagos: City of Dreams, introducing a state backed cultural platform designed to transform the urban landscape through large scale public murals and creative installations. The event brings together local and international artists with the primary objective of taking art directly to communities rather than limiting cultural expression to galleries or elite venues.

State officials highlight the festival as part of a broader tourism revitalisation programme intended to position Lagos as a competitive African creative hub. Artists have been assigned to paint designated walls across Surulere, Lagos Island, Ikeja, Lekki and Epe, with public walks, workshops and school outreach programmes scheduled throughout the month.

Residents welcomed the initiative, citing expectations of improved urban aesthetics and increased visitor inflows. Analysts note that Lagos is gradually utilising culture as a soft power asset in line with global city development trends.