Nancy Isime returns as host for the second consecutive year, while celebrity chef Hilda Baci serves as guest chef at the invitation-only opening evening.
The third edition of the Lagos International Theatre Festival (LITF) kicks off with Theatre Meets Food, an invitation-only evening bringing the stage and kitchen together. Celebrity chef Hilda Baci returns as guest chef, a year after joining the 2025 edition. Nancy Isime will host the festival for the second year in a row.
The festival will be held at the MUSON Centre, KAP Hub, and Ouida, Lagos, with more than 25 theatre companies presenting a programme of theatre, music, dance and storytelling. The festival will feature artists and productions from Nigeria, Kenya, Canada, Brazil and other parts of the world. Beyond professional theatre companies, this year’s edition will also create room for educational institutions, with schools expected to participate, ensuring that younger audiences are not left out of the theatrical experience.
At LITF, audiences can expect more than the stage. The pre-festival programme includes masterclasses and private dinners with US and UK ambassadors. An Opening Night Gala follows on November 13. The two-day mainstage will offer plays, talent showcases and after-parties, alongside Food Street, a Business District for networking and a Drinks Village.
With the theme “The Masks We Wear” and anchored by the statement “The Stage Is Everywhere,” this year’s programme explores the roles and identities people assume in everyday life.
Founded by Austen-Peters in 2024, LITF opened with 25 plays across four Lagos venues. In 2025, the story continued with a week-long second edition (November 10–16) at the MUSON Centre, featuring more than twenty plays across several stages and establishing LITF as a meeting point for theatre practitioners and audiences.
Supported by the Lagos State Government, Lekoil, Pillar Oil, Afrexim and Amstel, the third edition seeks to broaden the festival’s reach. The festival says it exists to tell authentic stories, connect people, inspire learning and imagination, and celebrate creativity.
Entry is free, while tickets for curated plays are available at lagosinternationaltheatrefestival.ng
