Come Thursday, July 30, 2026, students of the Department of Theatre Arts and Film Studies, Faculty of Creative Arts, University of Lagos (UNILAG), will exhibit the efforts of countless hours of designing, months of rehearsals, weeks of building, refining, and performing as they present the UNILAG Carnival 20+1 Edition, a spectacular showcase of culture, performance, and artistic excellence inspired by this year’s theme, “Humanity in the Age of AI.”
Date: Thursday, July 30, 2026
Time: 12:00 noon
Venue: Indoor Sports Hall, Sports Centre, University of Lagos
Presented as part of THA344 (African/Caribbean Theatre Laboratory), the Carnival is far more than an annual tradition. It is a practical academic production through which 300-level students translate classroom learning into immersive public performance, demonstrating their understanding of African and Caribbean theatre, cultural history, cuisine, performance techniques, costume design, music, movement, and storytelling.
Each edition challenges students to think creatively, work collaboratively, and transform ideas into unforgettable experiences, with every stage of the production contributing to their academic assessment.
Celebrating its 20+1 Edition, this year’s Carnival embraces the cultural concept, “One Continent, One Carnival,” bringing together the vibrant traditions of Africa, Brazil, Haiti, Jamaica, The Bahamas, and Trinidad & Tobago in a colourful fusion of music, dance, theatre, fashion, and cultural expression.
Against the backdrop of a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, this year’s performances invite audiences to reflect on the enduring qualities that define humanity: creativity, culture, imagination, empathy, and our ability to tell stories that connect generations.
It is another reminder that some of the most powerful learning happens when knowledge steps beyond the classroom and comes alive before an audience.
Students, members of staff, alumni, and the general public are warmly invited to experience a tradition that has inspired audiences for more than two decades while celebrating the next generation of creative talents emerging from UNILAG.
Come and witness the culmination of months of dedication as our students transform ideas into performance and the classroom theories into a living celebration of culture. Beyond the costumes, music, and spectacle lies the story of young creatives discovering their voices, refining their craft, and sharing with the world what they have spent an entire semester creating.
