No fewer than 204 free retail stalls would be made available to vendors participating in the 9th GTCO Food and Drink Festival from Friday, May 1, to Sunday, May 3, 2026, at GTCentre, Plot 1 Water Corporation Drive, Oniru, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The prestigious event is the brainchild of a global financial services organisation, Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) Plc, which is listed on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited and the London Stock Exchange (LSE).
This year’s theme, Everything Food and Drink, captures the expansive nature of the festival experience, reflecting not only the variety of cuisines on display but also the depth of stories behind them.
Over the years, the GTCO Food and Drink Festival has grown far beyond a seasonal celebration to become a culturally significant platform where food and drink serve as a meeting point for storytelling, innovation, and opportunity.
The provision of the free retail stalls is to showcase the rich diversity and creativity of the Nigerian food culture; from time-honoured traditional dishes preserved across generations, to bold contemporary interpretations of global cuisine, creating space for every flavour, every technique, and every craving to find expression.
Visitors can expect a rich programme featuring interactive masterclasses, live culinary demonstrations, food and wine tastings, and a vibrant marketplace showcasing small and medium-scale food businesses alongside established culinary brands.
In addition to its wide range of food and drink offerings, the GTCO Food and Drink Festival is renowned for its family-friendly atmosphere, with a well-equipped play area and a variety of engaging activities for children, ensuring an unforgettable experience for the whole family.
“The GTCO Food and Drink Festival has, over the years, become a living expression of what we stand for as an institution: innovation, opportunity, and enterprise that is accessible to all.
“What makes this platform special is not just its scale, but its humanity. It brings together people from different walks of life around something universal—food and drink—and in doing so, it breaks barriers and builds connections that extend far beyond the event itself,” the chief executive of GTCO, Mr Segun Agbaje, commented.
Since its inception, the GTCO Food and Drink Festival has positioned itself as one of Africa’s most prominent culinary gatherings, attracting participation from across Nigeria and increasingly from the wider continent and diaspora.
Admission remains free and open to all, reaffirming the festival’s commitment to accessibility as a consumer-focused event that brings people together through food, drink, culture, and enterprise.