NIGERIA · FESTIVAL
Key Facts
- —What is happening The Arewa Festival, a showcase of Northern Nigerian culture and business, runs Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 November 2026 at Arena 21 in the Art & Craft Village, Abuja.
- —Why it matters The festival moves from 19 northern states into one Abuja venue this year, with more than 500 entrepreneurs expected to exhibit and sell.
- —The numbers VIP tickets cost NGN 50,000 (about US$37.50) and only 50 exist; exhibitor stands run from NGN 160,000 (about US$120) to NGN 1.5 million (about US$1,125).
- —Who is who Tripoint Academy sells the tickets; Global Entrepreneurship Network Nigeria is the partner; festival convener Shuhda Mohammed leads it; Arewa is the Hausa word for the north.
- —What to watch Start times, the programme, performers and the price of ordinary entry are not yet published, so check the Selar listing before you plan your day.
- —What it means for you Americans need a Nigerian visa before they fly, the State Department rates Nigeria Level 3, Reconsider Travel, and Abuja is not a Level 4 area.
Arewa means the north in Hausa. This festival in Nigeria’s capital gathers northern food, fashion, crafts and business in one place.
The Arewa Festival opens on Saturday, 21 November 2026, at Arena 21 in the Art & Craft Village in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital. It runs for two days, to Sunday, 22 November.
For visitors it is a market, a business meeting and a culture fair in one place. VIP tickets are on sale now at about US$37.50, but ordinary entry prices are not yet published.
What the Arewa Festival Is
Arewa is the Hausa word for the north, and the festival presents the culture and commerce of Northern Nigeria. Its organiser is Tripoint Academy, which lists the event on the Nigerian sales platform Selar.
The listing says the festival brings all 19 Northern states to the Federal Capital Territory for culture, commerce, creativity and community. It expects “thousands” of visitors, tourists, media, entrepreneurs, investors and buyers.
The 2025 edition was spread across the 19 northern states instead of one site. Convener Shuhda Mohammed told Daily Trust the festival visits all 19 states and then gathers in one place every other year.
This year that place is the capital, which she said makes vendor logistics easier. Olayinka Oguntola, who coordinates Global Entrepreneurship Week in Nigeria, said more than 500 entrepreneurs will exhibit and sell.
Where and When the Festival Takes Place
The venue is Arena 21 at the Art & Craft Village in Abuja’s central business district, according to the Selar listings. The dates are Saturday, 21 November, and Sunday, 22 November 2026.
Abuja is the capital of Nigeria, and the central district is its business and government core. The US Embassy sits on Diplomatic Drive in the Central District Area, according to the State Department.
Daily Trust reported on Monday, 12 October 2026, that the partners unveiled the plan at a reception in Lagos. Daily Trust says the festival is a flagship event of Global Entrepreneurship Week.
Neither the organiser nor the press reports published an opening time, a closing time or a daily programme. Treat any schedule you see on social media as unconfirmed until Tripoint Academy posts it.
Tickets and Stand Prices
Selar lists a VIP ticket at NGN 50,000, shown as US$37.52 on the page, and only 50 are offered. The naira price equals about US$37.50 at NGN 1,334 per US$, the rate of Monday, 26 October 2026.
The VIP pass includes complimentary food, reserved seating in a VIP section, an access tag and a festival souvenir. The page showed no ordinary ticket and no refund policy when it was checked.
Businesses can also buy stands through a separate Selar listing. A small stand of 1 metre by 0.5 metre costs NGN 180,000 (about US$135).
A 2 by 2 metre booth costs NGN 250,000 (about US$187), and a food vendor pays NGN 160,000 (about US$120). A stage-side slot costs NGN 1.5 million (about US$1,125).
A fashion runway place costs NGN 1 million (about US$750) and is limited to three brands. The vendor application form showed applications closed for now.
As a visitor, you do not need the stand listing at all. Only the VIP pass is relevant if you simply want to attend.
Who Is Behind the Festival
Tripoint Academy is the organiser named on both Selar listings. Press reports describe the partnership as Global Entrepreneurship Network Nigeria working with Tripoint Travels.
The Global Entrepreneurship Network is an international group that runs Global Entrepreneurship Week each November. Mohammed is the festival’s convener, and Oguntola is the national coordinator of the week in Nigeria.
Do not confuse this event with the Arewa Fashion and Food Festival in Kaduna, which has its own organiser. That festival is scheduled for 6 and 7 November, according to The Guardian Nigeria.
Getting There and Getting Around
Abuja’s airport is Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. Book your flight to Abuja only after you have a visa.
The State Department bars its own embassy staff from using public transport anywhere in Nigeria. Arrange a vetted driver through your hotel, and plan to arrive and leave in daylight.
Allow extra time for the trip to the central district, because roads in Nigeria are often in poor condition. Keep a charged phone, some naira in small notes and a copy of your passport.
Entry Rules and Safety for US Visitors
The State Department says US citizens need a six-month passport, a Nigerian visa and proof of polio and yellow fever vaccination. No visa on arrival exists for tourism, so apply to a Nigerian embassy or consulate first.
The department rates Nigeria Level 3, Reconsider Travel, in an advisory issued on Friday, 12 June 2026. It warns of violent crime, kidnapping, terrorism and civil unrest, and it says Americans are frequent targets of crime.
Abuja is not on the Level 4, Do Not Travel list, but nearby states such as Niger, Kogi, Plateau and Kaduna are. Avoid road travel from those states, and do not rely on emergency help outside Abuja and Lagos.
The department says attacks can come with little warning at markets, hotels, places of worship and transport hubs. A crowded festival is a place to stay alert, keep valuables out of sight and know your exits.
Ebola News and Your Plans
Legit.ng reported that Nigeria’s government confirmed one Ebola case in Abuja on Tuesday, 20 October 2026. This guide makes no health claims beyond what officials have said.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control lists a toll-free line at 6232 on its website. Check its press page and the US Centers for Disease Control travel notices again shortly before you fly.
What It Means for You
If you live in Abuja, the festival is a chance to meet northern makers and buy food, fashion and crafts. Buy the VIP pass only through the Selar listing of Tripoint Academy.
If you fly in from the United States, secure the visa first, then book flights and a central hotel. Re-read the State Department advisory a week before departure.
What Is Not Known
The organiser has not published start or end times, the programme, performers or the price of ordinary entry. Nor is it stated how many people the arena holds or what the bag and re-entry rules are.
Press reports do not name a separate ticket seller for general admission, and the vendor application was closed when checked. No 2025 attendance figure from the organiser was found, so none is given here.
What Comes Next
Saturday, 21 November is the first festival day, and the Selar listing is the place to watch for new ticket types. A late change of venue or time would appear there first.
The festival will move to another location next year if the rotation Mohammed described holds. No 2027 venue has been announced.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the Arewa Festival in Abuja?
It runs Saturday, 21 November, and Sunday, 22 November 2026, at Arena 21 in the Art & Craft Village, Abuja. No opening or closing times are published.
How much are Arewa Festival tickets?
Selar lists a VIP ticket at NGN 50,000, about US$37.50, and only 50 are offered. The price of ordinary entry has not been published.
Do Americans need a visa to attend?
Yes, the State Department says US citizens need a Nigerian visa, and no visa on arrival exists for tourism. Apply to a Nigerian embassy or consulate before you book.
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Sources: Selar, The Arewa Festival 2026 VIP listing (Tripoint Academy); Selar, Arewa Festival 2026 exhibition listing; Luma, Arewa Festival 2026 vendor application; Daily Trust, 500 entrepreneurs to convene (12 October 2026); The Guardian Nigeria, Arewa Fashion and Food Festival, Kaduna; US State Department, Nigeria travel advisory; US State Department, Nigeria country information; Legit.ng, Ebola case confirmed (20 October 2026); Nigeria Centre for Disease Control; open.er-api.com, exchange rates (all accessed 26 October 2026).
Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief · Editorial standards · Report an error
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