PodFest Naija 2026 Unveils Star-Studded Lineup For September 25
PodFest Naija 2026 has unveiled a major lineup of creators, storytellers and entertainment figures, including Funke Akindele, ahead of its second edition scheduled for Friday, September 25, 2026, at Harbour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The festival, themed around storytelling and the growing creative economy, is expected to bring together more than 50 storytellers for a programme featuring live podcasts, themed conversations, masterclasses, talent discovery and an experiential arena.
Akindele is listed among the featured creators alongside Aproko Doctor, Rufai Oseni, Rolake Akinkugbe-Filani, Babajide Ogunsanwo, Audu Maikori, Fisayo Soyombo, Grace Ofure, Salem King, Toolz and William Benson, among others.
Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the festival, with his session expected to focus on creativity, technology, culture and the future of Lagos.
PodFest Naija curator Tosin Adefeko said the festival was designed as a platform that speaks directly to creators, podcasters and storytellers contributing to Nigeria’s expanding creative economy.
“PodFest Naija is a Festival of Stories; speaking directly to creators, podcasters, and storytellers driving Nigeria’s fast-growing creative economy,” Adefeko said.
Adefeko said Hamzat was selected for the keynote because of his background in engineering, technology and business, adding that his address would focus on “Creativity, Technology, Culture and the Future of the people of Lagos.”
She also described storytelling as part of Lagos’ cultural and economic assets, saying, “Lagos creates culture that Nigeria and Africa export to the world: music, film, fashion, comedy, Art and increasingly storytelling itself are economic assets.”
The 2026 edition is the second edition of PodFest Naija, following its inaugural festival in 2025, which organisers said attracted more than 40 storytellers and over 1,000 enthusiasts.
The organisers said this year’s edition expands the festival with a larger lineup, more live podcast recordings, masterclasses, talent discovery opportunities and an experiential arena designed to connect creators, audiences and brands.
The programme is structured around conversations covering areas including life, love, money, health, culture and brands, giving participating creators an opportunity to engage audiences beyond conventional podcast discussions.
A major component of the festival is The Next Big Podcaster, an initiative created to discover and support emerging Nigerian podcast talent.
The talent programme takes participants through an open call, jury review and finalist bootcamp, giving upcoming storytellers an opportunity to develop their skills and present their work to a wider audience.
The organisers have also positioned PodFest Naija as a meeting point for Nigeria’s storytelling ecosystem, bringing together podcasters, content creators, storytellers, brands and audiences to celebrate creativity, encourage collaboration, showcase innovation and promote learning.
The event is being powered by Muvmnt Studio in partnership with Eventful, with the organisers also announcing support from several corporate partners.
With Akindele and other prominent voices joining the programme and Hamzat scheduled to deliver the keynote, PodFest Naija 2026 is set to combine entertainment, storytelling, learning and discussions around the future of Nigeria’s creative economy.
The festival will hold on Friday, September 25, 2026, at Harbour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos, with registration information available through PodFest Naija’s official channels.
