The LagosPhoto Festival, Nigeria’s leading international photography festival, will transition to a biennial event with its 15th edition in October 2025.
Curated by founder Azu Nwagbogu, the festival will explore the expansive theme of Incarceration. This shift from an annual schedule underscores a deliberate focus on fostering deeper engagement and amplifying its impact. The change follows the festival’s successful 2023 expansion to Benin, which featured the works of 38 artists across four cities.
Nwagbogu articulated that the biennial approach will provide more time for strategic planning, enriching the experience for artists and audiences alike. “We hope to create a more inclusive and thoughtful platform,” he explained, emphasizing the importance of fostering meaningful dialogue.
Over the years, LagosPhoto has transformed into a powerful nexus for lens-based storytellers, bridging African and global perspectives through imagery that resonates far beyond the borders of Nigeria.
Incarceration, the festival’s 2025 theme, invites a critical examination of physical, intellectual, and societal captivity. More than just a literal exploration of imprisonment, this theme seeks to unearth the nuanced and often invisible constraints that shape human experience.
From the psychological entrapments of self-imposed narratives to geopolitical boundaries and digital censorship, artists will be challenged to break through traditional modes of confinement in their work. According to Nwagbogu, this conversation goes beyond critique; it invites liberation, encouraging artists and audiences to question inherited systems and envision pathways to freedom.
LagosPhoto’s transition also signals its expanded ambition: to be a leading platform for discourse on contemporary issues. As a biennial, it will offer workshops, curatorial trainings, and portfolio reviews that continue in the off year, ensuring a consistent exchange of ideas and creativity. The festival’s collaborative ethos, evident in partnerships with international organizations such as Magnum Photos and diverse cultural initiatives, exemplifies its commitment to nurturing innovative and thought-provoking artistic expression.
Launched in 2010, LagosPhoto has consistently pushed boundaries, championing African voices and challenging stereotypes. As it prepares for its biennial debut, the festival stands ready to not only reflect on its past achievements but to redefine what it means to be a community-driven space for creative expression.
By inviting artists to reimagine and dismantle systems of incarceration through their lenses, LagosPhoto 2025 further aims to spark critical dialogue and inspire transformation, reaffirming the festival’s pivotal role in contemporary photography and cultural discourse.
