LIMCAF 2026 · Open Letter
Grand Finale. 27–31 October. Enugu.
The Top 100 young artists in Nigeria, on the national stage. Free to attend.
LIMCAF 2026 · Now in Enugu
Open Letter
This year, one hundred young artists from eighteen cities answer a single prompt: what would you stand for, in public, if it could change something? Open Letter interrogates the ambivalence in our actions and inactions — and the courage it takes to speak.
- Festival
- 24–31 October 2026
- Where
- International Conference Centre, IMT, Enugu
- Entry
- Free — register to receive your pass
What's on
The festival, week by week
27
Oct
27–31 October 2026 · Enugu
LIMCAF 2026 Grand Finale
A week-long national exhibition of the Top 100+ artists from 18 regional centres, with an art and craft fair, lectures and cultural tours. Free to attend — register for your pass.
Get your free pass
31
Oct
31 October 2026 · Enugu
Gala & Award Night 2026
The winners of LIMCAF 2026 — including the Elder K.U. Kalu Prize for Young Artist of the Year — are announced on the closing night of the Grand Finale.
Register for the Gala
24
Oct
24–31 October 2026 · Enugu
Art & Craft Fair
Makers, collectors and the public meet during Grand Finale week. Artists and craftspeople can apply for a stand.
Apply for a stand
Put the art first
Discovered at LIMCAF. Seen everywhere.
Winners and finalists from nearly two decades of the festival — painting, sculpture, textile, photography, found objects and everything between.
Winner 2018Enigma
Ifedilichukwu Chibuike
2018 · White pull knob, long-play record, copper wire, wool and rope · Enugu
Overall Winner, LIMCAF 2018
Winner 2014Placenta
Ngozi Omeje
2014 · Clay, perspex, iron · Enugu
Overall Winner, LIMCAF 2014
Winner 2013Fragments of Unity
Eghosa Henry Oseratin
2013 · Painting
Overall Winner, LIMCAF 2013
Winner 2011Save the Child and Save the Nation
Eyo Emem Effiong
2011 · Sculpture · Uyo
Overall Winner, LIMCAF 2011
Winner 2009Beautiful Nigerian
Ezah Lucky
2009 · Wood and metal · Port Harcourt
Overall Winner, LIMCAF 2009
Winner 2008The Bitter Embrace
Maduka Chukwuma
2008 · Sculpture
Overall Winner, LIMCAF 2008
Winner 2007Life in My City – Lagos
Olumide Oresegun
2007 · Painting · Lagos
Overall Winner, LIMCAF 2007
16:59
Badru Taofeek
2018 · Textile · Ibadan
Best Textile Art & Alliance Française Network Prize, LIMCAF 2018
Ireti (Expectation)
Popoola Nurudeen
2018 · Painting / mixed media · Lagos
Best Painting/Mixed Media, LIMCAF 2018
LIMCAF in numbers
Nearly two decades of discovering Nigeria's next generation
- young artists empowered since 2007
- 11,750+
young artists empowered since 2007
- entries every year
- 850+
entries every year
- regional centres across all six geopolitical zones
- 18
regional centres across all six geopolitical zones
- exhibitions staged
- 300+
exhibitions staged
- school children and children with disabilities reached
- 1,000+
school children and children with disabilities reached
- in prizes for 2026, plus a $2,000 grand prize
- ₦7.8M+
in prizes for 2026, plus a $2,000 grand prize
LIMCAF Stories · Watch + Listen
Behind every number is a person
LIMCAF through the years
Since 2007 — every edition
A festival that began with 180 entries in Enugu now draws young artists from all six geopolitical zones. Step into any year.
2007
The first Life in My City Art Festival, held in Enugu in October 2007, drew about 180 entries from young artists across Nigeria. It grew out of a partnership between Rocana Nigeria Ltd, Alliance Française Enugu and the Pan African Circle of Artists.
2008
Entries passed 400. The festival week added a lecture, roundtables, studio tours with the French Ambassador and the Awards night.
2009
Over 500 entries and new collection centres in Kano, Port Harcourt and Ilorin, with zonal exhibitions in Ibadan, Kaduna, Enugu, Owerri and Port Harcourt. The festival received official support from the Enugu State Government and opened the Coal City's centenary celebrations.
2010Nigeria at 50
The fourth edition marked Nigeria's 50th anniversary, with a national symposium — 50 Years After Independence: Redefining Art Education in Nigeria — a photography exhibition by Tam Fiofori, school and teacher workshops and the Grand Finale award night.
2011
Entries reached 615 — up from 180 in 2007 — and the Top 100 finalists were exhibited at the Grand Finale in Enugu.
2012
LIMCAF was registered as a trusteeship, Life In My City Art Initiative. The festival ran across nine cities and added Photo Africa, a pan-African photography contest.
2013
Edition 7
2014
The Top 25 of 2014 spanned painting, terracotta, beads, chicken mesh, video and found objects — and Ngozi Omeje's Placenta took the overall prize.
2015
The 9th Grand Finale and Award Night in Enugu.
2016Riches Within
The 10th anniversary edition (2007–2016). The Grand Finale exhibition ran 24–29 October in Enugu, alongside film screenings with CLAM.
2017
2018
Ifedilichukwu Chibuike's installation Enigma won the overall prize, and LIMCAF finalists travelled to Dak'Art, the Dakar Biennale.
2019
2020
Entries were received from regional centres across the country and published as regional catalogues.
2021
2022
2023
The festival expanded its disability-inclusive and children's education programming.
2024
Residencies and the national bootcamp joined the festival calendar.
2025
Alumni and legacy exhibitions in Lagos, 18 regional exhibitions and expanded programming.
2026Open Letter
Top 100 artists from 18 regional centres come to Enugu for a week-long Grand Finale: exhibition, art and craft fair, lectures, cultural tours and the Gala and Award Night.
News
Latest from the festival
News · 2026
Updated: TOP 100 List of Qualified Entries for the LIMCAF 2026 Grand Finale
We are pleased to formally announce the list of qualified entries for the Life In My City Art Festival (LIMCAF) 2026 Grand Finale. This selection represents outstanding works from regions that have successfully…
News · 2026
LIMCAF 2026 Regional Exhibition Schedule Released
The management of the Life in My City Art Festival (LIMCAF) is pleased to announce the release of the 2026 Regional Exhibition Schedule . This phase of Nigeria’s leading annual art festival will be held across 16…
News · 2026
(UPDATED) LIST OF ENTRIES FOR LIMCAF 2026: OPEN LETTER
We are pleased to announce the list of talented young and emerging artists exhibiting in this year's LIMCAF Regional Exhibition. Congratulations to all selected artists, your creativity and hard work shine through!…
Partners & supporters
Built on institutional trust and long-term relationships
- Ford Foundation
- MTN Foundation
- Copen Group
- Yellow Chilli Restaurant
- GB Foods
- 1952 Africa
- Amadeo Foundation
- Enugu State Government
- Alliance Française Nigeria
- Embassy of France in Nigeria
- Pan African Circle of Artists
- Rocana Nigeria Ltd