The Akada Children’s Book Festival (ACBF), Nigeria’s first and largest book festival dedicated exclusively to children, will return for its eighth edition on Saturday, May 23, 2026, at Rugby School Nigeria, Eko Atlantic, continuing its mission to promote literacy and nurture a lifelong love of reading.
This year’s festival is positioned as a special pre-Children’s Day edition, offering a vibrant platform for showcasing the work of indigenous authors and encouraging widespread engagement with children’s books and literature, while celebrating creativity, imagination, and learning.
Under the theme, “Big Dreams, Brave Stories,” the 2026 edition aims to celebrate the idea that bravery is not only about facing challenges, but also about following one’s heart, dreaming boldly, and believing in oneself. The theme highlights the power of storytelling to inspire young readers to imagine possibilities, embrace creativity, and see themselves as active participants in their own journeys. Through tales of courage, adventure, and self-discovery, children are encouraged to explore new ideas, ask bold questions, and pursue their dreams with confidence.
Speaking on the the eighth edition, Mrs. Olubunmi Aboderin-Talabi, the Festival Convener said: “The festival continues to grow because parents, educators, publishers, and authors all recognise the need to expose children to story books early. By bringing writers, illustrators, and young readers into the same space, we are helping children see that books are not distant objects on a shelf, but stories created by people whose experiences they can relate to.”
This year’s edition promises a rich and engaging programme of activities designed to ignite curiosity, creativity, and a love of reading, including Author-led book readings, storytime sessions, author meet-and-greets, book exhibitions and signings, prizes and book giveaways, book chat sessions, workshops for children, workshops for parents and teachers, announcement of the winners of the writing and illustration competitions, Scrabble tournament, chess tournament, theme song competition, SIP‑n‑Paint sessions, STEM activities, sensory play activities, drama, music and dance, and much more. These activities are aimed at giving children the opportunity to engage their creativity, explore new ideas, and connect with stories and storytellers firsthand — building on the festival’s ongoing effort to strengthen Nigeria’s children’s reading culture and celebrate diverse voices.
The 2026 edition will also feature original children’s books, with notable titles including Lumi Drives from London to Lagos by Pelumi Nubi; Sim Sim Goes to the Salon by Tonye Faloughi-Ekezie; Amang Goes to the Village by Namse Udosen; What Happened on Thursday?: A Nigerian Civil War Story by Ayo Oyeku; among others.
In addition to this year’s lineup of activities, the festival will also recognise excellence in children’s literature through its annual awards, highlighting standout Nigerian children’s book authors, titles and encouraging the continued growth of the country’s children’s literary community.
Since its inception, the Akada Children’s Book Festival has drawn over 10,000 attendees and continues to expand access to books, celebrate local storytelling, and inspire a new generation of readers across Nigeria.
The Akada Children's Book Festival (ACBF) is an annual event that provides a visible platform for the work of indigenous authors and encourages broad public engagement with children's literature from Nigeria and around the world. Since its launch in 2019, the festival has drawn over 10,160 attendees and donated more than 5,118 books, creating greater access to quality reading materials for children. Beyond celebrating African stories and authors, the festival empowers parents and educators to nurture a love for reading, embrace shared reading practices, and inspire the next generation of African storytellers.