In preparation for the 2026 GTCO Food and Drink Festival, Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc held a press briefing during the week at its head office in Victoria Island, Lagos.
At the briefing, the organisers announced that the ninth edition of the festival will hold from Friday, May 1 to Sunday, May 3, 2026, at the GTCentre, Plot 1 Water Corporation Drive, Oniru, Victoria Island, Lagos.
This year’s edition, themed “Everything Food and Drink,” is expected to capture the full essence of culinary expression across cultures. According to the organisers, over 6,000 applications were received from food and drink vendors, with more than 200 carefully selected participants granted free retail stalls.
The selected vendors will showcase a wide range of offerings, from traditional dishes passed down through generations to contemporary interpretations of global cuisine, creating space for diverse flavours, techniques, and culinary experiences.
It was also noted that space constraints experienced in previous editions have been addressed in collaboration with the Lagos State Government, alongside strengthened security and safety arrangements for attendees.
The festival will feature a rich lineup of activities, including interactive masterclasses, live culinary demonstrations, food and wine tastings, and a vibrant marketplace showcasing small and medium-scale food businesses alongside established culinary brands.
Speaking ahead of the 2026 edition, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the bank, Segun Agbaje, described the festival as a platform that continues to evolve as both a cultural and economic enabler.
“The GTCO Food and Drink Festival has, over the years, become a living expression of what we stand for as an institution: innovation, opportunity, and enterprise that is accessible to all. What makes this platform special is not just its scale, but its humanity. It brings together people from different walks of life around something universal — food and drink — and in doing so, it breaks barriers and builds connections that extend far beyond the event itself,” he said.
