On Saturday, May 23, 2026, hundreds of children, parents, teachers, and book lovers will gather for the 9th edition of the Akada Children’s Book Festival at Rugby School Nigeria in Eko Atlantic.

The theme is Big Dreams, Brave Stories, which captures the festival’s stance that the act of handing a child a book that looks like them, sounds like them, and speaks to their world is itself a kind of courage. This year’s edition leans into that fully. And the books selected to anchor the 2026 programme reflect exactly that spirit. Here is a portion of the titles that will be featured:

The Brave King by Chiziterem Iloh · Ìwà by Zansi Adebowale · Sleepy Guppy Says Bedtime Must Wait by Adebola Rayo · Blue or Pink: The Unicorn Competition by Akum Adighibe · Up and Down by Oluwatoke Aduradola · The Afrotods Festival Time by Fabian Adeoye Lojede · Elias and The Mysterious Marble by Wania Ahassan · Sórò My Child by April Ifunanya Izundu · Sim Sim Goes To The Salon by Tonye Faloughi-Ekezie · From Messy to Marvellous by Titilayo Kayode-Alabi · A-Files: Eyeshadow and Lipgloss by Victoria Afe-Inegbedion · Super-E: The Inflation Smackdown by Chinwe Egwim · One Picture, Many Colours by Tiwatope Oloye · Kachi and the River Guards by Amarachukwu Chimeka · Nyantahi, The Fearless Warrior by Rhona Rwangyezi-Grimm · Garden Series for Kids by Ogemdi Muoh (Nene Ogeh) · Tobi At The Art Gallery by Olubunmi Aboderin Talabi · What Happened on Thursday? by Ayo Oyeku · Where is that Asom? by Eugene Yakubu Shichet

That is not the full list. More titles have been announced on akadafestival’s Instagram page, also keep an eye on the festival’s official channels at akadafestival.org.

What strikes you, looking at those titles, is the range. There are picture books for the very young and chapter books for readers starting to stretch. There are stories about bravery, curiosity and identity, about salons and art galleries and inflation. Several of these books have been through the festival’s editorial board.

Brittle Paper named Akada Children’s Book Festival its Literary Platform of the Year for 2023, recognising what founder Olubunmi Aboderin Talabi has built from a single 2019 event that was projected to draw 300 people and instead drew nearly 2,000. Since then, the festival has drawn over 10,000 attendees and put more than 5,000 books into circulation, a number that matters in a market where imported titles have historically dominated children’s shelves.

Past editions have included book readings, storytime, chess tournaments, illustration and writing competitions, workshops for parents and educators, and professional sessions for writers and publishers. The 2024 edition introduced the Akada Children’s Book of the Year Award. There is every reason to expect 2026 to go further.

The festival is free to attend. If you are in Lagos or can make the trip, May 23rd at Rugby School Nigeria, Eko Atlantic is where you need to be. 

Registration is open now at akadafestival.org/register.