The Carnival Calabar Commission has announced that this year’s Carnival Calabar theme unveiling event will be held in Lagos, marking a strategic shift aimed at expanding stakeholder engagement and global visibility for Africa’s largest street dance parade.
The annual unveiling event is used to announce the official theme for the upcoming carnival, which guides participating bands in choreography, storytelling, and overall performance design for the main December festival in Cross River State.
According to organisers, the event also serves as a platform for engagement with sponsors, stakeholders, and members of the diplomatic community as preparations intensify for the 21st edition of the festival.
This year’s unveiling, scheduled for Sunday, May 31 at Eko Hotels and Suites in Lagos, will feature the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot, as Special Guest of Honour, and the Portuguese Ambassador, Paulo Santos, as Guest of Honour.
Ahead of the event, the Chairman of the Carnival Calabar Commission, Gabe Onah, led a strategic engagement visit to senior executives of MultiChoice Nigeria, including its leadership team, as part of efforts to deepen media partnerships and expand global streaming reach.
He was accompanied by marketing consultant Mary Ephraim Egbas during the visit.
The discussions reportedly focused on digital transformation and international streaming strategies aimed at broadcasting this year’s carnival to a global audience.
Carnival Calabar, widely regarded as the biggest street dance parade in Africa, is held annually in December in Cross River State and attracts millions of visitors, making it one of West Africa’s most prominent tourism and cultural events.
Organisers say the move to strengthen media partnerships is part of broader efforts to position the festival as a globally competitive cultural brand.
