By Jos Events
The Enchanting Plateau Art Exhibition has unveiled its 2026 edition, challenging artists and creatives across disciplines to look beyond Plateau State’s present realities and imagine the kind of society future generations could inherit when the state clocks 100.
The 2026 edition, themed “100” (50 strong, 50 forward) was officially unveiled on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, during a press conference held in Rayfield, Jos, where organizers announced the opening of the call for entries and unveiled plans for an expanded celebration of Plateau’s culture, heritage, creativity, identity and future.
The exhibition, which coincides with Plateau State’s 50th anniversary, is designed to use art and creative expression as a tool for reflecting on the state’s journey over the past five decades while opening conversations about its next 50 years.
At the heart of this year’s edition is a question organisers are asking creatives to answer through their works:
“What story will we tell when Plateau State turns 100?”
Telling Plateau’s Story Through Art
Convener of Enchanting Plateau, Mr David Thomas, said the exhibition was established to tell the story of Plateau State through creative expression while creating meaningful platforms for artists and other creatives to gain visibility, develop their talents, build sustainable careers and connect with wider opportunities.
According to him, Enchanting Plateau has continued to grow beyond a conventional art exhibition, with the platform creating opportunities for young people through art competitions for secondary school students, masterclasses and other capacity-building programmes designed to identify and nurture emerging creative talents.
Thomas noted that the growth of the exhibition is a reflection of the enormous potential within Plateau State’s creative sector, particularly in the areas of cultural preservation, tourism, employment generation and economic development.
He said the broader vision is to contribute to positioning Plateau State as one of Nigeria and Africa’s leading cultural and creative destinations.
Artists Asked to Imagine Plateau at 100
The central focus of the 2026 edition is Plateau State’s 50-year journey and its future.
Participating artists are being encouraged to explore the state’s history, document its present realities and, most importantly, imagine what Plateau could become over the next five decades.
The organisers are calling on creatives to use their works to explore themes around identity, heritage, unity, development, innovation, environment, culture, tourism, technology and the aspirations of the people.
Rather than simply looking backwards, the exhibition seeks to encourage a forward-looking conversation about the Plateau State that residents want to build and leave behind for future generations.
More Than an Art Exhibition
Creative Director of Enchanting Plateau, Mr Jerry Jallo, explained that the initiative goes beyond the traditional concept of an art exhibition.
According to Jallo, Enchanting Plateau is designed as a multidisciplinary creative platform that brings together artists and creatives from different fields, allowing them to interact, collaborate and communicate through a shared creative experience.
He explained that the exhibition is built around three major components: the main visual art exhibition; seminars, workshops and masterclasses; and evening performance art exhibitions.
The evening performances, he said, will be carefully curated to create a unique and intimate experience for both artists and audiences, with activities expected to include acoustic presentations and opportunities for direct interaction between performers and attendees.
The concept, he added, is designed to bring different creative disciplines together and demonstrate how music, poetry, visual art, fashion, literature, performance and other forms of expression can tell a collective story.
“The Event Itself Is an Artwork”
Jallo described Enchanting Plateau as an experience in which the event environment itself becomes part of the creative expression.
He explained that the creative direction is inspired by the elements that connect people across Plateau State, with nature playing a significant role in the design and atmosphere of the exhibition.
Features such as rocks, vegetation and waterfalls are expected to influence the event’s set design, while other visual elements will be used to evoke emotions connected to happiness, childhood memories and shared experiences.
He summed up the creative philosophy by saying:
“The event itself is an artwork.”
The 2026 edition will bring together creatives from various fields, including musicians, poets, visual artists, writers, photographers, designers and other creative practitioners.
Art, Music, Fashion, Culture and Cuisine
Enchanting Plateau 2026 is expected to offer a broad range of activities beyond visual art.
The programme will feature curated art displays, competitions, music and performance, masterclasses, seminars, workshops, panel discussions and community engagement activities.
Visitors will also have opportunities to experience local crafts and enjoy homemade cuisines, further creating a platform where Plateau’s cultural identity can be experienced through multiple senses and creative disciplines.
The organisers are collaborating with Tin City Fashion Week and Experience Plateau to create what they describe as a unique and immersive creative experience that brings together art, fashion, culture, tourism, music and heritage.
Call for Entries Opens August 12
The official call for entries opens at midnight on August 12, 2026, and will close on October 25, 2026.
The call is open to a wide range of artists and creatives, including:
- Painters
- Sculptors
- Photographers
- Illustrators
- Digital artists
- Textile artists
- Installation artists
- Performance artists
- Writers and other creative practitioners
Interested creatives are expected to submit their works through the official Enchanting Plateau website: www.enchantingplateau.com
The main exhibition is scheduled to take place in November 2026, with the exact dates expected to be announced by the organisers.
Seeking Wider Partnerships and Sponsorship
While the initiative has attracted government attention and support, organisers say there is still a need for stronger partnerships and sponsorship to expand the reach and impact of the 2026 edition.
They are therefore calling on individuals, organisations, businesses, cultural institutions, government agencies and other stakeholders who believe in the power of creativity to partner with the initiative.
The organisers believe that investing in creative platforms such as Enchanting Plateau can help create opportunities for artists, strengthen cultural tourism, preserve heritage and contribute to the growth of Plateau State’s creative economy.
Looking Beyond Plateau at 50
As Plateau State celebrates 50 years, Enchanting Plateau 2026 seeks to turn the milestone into more than a commemoration of the past.
Through the theme “100” (50 Strong, 50 Forward) the exhibition invites creatives to reflect on where Plateau has come from, examine where it stands today and, most importantly, imagine where it could be in another 50 years.
The initiative hopes to create a space where artists can ask difficult questions, celebrate the state’s identity, highlight its possibilities and present new visions for its future.
Ultimately, Enchanting Plateau 2026 is inviting artists to help paint a picture of Plateau at 100 — not just as it is today, but as they dream it could become.
For artists and creatives ready to tell that story, the journey begins with the call for entries opening August 12, 2026.
