Ijebu-Ode turned into a living canvas on Friday, May 29, 2026, as thousands filled the ancient town for the 2026 Ojude Oba Festival. The annual celebration brought together residents, tourists, dignitaries and sons and daughters of Ijebuland from across Nigeria and the diaspora. The streets reflected tradition through horse-riding displays, richly embroidered attire and performances by Regberegbe age-grade groups. Music and pageantry turned the town into a showcase of Yoruba heritage and cultural pride.

The parade of Regberegbe age grade groups formed the heart of the celebration as men and women moved through the town in coordinated colours and patterns. Each age-grade group displayed unity through matching fabrics and choreographed steps that reflected decades of tradition. The visual language of the Regberegbe turned the festival into a moving exhibition of identity, with participants expressing pride through fashion, movement and collective presence.

Horse riders added another layer of grandeur as members of Balogun families arrived on decorated horses, adorned in rich fabrics that spoke to history and status. The riders made their way to the palace grounds in a procession that combined elegance with discipline. For many visitors, the horse-riding display remained the most striking image of Ojude Oba, connecting the present celebration to over a century of homage-paying tradition.

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, described the festival as a strong symbol of peaceful coexistence and communal harmony. He said his administration deliberately positioned Ojude Oba as a flagship of Ogun State’s tourism agenda to harness its cultural and economic value. The governor noted that the state government is working with stakeholders to expand the festival’s global visibility while protecting the authentic traditions of the Ijebu people. He pointed to the economic impact visible during the event, with hotels fully booked, businesses busy and artisans engaged.

This year’s edition carried special weight because it was the first Ojude Oba since the passing of the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, on July 13, 2025. Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, paid tribute to the late monarch, noting that his 65-year reign shaped Ijebuland and elevated the festival into a global attraction. He revealed that before his transition, the Awujale insisted the celebration must continue without interruption. The monarch believed Ojude Oba remained a unifying institution for generations of Ijebu people. Organisers confirmed that the 2026 festival proceeded in line with that instruction, turning grief into a celebration of continuity.

The event also drew national attention with prominent guests in attendance. Ogun State Deputy Governor Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, Minister of Arts Culture Tourism and Creative Economy Hannatu Musa Musawa, and former Ogun State Governor Chief Olusegun Osoba were present. The presence of leaders from government, business and traditional institutions reinforced the festival’s role as a meeting point for culture, unity and progress. Organisers described the 2026 celebration as emotional yet historic, a moment that allowed Ijebu sons and daughters to reconnect with their roots while honouring the legacy of a monarch who made the festival a source of identity and pride.