The third edition of the Ogbomoso Cradles Carnival will hold from December 17 to 21, 2026, with organisers unveiling a five-day programme featuring cultural displays, sporting competitions, exhibitions, religious activities and musical performances.
The Chairman of the Central Planning Committee, Hon. Odebunmi Olusegun, announced the programme at a world press conference held at the palace of the Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III, on Tuesday.
Olusegun said the carnival was established as part of the monarch’s 25-year development agenda to promote Ogbomoso’s cultural heritage, attract visitors, encourage investment and create opportunities for residents.
He said the third edition would build on previous celebrations by promoting unity, empowering young people and showcasing Ogbomoso as a destination for culture and tourism.
The opening day, December 17, will feature a carnival cycling event, known as the Gran Fondo, from Iseyin to Ogbomoso, followed by an exhibition of local cuisine, arts and crafts at the palace.
The opening ceremony will take place at the Soun Ogunlola Arena, with traditional hunters’ displays, Bata acrobatic dances, Ijala poetry, Egungun performances and musical entertainment.
Activities on December 18 will include special Islamic prayers, the installation of chieftaincy titles, Jumat service, Odun Oole and musical performances.
The third day, December 19, will feature the Ogbomoso Marathon, the Oba Ghandi Golf Tournament and indoor games, including chess, Scrabble, Ayo Olopon and table tennis.
The grand finale of pre-carnival contests and musical entertainment will also take place that evening.
On December 20, the programme will include a thanksgiving service marking the Soun’s third coronation anniversary, a book launch and public presentation, and a sensitisation and training programme for persons with autism.
A musical concert and award night will round off the day’s activities.
The carnival will end on December 21 with Ajilete Day at the Soun Stadium, featuring the arrival of the Oyo State Governor and traditional homage-paying by various clubs, associations and groups to the monarch.
Olusegun said the organisers were working with hospitality operators, hotels, restaurants and transport providers to prepare for the expected influx of visitors.
He also called on corporate organisations, private investors and Ogbomoso indigenes at home and abroad to support the event.
The committee chairman said the carnival had grown from an initiative to bring the community together into an annual celebration that residents and visitors increasingly anticipate.
He added that the organisers hoped to make December a special period for Ogbomoso, attracting people from across Nigeria and beyond to reconnect with their roots.
The committee also acknowledged the support of the Oyo State Government, the Federal Government and other partners, while appreciating the Soun and the state Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Wasiu Olatubosun, for their contributions to the previous editions.
The Ogbomoso Cradles Carnival is part of the Soun’s broader development vision, which seeks to use the town’s cultural heritage and tourism potential to stimulate economic and social development.
