Every December, Nigeria does not just celebrate Christmas, it shifts into another gear entirely. The holiday season arrives like a wave of color and sound, spilling into the streets, warming the air, and pulling people into a rhythm that feels larger than life.
What began decades ago as a simple end-of-year celebration has evolved into a global cultural phenomenon now known simply and famously as “Detty December.”
Lagos: The Capital of December Energy
If New York owns New Year’s Eve and Rio owns Carnival, Lagos State, Nigeria owns December.
In this coastal megacity, the holiday season explodes. Markets swell with shoppers. Nightclubs throb till sunrise. Streets glow with Christmas lights. And everywhere you turn, someone is racing to the next concert, party, or festival, determined to squeeze every drop of joy out of the final days of the year.
For Nigerians living abroad, December in Lagos is more than a vacation. It is a homecoming. A return to the loud, colorful, expressive version of Nigeria that exists nowhere else. Flights sell out. Hotels hit full occupancy. Even Uber and Bolt surge under the weight of crowds trying to make it to the next big show.
This year, the city’s social calendar is packed with events. Prominent artists are hosting musical concerts. Fireboy Live will go down on December 28 at Eko Hotel and Suites. That same night, Wizkid headlines The Greatest of All Time Experience at the Tafawa Balewa Square. Kizz Daniel performs on December 27, Chike on December 18, and BNXN on December 19.
There is the heavyweight Flytime Fest, an annual, multi-day, multi-layered concert in Lagos that celebrates African entertainment, artistry, and culture. The event returns for its 21st edition, running from December 22 to 25 at the Eko Convention Center.
The festival opens with Flavour on December 22, followed by Olamide on December 23, Asake on December 24, and Davido, who closes the show on December 25. For years, Flytime Fest has been the heartbeat of Nigeria’s holiday entertainment season, and this year is no exception.
December in Lagos also brings a carousel of festivals: Afrocan Festival on the 16th, Foodie in Lagos Festival on the 17th, Outside We Outside Lagos on the 18th, FUZE Festival on the 20th, Coca Cola’s Rhythm Unplugged and Movie Night and Chill on the 21st, and Eat Drink Festival on the 26th–27th.
A major addition this year is the government-backed Detty December Fest, organized by the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy, in collaboration with Livespot, running from December 6 to 31.
American rap star Gunna, U.S. rap legend Busta Rhymes, Tanzanian R&B singer Juma Jux, and Nigerian street-pop favorite Bella Shmurda are among the artists who will thrill the crowd.
Abuja: A Capital City Finding Its Groove
Nigeria’s December magic is not limited to Lagos. Abuja, the nation’s capital city, is becoming a fast-growing end-of-year destination.
Organizers of Abuja Detty December (ADD) 2025, a 13-day festival from December 21 to January 2, aim to make the city Africa’s next major December hotspot.
The event is themed “Capital City December Experience” with a sub-theme “From Remittances to Renaissance: Returning to Rebuild Nigeria.” It reflects something deeper than concerts and parties: a belief that holiday homecomings can fuel creativity, investment, and new cultural energy.
ADD will open on December 21 with a massive concert at the National Stadium Hockey Pitch. A Christmas Eve pool party follows. Boxing Day brings a Cultural Carnival and Street Parade. The Miss ADD Beauty Pageant happens on December 28, and December 30 features a Celebrity Football Match. Finally, fireworks and a massive Countdown Concert usher in the new year on December 31.
The capital city is also hosting the Abuja Groovy December Festival from December 15–31, promising a long list of attractions: cultural fest, Afrobeats concerts, fashion shows, car racing, water sports, food fairs, hiking competitions, art showcases, and children’s activities—all designed to shift Abuja into full festive mode.
Across the Country: Christmas at Full Volume
Beyond Lagos and Abuja, the rest of Nigeria joins the celebration.
In Cross River State, the legendary Calabar Carnival, Africa’s biggest street party and Nigeria’s longest yuletide celebration, kicked off on November 30 and runs until January 1. This year marks its 20th anniversary with the theme “Traces of Time.”
With 32 days of royal parades, live concerts, art exhibitions, junior carnivals, and carol nights, Calabar becomes a living museum of West African culture. Its stage has welcomed global stars like Lucky Dube, Akon, Nelly, and Kirk Franklin.
In Akwa Ibom, the third edition of Christmas Unplugged is lighting up Ibibio Unity Park. Since December 1, 2025, the Park has transformed into a vibrant haven of fun, culture, and endless excitement.
Christmas Unplugged 3.0 showcases the finest of Akwa Ibom creativity, music, food, and hospitality. The event features a rich lineup of top entertainers, cultural displays, games, food fairs, and engaging activities that celebrate the beauty of the holiday season.
And when you step back and look at it all: the concerts, the carnivals, the homecomings, the food, the noise, the colour, you realize that in Nigeria, Christmas is not just a holiday. It is a celebration of tradition, creativity, and the unmistakable Nigerian spirit. It is a reminder of everything Nigerians love: community, home, music, culture, and joy shared loudly and unapologetically.
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