About Osun-Osogbo Festival
The Osun-Osogbo Festival is one of West Africa's most important traditional celebrations, honouring Osun, the Yoruba goddess of fertility and the river that runs through Osogbo in southwestern Nigeria. Centred on the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove — a forest of shrines and sculptures inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005 — the festival draws hundreds of thousands of devotees, tourists and members of the Yoruba diaspora each year.
Spanning about two weeks, the festival opens with the Iwopopo cleansing of the town and the lighting of a 500-year-old sixteen-point lamp, followed by the Iboriade gathering of the crowns of past rulers. It builds to a grand finale in which the Arugba, a votary maiden, carries sacred offerings on her head in a vast procession to the river, accompanied by the Ataoja (king of Osogbo) and a sea of white-clad worshippers.
The Osun-Osogbo grand finale falls in early August, with the surrounding rites running through the preceding two weeks; because it follows the Yoruba traditional calendar the exact day shifts slightly each year. The countdown above tracks the days until the next festival — add it to your own page or explore more festival countdowns from around the world.
Upcoming dates
| 2026 | Friday, August 7, 2026next |
| 2027 | Saturday, August 7, 2027 |
| 2028 | Monday, August 7, 2028 |
| 2029 | Tuesday, August 7, 2029 |
| 2030 | Wednesday, August 7, 2030 |
FAQ
When is the Osun-Osogbo Festival?
The festival runs for about two weeks, with its grand finale falling in early August. The exact date follows the Yoruba traditional calendar and varies slightly each year.
Why is the Osun-Osogbo Festival celebrated?
It honours Osun, the Yoruba river goddess of fertility and wellbeing, renewing the bond between the people of Osogbo and the deity believed to protect the city.
How is the Osun-Osogbo Festival celebrated?
With town-cleansing rites, the lighting of an ancient lamp, drumming and dancing, and a grand procession led by the Arugba carrying sacred offerings to the Osun River.
Is the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove a UNESCO site?
Yes — the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005 as one of the last sacred forests of its kind.