Lagos to Host Africa’s Biggest Beach Festival as 100 DJs Gear Up for 96-Hour Marathon
Lagos is gearing up for what organisers call Africa’s biggest and longest beach festival, as 100 DJs prepare to perform non-stop for 96 hours in a record-breaking DJ Marathon Festival scheduled for December 29, 2025 to January 2, 2026.
The four-day, round-the-clock music event is designed to set a new global benchmark by surpassing the current 55-hour world record for continuous DJ performance.
Buchi Henry Mbagwu, CEO of Afroxela and convener of the marathon, said the concept was inspired by global curiosity about Lagos’ famous “Detty December” nightlife.
According to him, the idea was born during an international festival in Portugal, where guests from Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, France, and Portugal expressed a strong desire to experience Lagos’ party culture for themselves.
“They had heard about Detty December and wanted to know why Lagos is regarded as the city that never stops partying. That was the lightbulb moment,” Mbagwu said.
He noted that the goal was to create an event that captures the spirit of Lagos nightlife while celebrating the people who fuel parties across the world, the DJs.
“DJs are always the party starters. From weddings to corporate events and concerts, they set the tone. We wanted a festival dedicated entirely to DJs,” he explained.
The marathon will feature 100 DJs, each taking an hour-long slot in a seamless relay with no breaks.
“This is about endurance, celebration and the Lagos spirit. For 96 straight hours, there will be no stop, no pause, just sound,” Mbagwu said.
The festival will also run through the New Year crossover, intentionally positioned to usher Nigeria into 2026 with a global record attempt.
Mbagwu added that the timing was strategic:
“By December 27, people are winding down from Christmas and waiting for the New Year. Globally, New Year’s Eve is huge, Dubai, New York, everywhere. So we chose a period when people are naturally looking for the biggest party.”
The DJ Marathon aims not only to break a record but also to position Lagos as a world-class entertainment destination during its most vibrant season.
