Lagos is preparing for Livespot360’s ambitious Detty December Fest, with hip-hop legend Busta Rhymes, Tanzanian star Juma Jux, and Nigerian street-pop artist Bella Shmurda leading the first wave of announced performers for the month-long celebration.
The festival, running from December 6 to 31, 2025, marks a significant moment for what has become West Africa’s defining cultural phenomenon. In a video message released alongside the artist announcements, Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture & the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, positioned the festival as central to the nation’s creative strategy.
“We’re moving Detty December from a social media trend to a structured national asset,” Minister Musawa said, recognising the festival’s role in strengthening Nigeria’s global creative presence and attracting holiday tourism.
What began as a colloquial term for Lagos’s energetic December party season has evolved into an internationally recognised cultural movement. Global media outlets have taken notice: Forbes named it a bucket-list global party destination in February 2025, while Condé Nast Traveler and CNN have documented the festival circuit’s impact on travel and culture. Business publications have reported measurable tourism increases in Lagos during the December period, underscoring the economic dimensions of what was once primarily a social phenomenon.
The government’s formal endorsement signals a strategic shift in how Nigeria views its cultural exports, treating the December festival season as infrastructure rather than happenstance.
Detty December Fest will unfold across two primary venues: Ilubirin in Ikoyi and the Livespot Entertarium in Lekki. The programming spans the spectrum of Lagos’s creative output, from multi-stage concerts and nightlife experiences to fashion showcases, culinary pop-ups, and art installations.
The announced schedule includes:
The festival opens December 6 with an aerial show, followed by “A Cinematic Live Experience” on December 7. Bella Shmurda performs on December 13, with Juma Jux taking the stage on December 18 and Busta Rhymes headlining on December 19. The lineup also features Club X on December 14, a variety show titled “Christmas Like a Movie” on December 20, and closes with “The Ultimate Detty December Rave” on December 30.
Additional artists and surprise guests will be announced in phases, a rollout strategy designed to maintain momentum throughout the promotional period.
Behind Detty December Fest is Livespot360, the production company that has established itself as a major player in Nigeria’s cultural infrastructure. Their portfolio includes Entertainment Week Africa, the Livespot X Festival (which has featured Cardi B, Burna Boy, Wizkid, Tems, Tiwa Savage, Rema, and Ayra Starr), Love Like A Movie (with appearances by Kim Kardashian, Ciara, and Kelly Rowland), and reality television productions including The Real Housewives of Lagos and The Voice Nigeria.
The company’s ability to attract both international stars and maintain relationships with Nigeria’s biggest artists positions them uniquely to execute an undertaking of this scale.
While the festival caters to Lagos residents, a significant portion of attendees are expected to be diaspora Nigerians returning home for the holidays, a pattern that has become central to the Detty December phenomenon. The convergence of returning professionals, tourists, and local revellers creates an atmosphere that Livespot360 say captures something essential about contemporary Nigerian culture.
The festival’s expansion reflects both confidence in the model and recognition that Lagos’s December season has outgrown informal coordination. By consolidating programming under a unified brand with government backing, Detty December Fest aims to provide structure to what has historically been a diffuse collection of events.
Tickets for select performances are now available, with additional programming details expected in the coming weeks as Livespot360 announce the second and third waves of performers.
