The "Game of Kings" is set to return to the heart of Ikoyi with a bang. The Lagos Polo Club has officially announced the dates for the 2026 NPA Lagos International Polo Tournament, promising a three-week spectacle of high-octane sport and high society fashion.

Scheduled to gallop off on Tuesday, January 27, and conclude on February 15, 2026, the tournament remains the premier event on the West African social calendar. Club President Adeyemo Alakija described this year's edition as a "celebration of heritage and global polo culture."

A Clash of Titans

The tournament will feature Nigeria's finest players alongside top-tier professionals flown in from Argentina, the UK, and South Africa. They will compete across four prestigious cups, each representing a different handicap level:

• The Majekodunmi Cup: The crown jewel of the tournament (14+ Goal Handicap), reserved for the highest level of play in the second week (Feb 2-8).
• The Chapel Hill Denham Open Cup: Kicking off the action in Week One (Jan 27-Feb 1).
• The Low Cup: Closing the festival in Week Three (Feb 9-15).
• The Silver Cup: A fiercely contested lower-goal category running concurrently.

More Than Just a Game

"Polo in Lagos is not just about the horses; it is a lifestyle," noted Tournament Manager Usman Dantata Jnr. Beyond the chukkas, the event is a massive economic driver for Lagos, attracting corporate heavyweights like GTCO as sponsors. The sidelines will be a runway of fashion, diplomacy, and business deal-making.

With the grounds in Ikoyi primed and the stables filling up with thoroughbreds, the stage is set. For three weeks, the thunder of hooves will drown out the Lagos traffic, as the city plays host to the world.