2,500+
fisherfolk, traders and visitors gathered at the 2022 maiden edition in Esuk Mkparawa
Bakassi FishingFestival
The Bakassi International Fish Festival returns for its fifth edition — advancing the blue economy, food security and coastal prosperity.
Culture. Fisheries. Prosperity.
Five pillars of coastal prosperity
- Blue Economy
- Food Security
- Coastal Enterprise
- Culture & Tourism
- Peace & Integration
About
the festival
BIFF began in 2022 as a community celebration of Bakassi's fishing heritage — home to the biggest fishing community in Cross River State.
Today it is building the economic platform behind the culture: connecting fisherfolk, women processors, young people, businesses, government and investors across the Gulf of Guinea corridor.
Partner with BIFF↗
10+
cultural communities of the Niger Delta connected through the festival ecosystem
5
years of impact — four editions delivered, the fifth coming home November 24–25, 2026
Gallery
From the festival floor
Real moments from Nigeria's biggest fishing community — the people, the catch and the culture behind five editions of BIFF.
2,500+
fisherfolk, traders and visitors at the maiden edition — Esuk Mkparawa, June 2022
The festival is capable of meeting the standards of other nationally acclaimed fish festivals and attract participation and tourists from neighbouring countries.
One fishery, many nations — 12+ communities
EfikIjawOronAnnangIbibioAndoniOgoniItsekiriIgboMboIlayeEfikIjawOronAnnangIbibioAndoniOgoniItsekiriIgboMboIlaye
2022
Maiden edition · Esuk Mkparawa · 2,500+ gather
2023
Second edition · “Fishing Our Heritage”
2024–25
Third & fourth editions delivered
2026
Fifth edition · Nov 24–25 · Ikang Town
From festival to platform
What BIFF 2026 builds
For five years we have used culture as the entry point. Now we are building the economic platform behind it — four platforms, one coast.
The Stage01
A platform for home-grown artists, traditional performances, entertainment and the creative economy.
The Seafood Experience02
Bakassi seafood, connecting visitors directly with the food, the people and the businesses behind the catch.
The Visibility Platform03
Media, storytelling, documentary and digital content — national visibility for Bakassi, partners and participating brands.
The Enterprise & Funding Platform04
Connecting coastal entrepreneurs, women, youth and businesses with financial institutions, investors and development partners.
Blog
Latest from the waters
Stories, updates and insights from the festival and the coastal communities that power it.
Must Read
From Festival to Platform: Five Years of Impact
How a community celebration in Esuk Mkparawa grew into an institutional engine for the blue economy — and what the fifth edition means for Bakassi.
By the BIFF Media TeamStory
The Great Fisherman's Pot: A Feast Like No Other
Culture
2,500 People, One Peninsula: Remembering the Maiden Edition
Heritage
Blue Economy 101: Why Bakassi is the Gulf of Guinea's Gateway
Insight
The Big Moment · Grand Finale, Nov 25
The Great Fisherman's Pot
A signature community seafood experience — designed to attract attention, create participation and put Bakassi's fishing culture on a national stage. One pot, the whole coast.
FAQ
Good to know
November 24–25, 2026, 10:00 AM daily at Ikang Town, Bakassi LGA, Cross River State. The Grand Finale is November 25.
Lectures and sensitisation with fisheries experts, a cultural exhibition and fair, the fish and fish-product trade fair, indigenous awards, boat regatta, fishing and cooking competitions, pageantry, wrestling and carnival — anchored by the Great Fisherman's Pot on the final day.
Traditional rulers and royal fathers, the Bakassi LG Council, political leaders, tourism organisations, the Catfish Farmers Association of Nigeria, media, government agencies, business developers, market men and women, secondary schools, Cameroun business executives and 12+ Niger Delta communities — Efik, Ijaw, Oron, Annang, Ibibio, Andoni, Ogoni and more.
You can partner, sponsor, exhibit, activate, invest or join the festival ecosystem. Join the vendor waitlist below or email bakassifishfestival@gmail.com to talk sponsorship and partnership directly.
Reach thousands of consumers and community members, engage grassroots economic actors directly, activate products and services through physical experiences, build relationships with government and emerging enterprises, lead blue-economy conversations and create legacy beyond the two-day event.
Vendor Slots · BIFF 2026
Bring your business
to the water.
Exhibit at the fifth edition — Ikang Town, November 24–25, 2026. Join the waitlist and the organizers will walk you through everything: no payment required to join.
0708 335 7636 · 0703 250 5196 · 0704 645 1132
- 01
Join the waitlist
Fill in the short form with your business name, category and how to reach you.
- 02
Review & verification
The organizers review every entry for the 2026 edition — categories are limited.
- 03
Confirm your slot
Approved vendors are contacted directly to confirm space, timing and setup.