Nigerians Celebrate 66 Years of Independence in NYC
MANHATTAN, NEW YORK — Saturday, October 3, 2026
Thousands gathered along Second Avenue in Midtown Manhattan on Saturday as New York City’s Nigerian community celebrated the 66th anniversary of Nigeria’s independence with a parade, live music and an afternoon festival near Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza at East 47th Street.
Green-and-white flags could be seen throughout the crowd as attendees arrived in traditional Nigerian clothing, gathered around the performance stage and filled the surrounding streets with music and dancing.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani joined the celebration, where he was seen greeting and shaking hands with event organizers before later addressing those in attendance.
As the afternoon continued, attention shifted toward the main stage. Nigerian artists Runtown, BNXN — formerly known as Buju — and Patoranking performed for a large crowd, with spectators singing along, dancing and raising their phones to capture the performances.
The sounds of the celebration extended beyond the stage. Traditional percussion could also be heard throughout the gathering, including Nigerian drumming among the crowd, adding another layer to an event that mixed contemporary Afrobeats with older cultural traditions.
The annual parade and carnival brought together Nigerians, Nigerian-Americans and supporters from across New York for an afternoon celebrating music, culture, community and Nigerian identity in the heart of Manhattan.