Latest news and stories about festivals in Portugal for expats and residents.
The Raízes Vivas Festival brings together gastronomy, agriculture, crafts, music, and traditions in a celebration of Ribatejo identity. The second edition of the initiative, curated by Rodrigo Castelo, will be held at Portas do Sol in Santarém on September 25th and 26th.
The band The Neighbourhood will perform at the NOS Alive festival in Portugal this July.
The giant float of Our Lady of Pena in Vila Real went out in procession for the first time since being added to the national inventory of cultural heritage. It is 23 metres tall and weighs three tonnes.
Fernão Joanes is a village in Guarda that celebrated one of the Serra da Estrela traditions this weekend, also as a way to pay tribute to the shepherds. It is the seasonal movement of herds from the higher pastures.
The Cidnay Vale do Ave festival reinforces its experimental identity with the premiere in Portugal of the works Rothko Chapel, by Morton Feldman, and November, by Dennis Johnson.
The autumn season brings Shakespeare, sketches by Porchat, and A Sexual History of the Internet, as well as the return of the Iminente festival to the school and performing arts at Circular.
César Mourão's festival has turned into an unexpected battlefield. Several artists have cancelled their participation due to Jerry Seinfeld's positions on Israel and Palestine.
César Mourão's festival has turned into an unexpected battlefield. Several artists have cancelled their participation due to Jerry Seinfeld's positions on Israel and Palestine.
At the Primavera Sound festival in June, BLITZ interviewed Rachel Goswell, co-vocalist, keyboardist and guitarist for Slowdive, a woman with a hearty laugh who does not hide her happiness at still being able to travel the world with her band, which was so heavily criticised back in the distant 90s. Along the way, she still had time to dedicate herself to something more important: helping people with deafness, like her own son.
From the 'slaughterhouse sandwich' to the sardine one, including fish in ash and 'lamb Kafta', there are dozens of gastronomic proposals to taste at Chefs on Fire, on September 19 and 20, in Cascais. In addition to the creations of 40 chefs prepared over fire, the lineup includes surprise musical entertainment.
The first edition of the Odemira Art and Science Biennial begins on October 3rd, featuring a varied programme over three days.
Brazil is the guest country for the Alentejo Heritage Festival, taking place this month in Montemor-o-Novo. The event features a samba circle by Coletivo Gira and a performance by Brazilian singer Luca Argel. Running from the 25th to the 27th, the free festival celebrates the cultural heritage of both Portugal and Brazil through music, dance, and art across the city.
Over the years, the White Night of Braga has grown in scale. While the increase in the number of participants is undeniable, its estimated value has sparked some controversy.
The return to the CCB takes place over three days of intense programming, highlighting proposals where dance is created through the contamination and intersection of cultures, geographies, inspirations, and artistic languages.
The 19th edition brings together gastronomy, street entertainment, concerts, regional product showcases, and handicrafts. One of the main goals is to demonstrate the various ways in which the product can be consumed.
Music is provided by the Manta, Trafaria Bluegrass, and Caixa Alfama festivals. Other ways to end the week: the opera Relicário Perpétuo, a Paradise to think about, and a festive return to the season.
The creator of Rock in Rio challenges the governments of Portugal and Brazil to jointly invest in the festival market. He states that these are not just parties, but also drivers of the economy.
Another weekend full of leisure activities for all tastes has arrived in Lisbon. The weather forecast is favourable for those who enjoy sun and heat, as summer is still in full swing. This weekend's highlights include the Língua da Terra Festival, the Latin America Market in Estoril, the Transatlantic Festival, a picnic for immigrant women, the Yemanjá Festival in Costa da Caparica, and the Continente summer party.
The Sagres Birdwatching Festival has matched its entire 2025 registration total in just the first week of bookings, suggesting this year’s edition could be one of the busiest yet. The The post Sagres birdwatching festival matches 2025’s registrations in just one week appeared first on Portugal Resident.
The 6th edition of the festival is themed 'Future: Present Time' and will feature 55 artists from 17 nationalities. This year will see the debut of the Vale do Ave Festival Orchestra.
Brazilians celebrate the day of Our Lady of Nazareth (8/09) with a concert by Fafá de Belém. The singer kicked off the 'Encontro das Nazarés' in the fishing village, an event that connects Brazil and Portugal through faith.
Lisbon will dance to the rhythm of the Salvador Carnival this November with the return of Lisbofolia, billed by organisers as the 'largest micareta in Europe'. While the exact date is yet to be confirmed, the event promises to bring the energy of Brazilian axé music and carnival to the city streets, featuring artists such as Igor Kannário. The festival, which debuted in 2024 with guests including Ronaldinho Gaúcho, is also expected to hold editions in Spain this year.
Alberto Gonçalves comments on the fact that several of the comedians and artists who refused to participate in a festival with Jerry Seinfeld have been present at one or more editions of the “Avante!” festival.
Awarded in Gramado, Remanente: Voltagem premieres on September 11 in Lisbon. Kapel Furman and Ricardo Oliva speak to PÚBLICO Brasil about using practical effects in the age of AI and the pleasure of imperfection.
Between freshly grilled limpets, freshly made bolo do caco and traditional poncha, the Madeira in Lisbon Festival returns to the Jardim do Arco do Cego from 10 to 20 September. Iconic Madeiran flavours are accompanied by music, workshops and handicrafts.
There is an irony that is hard to ignore at the Avante Festival: it is perhaps the last place in Portugal today where it is still possible to believe, for three days, that the PCP is not dead. One does not need to have any sympathy for the Festival, its aesthetics, or the political imagery it represents to recognise the uniqueness of the phenomenon. Sickles, ...
The event has already seen several withdrawals, but there are artists who may replace them.
In recent days, several Portuguese artists have withdrawn from the MEO Commedia a La Carte Fest, scheduled for October 29 to November 1, due to their disagreement with the public stances of headliner Jerry Seinfeld regarding Israel and the war in Gaza. The article questions the consistency of these withdrawals, noting that Seinfeld's views were already public when the artists initially accepted the invitations. It highlights the impact on event staff and workers, suggests that such withdrawals can function as a form of selective activism or moral marketing, and raises concerns about the long-term professional consequences for artists who break commitments, potentially undermining professional trust.
In the third and final year of the Todos festival in Arroios (it will move to another part of the city in 2027), the focus is on names and family ties, with dancing, theatre, and debates. Because, after all, we live together.
