Upcoming Holidays and Festivals in Portugal
- Before planning a trip around a festival, verify the festival dates on the festival's website or with a local tourist information office. For more information about these and other events, visit the official tourism site for Portugal.
- This list includes major festivals in major cities, plus national holidays observed throughout Portugal. Many sights and banks close down on national holidays — keep it in mind when planning your itinerary. Note that this isn't a complete list; holidays can strike without warning.
- See upcoming holidays and festivals across Europe
2024
December: Vila Natal, Óbidos (Christmas lights, ice rink, performances); various Christmas markets (most notably several in Lisbon)
December 8: Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Imaculada Conceição, closures)
December 24: Christmas Eve (Véspera de Natal, midnight mass then feast)
December 25: Christmas Day (Natal, closures)
December 31: New Year's Eve (Noite de Ano Novo, fireworks, banging of pots and pans)
2025
January 1: New Year's Day (closures)
January 6: Epiphany (Dia de Reis; bands of carolers go from house to house)
February–March: Carnival (a.k.a. Entrudo, particularly vibrant in Lisbon and Algarve towns, some closures on March 4 for Shrove Tuesday)
February 28–March 9: Fantasporto International Film Festival, Porto
March 9–25 (likely): Óbidos International Chocolate Festival
March 19: St. Joseph's Day (Dia de São José), Santarém
April 13–20: Holy Week (Semana Santa; religious processions, especially in Braga and Óbidos)
April 18–20: Easter (Páscoa) weekend (Good Friday through Easter Sunday; closures)
April 25: Liberty Day (parades, fireworks; closures)
May 1: May Day/Labor Day (closures)
May–September (Sunday evenings): Somersby Out Jazz, Lisbon (free outdoor concerts; includes soul, funk, hip-hop)
May 13: Major pilgrimage to Fátima (Peregrinação de Fátima; also minor pilgrimages on the 13th of each month until October)
May 22–June 1: Indie Lisboa International Independent Film Festival
May 23–30: Queima das Fitas, Coimbra ("burning of the ribbons": colorful graduation processions and festivities)
Throughout June: Festas de Lisboa, Lisbon (series of festivals with celebrations peaking on June 13)
June 7–15 (likely): National Agriculture Festival, Santarém (dancing, bullfights, bull-running)
June 10: Dia de Camões (Portuguese National Day; street parties and parades; closures)
June 12–13: Dia de Santo António (St. Anthony's Day ), Lisbon (processions and dancing; closures in the city)
June 12–14: Nos Primavera Sound, Porto (indie music festival)
June 12–22 (likely): Festival de Sintra (classical music and opera)
June 14–22: Arraial Pride, Lisbon (LGBT pride festivities)
June 19: Corpus Christi (Dia de Corpo de Deus; religious processions; closures)
June 19–22: SuncéBeat Festival, Lisbon (contemporary music festival)
June 23–24: Festa de São João (St. John's Day festival), Porto (street parties, fireworks, all-night concert, bonfire-jumping, everyone hitting each other with small novelty hammers, regatta; festivities start ramping up several weeks prior)
June 29: Dia de São Pedro (St. Peter's Day), Évora and Sintra (dancing, processions)
July 5–27: AgitÁgueda, Águeda (between Coimbra and Porto; street music and other performances)
July 10–31 (likely): Festival ao Largo, Lisbon (symphony, ballet, theater performances)
July 17–24: Boom Festival, Idanha-a-Nova (Burning Man-like arts festival east of Coimbra)
July 31–September 7 (likely): Feira de São Mateus, Viseu (southeast of Porto; historic fair)
August 6–9: Sudoeste Festival, Zambujeira do Mar (rock festival)
August 7–9 (likely): Madeira Wine Rally (scenic car race)
August 15: Assumption Day (Assunção de Nossa Senhora; religious processions, closures)
August 20–23 (likely): Vilar de Mouros Festival (giant rock festival near the northern Spanish border)
August 24–September 14: Madeira Wine Festival
October 5: Republic Day (closures)
October 5 (likely): Lisbon Marathon
October 13: Major pilgrimage to Fátima (Peregrinação de Fátima)
November 1: All Saints' Day (Dia de Todos-os-Santos; closures)
December: Vila Natal, Óbidos (Christmas lights, ice rink, performances); various Christmas markets (most notably several in Lisbon)
December 1: Restoration of Independence Day (Restauração da Independência; parade on Lisbon's Avenida da Liberdade, closures)
December 8: Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Imaculada Conceição, closures)
December 24: Christmas Eve (Véspera de Natal, midnight mass then feast)
December 25: Christmas Day (Natal, closures)
December 31: New Year's Eve (Noite de Ano Novo, fireworks, banging of pots and pans)