Portugal Festivals Calendar: Month by Month

Portugal loves a festival: street parties with grilled sardines, medieval fairs, religious processions, music festivals, harvest celebrations and spectacular New Year fireworks. Here’s a month-by-month calendar of the best festivals and events in Portugal, so you can plan your trip around them (or avoid the crowds).

Quick answer: the big ones are Carnival (February), Easter in Braga, Fátima (12–13 May and October), the Santos Populares (Lisbon 12–13 June, Porto 23–24 June), NOS Alive (July), the Douro harvest (September), São Martinho (11 November), Christmas villages and New Year’s Eve in Lisbon and Madeira. Exact dates change each year, so check before you book.

January and February

• Almond blossom (late January to February): the Algarve’s hills turn white, with a festival in Castro Marim.
• Carnival (February): parades in Loulé, Torres Vedras and Ovar, and in Madeira. In 2027, Carnival Tuesday is 9 February.

March to May

• Chocolate Festival, Óbidos (March weekends). See Óbidos.
• Easter (Semana Santa): Braga’s processions are the most impressive (Easter is 28 March 2027). See Braga.
• 25 April: Freedom Day, celebrating the 1974 Carnation Revolution.
• Madeira Flower Festival (late April to May). See Funchal.
• Fátima pilgrimage (12–13 May). See Fátima.
• Queima das Fitas, Coimbra (mid to late May): the student festival.
• Lisbon Book Fair (late May to mid-June).

June to August

• Santo António, Lisbon (12–13 June): sardines, parades and street parties in Alfama. See Alfama.
• São João, Porto (23–24 June): all-night party with plastic hammers and fireworks.
• NOS Alive (July, Algés): one of Europe’s top music festivals.
• Medieval Market, Óbidos (July).
• Medieval Fair, Silves (August). See Silves.
• Romaria d’Agonia, Viana do Castelo (mid-August). See Viana.
• Festa dos Tabuleiros, Tomar (July 2027, every four years). See Tomar.

See Portugal in summer.

September to November

• The Douro harvest (September to early October). See Douro wine tours.
• Fátima (12–13 October).
• Surf contests: the World Surf League at Peniche in October. See surfing in Portugal.
• Nazaré’s big waves from October. See Nazaré.
• Golegã Horse Fair (November).
• São Martinho (11 November): roasted chestnuts and new wine.
• Aljezur Sweet Potato Festival (late November).

See Portugal in autumn.

December

• Christmas villages and lights: Óbidos Vila Natal, Wonderland Lisboa and Perlim. See Christmas in Portugal.
• New Year’s Eve: fireworks over the Tagus in Lisbon and the famous display over Funchal in Madeira.

Tips

• Book early for festival weeks, especially June in Lisbon and Porto, Fátima in May and October, and New Year in Madeira.
• Public holidays can mean closed museums and shops.

More: the best time to visit Portugal.

Prices and details change, so please double-check before you travel. Spotted something out of date? Tell us in the groups.