Top 12 Portugal Festivals & Events in 2025

Each year Portugal plays host to a range of festivals and events, which are remarkable collections and reflections of its diversity. From Portuguese traditions, old and contemporary music, and coastal and street celebrations to religious performances, the top Portuguese festivals below provide an unforgettable experience for any trip to Portugal.

NOS Alive

Date: The second week of July, 10th to 12th July 2025

Annually held outside of Lisbon, NOS Alive is a big feast of music and sound in Portugal, which has become a travel magnet for diverse music fans from the young to older generations.

Characterized by an incredible mix of some of the biggest genres in rock, indie, electronic, and pop music, NOS Alive features an impressive lineup that includes rock bands, superstars, indie artists, electronic DJs, and famous headliners in the industry.

You can enjoy a variety of music performances alongside many forms of vibrant festive activities. Many food stalls provide extraordinary flavors of cuisines, from traditional Portuguese specialties to international dishes. You can also take leisure time to recreate in mixed bars, savoring refreshing beverages and alcoholic drinks, such as local beers and cocktails.

Music Live Show in Lisbon

Boom Festival

Date: July 17th to 24th, 2025

The Boom Festival is a well-known electronic music and arts event held in Idanha-a-Nova Lake, Portugal. It is worldwide influential for electronic music and dazzling stages that attract a great number of psychedelic trance addicts each time.

This biennial festival focuses on psychedelic trance culture, emphasizing consciousness, freedom, transformation, and sustainability. You can enjoy some of the best psychedelic genres, such as psytrance, downtempo, progressive trance, techno, and ambient in different electronic spaces like houses, theaters, or live stages.

The inspiring vision and surrounding lush landscapes offer you an exhilarating atmosphere when you appreciate excellent psychedelic performances by a top-tier lineup of world-renowned artists. Whether you explore human-concerned art galleries, interact with visual creations, or release your imagination in a workshop, Boom Festival promises impressive creativity and an enduring memory.

Carnival (Entrudo)

Date: 40 days before Easter, March 4th to 9th for 2025

As an ancient, lively tradition to celebrate the arrival of spring, Carnival in Portugal features flower-filled and children's parades, weird costumes, Caretos, fantastic masks, and iconic dances with samba beats, which is distinguished from Carnival in Italy.

The most celebrated day is on Carnival Tuesday. You can expect giant, colorful floats and allegorical cars that carry participants dressed as different clownish figures, alongside masked dancers and joyful live music. Before that, the night of Monday brims with street parties and bar gatherings, sampling a selection of carnival foods.

Carnival is observed across Portugal. Ovar is famous for its samba school parade, and Torres Vedras boasts the most Portuguese traditions of carnival. Cities like Madeiroptions and Oule; are also good options. Whatever you are in each city, the carnival in Portugal will impress you a lot with exoticism, fantasy, and color.

Entrudo, Portuguese Carnival

Madeira Flower Festival

Date: May 1st to 25th, 2025

The Flower Festival is a magical highlight on the island of Madeira. This is a celebration of spring when the island's flowers are in full bloom, carrying a holy symbol for locals.

The flower colors, decorations, and fragrances that fill the Madeiran gardens and streets are great attractions for flower lovers. You can't miss the Flower Parade. It involves a dramatic procession of floats decorated with thousands of fresh flowers, alongside traditional Portuguese folk singing and a unique scented waltz performed by local dancers in gorgeous Madeiran costumes (featuring an exaggerated big hat formed by real flowers).

You can also expect the flower exhibition. The attractive thing is its incredible floral arrangements, allowing you to appreciate and take beautiful pictures of a wide variety of exotic flowers like lilies, daisies, and orchids. Take time to visit the Wall of Hope, a symbolic construction where you can place a flower to hope for love and peace.

Sintra Festival

Date: June 12th to 21st, 2025

If you plan to travel to Sintra, don't miss its legendary festival as a good match for a beautiful and historical setting. This Portugal festival can be a convincing reason to explore Sintra, an enchanting town near Lisbon.

You can take in a dramatic display of classic music by both established artists and up-and-coming performers, ranging from orchestral playing, chamber music, cinema, and opera to solo recitals. Each performance can cater to your taste.

The impressive charm is that the music playing takes place in diverse picturesque venues throughout Sintra. From historic sites like palaces, castles, and churches to lush parks, you not only feast on the brilliant melody paired with unique ambiance, but also bask in exploring that historic heritage and natural beauty. Beyond the music fun, you can attend outdoor beach parties to interact intimately with the local lifestyle.

Enchanting Town of Sintra

Holy Week (Semana Santa) & Easter

Date: April 13th to 20th, 2025

Holy Week (Semana Santa) and Easter (Pascoa) are significant religious celebrations alive with distinctive rituals and processions across Portugal. Holy Week starts on Palm Sunday and lasts until next Saturday afternoon, the week before Easter.

You can taste a variety of special foods each day during the holiday, including "Folar de Pascoa" (a sweet bread with a boiled egg), "bacalhau"(traditional salted cod), "cabrito" (roast lamb), and various sweets.

Braga is the focus place of Holy Week that celebrates the most fantastic processions. Like the "Ecce Homo" procession, "Procissao Senhor Morto," and "Farricocos," they are both solemn and joyful. You can see many unique traditions like carrying the statue of Jesus, washing of feet, the Lord's Supper, etc. Other destinations like Porto, Loule, or Lisbon also add their regional enchantment to these holy events.

Fatima Pilgrimage

Date: Annually May 13th and October 13th

Located north of Lisbon, Fatima is one of the greatest and holiest Catholic sites in the world. Every year millions of Christian pilgrims start their rewarding journey to the Sanctuary of Fatima, which is renowned as the Fatima Pilgrimage.

The pilgrimage is in honor of two significant events: the "Apparition to Three Shepherd Children" and the "Miracle of the Sun," both of which link pilgrims' witness to the visit of the Virgin Mary. You can pray and pay homage to Our Lady of Fatima at the Apparitions Chapel as well.

This majestic Marian Church boasts a prominent bell tower and nave that amazingly holds many altars, bells, organs, and stained glass windows. Take time to visit the homes and tombs of the three shepherds in the village of Aljustre, and be a member of the candle procession with different pilgrims in the evening. The pilgrimage offers incredible religious experiences that you really feel its sacred significance.

Sanctuary of Fatima

Feast Day of Saint Anthony (Festival of Sardines)

Date: Annually June 13th

The Feast Day of Saint Anthony is in honor of Saint Anthony of Padua, a venerable priest who devoted himself to the poor and needy with his powerful teaching and extensive knowledge.

You can get close to its festive traditions in Lisbon. You may see people arranging a type of basil with small green leaves, called Manjerico. Local couples give this potted plant with a beautiful flower and paper card as gifts to their lovers on the feast day for a happy marriage.

The Saint Anthony celebration is also known as the Festival of Sardines since eating sardines is another important tradition. On the nights of June 12th and 13th, the narrow cobbled streets of Lisbon will fill with music, dance, and mixed scents of food. Where there are street food stalls, there are street parties. You can make your option of one party, enjoying grilled sardine, Portuguese cabbage soup, sangria, and refreshing beer with partygoers.

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Festival of St. John of Porto

Date: The midsummer on June 23rd and 24th.

The Festival of St. John of Porto (Festa de Sao Joao do Porto) is a shining regional feast in Porto. You have chances to take a glimpse into some pagan traditions, for example, local people hit each other with plastic hammers or garlic flowers and release paper balloons into the sky that day.

The night brings the most vitality to the celebration. You can participate in one of the festive parties, soaking in street concerts that feature traditional Portuguese folk tunes and dances, watching the thrilling show of jumping over bonfires, and trying local delicious foods like barbecued sardines, port wines, and "Caldo Verde," a traditional Portuguese soup.

A large-scale fireworks show is a must-see highlight of St. John of Porto. Record an amazing picture when beautiful fireworks explode into the night sky. As local people do, that would be an unforgettable moment to head to the shores of the Atlantic in Matosinhos for the refreshing sunrise that really ends the festival.

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International Sand Sculpture Festival (FIESA)

Date: From mid-March to mid-November, 2025

Maybe you're familiar with ice sculpture, but have you imagined a golden world of sand sculptures? Held annually in the Algarve, the International Sand Sculpture Festival (FIESA) is a remarkable experience that will fulfill your building dream on the beach as a child.

This popular Portugal festival involves a different theme every year, from history, nature, and music to mythology. These artworks are shaped into various images, ranging from historical or mythological figures, animals, and buildings to fantasy. Marvel at the incredible size and intricate details of each sculpture.

If you visit until twilight, the illuminated sculptures are another stunning sight to record. There are workshops and demonstrations where you can learn about sculpting techniques and create your own original pieces of sand sculptures with your children. The festival provides a great opportunity to experience the unique sand-sculpturing culture and lasting entertainment.

Sand Castle

Festival of the Red Waistcoat (Festa do Colete Encarnado)

Date: in the first weekend of July, 4th to 6th July, 2025

The Festival of the Red Waistcoat is a popular regional celebration of cowboys in Portugal. It usually happens in the town of Vila Franca de Xira on the outskirts of Lisbon.

The festival is dedicated to the town's patron saint, the Champions (cowboys), who protect the town's fertile pastureland. A major highlight of the festival is the Bull Run, which features thrill and exhilaration. You can see a row of bulls running on the streets, alongside directors dressed in typical red attire.

Another iconic spectacle is the horse procession. Riders, who wear red vests and traditional Alentejo hats, march on horseback and pay tributes to the campeoes through the streets of the town. Besides, you can enjoy local, exciting bullfights and horse races, along with various concerts of traditional folk music and dances. The festival brings a wonderful glimpse into the unique Portuguese version of cowboy and bull run culture.

Rock in Rio Lisboa

Date: 13th, 14th, 20th, 21st June 2026

Rock in Rio Lisboa is a biennial music festival held in the heart of Lisbon. This is a tremendous part of the Brazilian music brand "Rock in Rio," and it has developed its new feature with Portugal's culture.

This festival catches attention for its top-tier showcase of a wide array of music names, like rock, pop, hip-hop, and contemporary electronic music by local and international talents. You can immerse yourself in 12-hour emotional performances on different lighting stages. It's a nice chance to contact some headliners in this industry, from legendary to up-and-coming stars.

Besides the main genres, you can also enjoy some niches like Latin and African music that astound your musical taste. Beyond music, it's also wonderful entertainment to experience interactive art installations, street art exhibitions, or thrilling sky wheels during the festival.

Enjoy the Top Festivals in Portugal With Odynovo

These top festivals provide an excellent chance to take in the best of Portugal's traditions and vibrant gatherings. There are wonderful celebrations, each of which features unique experiences, from music, food, and cooking to religions. Start your Portugal journey with Odynovo. Feel free to contact us and we will offer diverse personal itineraries for these festivals throughout the year. Based on your needs and preferences, the Portugal tour can't miss any incredible highlights of each festival and celebration, and you're sure to enjoy the country's amazing cultural diversity and leave lasting memories.