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Festivals, films, exhibitions and the official dates that catch foreigners out, gathered from the Portuguese press and written in English.
Updated 2 October 2026
3 to 5 October
Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo
The third Feira Agricola Transfronteirica puts Portuguese and Spanish border farmers in the same field for three days, with livestock and machinery, tastings of the region food, and music in the evenings.
11 November
Alijó
A one-day fair for the town holiday: roasted chestnuts, the year new wine, tripe, and a gastronomic showcase put on by the parishes of the council.
2 to 4 October
Canas de Senhorim, Nelas
Three days of a medieval fair at Canas de Senhorim, with merchants, troubadours, warriors and craftspeople, dancing around the fire, tests of bravery and food. No venue or detailed programme has been published.
15 to 18 October
Mogadouro, Bragança
Four days of the Feira de Atividades Económicas e Turísticas do Nordeste Transmontano, with local companies, regional produce, food, handicrafts, culture and entertainment.
2 to 5 October
Vieira do Minho, Braga
Nothing to do with the Lisbon flea market of the same name. This is the council's festa maior, one of the big romarias of the Baixo Minho, four days of street fair, traditional stalls and nightly concerts. The council presented the programme on 11 September.
2 to 5 October
Alcácer do Sal, Setúbal
The Feira Nova de Outubro in the Parque Urbano 25 de Abril has more than two centuries behind it: stalls of regional produce and dried fruit, an exhibition on the fair's own history, and concerts every night. Be aware that the Sunday afternoon at five is a corrida de touros, a bullfight, before the music at half past ten.
3 and 4 October
Vila Nova da Baronia, Alvito
Free
Festival Vai Descalço, first edition, in a small Baixo Alentejo parish: concerts, theatre, craft workshops, talks, food stalls and a market of handicrafts, jewellery, sweets and pottery, all in the jardim público. Free entry.
19 October
Mêda, Guarda
The Feira das Vindimas is one of the four fairs the council of Mêda holds each year, on a Monday, which is also the town's weekly market day. The council publishes the date and nothing more, so expect a producers' market with wine and local goods rather than a programme.
3 and 4 October
Provesende, Sabrosa
The 17th Feira do Vinho e do Azeite fills the granite streets of Provesende, one of the Douro's official wine villages, with growers pouring their own wine and oil, craft and produce stalls, a walk through the village, a show-cooking and the blessing of the new must. No price is published; village fairs like this are normally free to walk.
3 and 4 October
Vale de Ílhavo, Ílhavo
Ronco is the first national meeting of the country's traditional masks, the caretos and their cousins from Trás-os-Montes and elsewhere, with a parade through the village, a photography exhibition, a new mural, concerts and a food fair run by the local associations. No price is published.
9 to 11 October
Trutas, Marinha Grande
The village sports and cultural society runs its Festa Anual: live music, dancing, folk groups, a kitchen open all weekend and the traditional Quebra de Panelas, where blindfolded players swing at hanging clay pots. No price is published.
29 September to 4 October
Riba de Âncora, Caminha
Masses at the chapel, a concertina gathering, a honey tasting, and on the Sunday a procession from the Cruzeiro d'Apardal to the chapel, with bifanas, caldo verde and the new wine in the largo. No price is published.
3 and 4 October
Torres, Anadia
The seventh Festa do Bunho e do Junco has artisans weaving in front of you, a craft market, a bread competition, an ethnographic procession, stargazing and a documentary about the village. The market, exhibitions and procession are free; workshops run up to five euros and the Ceia Bairradina supper is 22 euros, booked by 30 September.
2 to 5 October
Marvão, Portalegre
The 19th Festival Al Mossassa turns the walled hill town into the settlement Ibn Marwan founded: Christian and Arab camps, craftsmen in the street, sword duels, archery, falconry, fire and circus shows, music and dance. No price is published.
29 September to 5 October
Frossos, Braga
Frossos opens on St Michael's day with a solemn Mass at 8.30pm and the Batalha de Flores at 9.30pm, then fills the weekend with bombos, two philharmonic bands, a procession on the Sunday afternoon and fireworks each night. It ends on the 5 October holiday with a rancho and cantares ao desafio, the improvised sung duels, from 5.15pm. No price is published.
29 October to 1 November
Alcobaça
The autumn market held for São Simão, where the stalls carry dried and candied fruit, chestnuts, walnuts and pine nuts, with the region's olive oil, cheese, cured meats and ginja liqueur beside them. A reader suggested it on Reddit in September; the council has now published this year's dates. No price is published.
23 to 25 October
Mértola, Beja
Three days of exhibitors, regional food and the traditions of the Alentejo countryside, built around hunting, at the Parque Desportivo e de Lazer Municipal for the first time. No price is published.
7 and 8 November
Mangualde, Viseu
The Feira dos Santos brings farmers, artisans and traders into several parts of the town on the Saturday and Sunday, with regional food, crafts, farm produce and street entertainment. The council has fixed the dates; the programme is still to come. No price is published.
3 to 11 October
Mateus, Vila Real
The Casa de Mateus marks 25 years of the Douro as World Heritage with concerts, talks and the opening of its new Praça da Adega. Mário Laginha plays a solo piano concert on 11 October at 4pm. No price is published.
4 October
Guarda
Dozens of dealers and collectors from around the country set up in the Praça Luís de Camões and the Rua do Comércio, selling books, household things and collectors' pieces. It runs on the first Sunday of each month from May to October, and this is the last one of 2026. No price is published.
7 to 11 October
Frende, Baião
Five days of Masses, processions and music in Frende, with the village's own Cesteiras de Frende and the stick dancers of the Pauliteiros de Miranda among the acts. No price is published.
8 to 14 October
Ribamar, Lourinhã
Ribamar's festa for Nossa Senhora de Monserrate runs for a week around the village market, with Masses, concerts and local bands. No price is published.
7 to 11 October
Silvares, Guimarães
The parish of Silvares honours Nossa Senhora do Rosário with Mass, a procession and evening concerts. No price is published.
11 October
Penela da Beira, Penedono
A one-day festa run by the village festa committee: Mass, the Banda Filarmónica de Penedono, and the procession from the parish church. No price is published.
9 to 11 October
Carvalhal Benfeito, Caldas da Rainha
The second Carvalhal Fest puts up a tent in the village for a weekend of bands, DJs, the Concertinas do Juncal, stalls of petiscos, a tractor ride and a walk. No price is published.
23 to 25 October
Sendim, Miranda do Douro
Stalls, live music and the village folk group, the Rancho do Centro Cultural de Sendim. No price is published.
30 November to 6 December
Aver-o-Mar, Póvoa de Varzim
Masses, processions and music for Santo André and Nossa Senhora do Leite, with the village's folk group, the Rancho Folclórico da Vila de Aver-o-Mar. No price is published.
9 to 11 October
Santana, Madeira
The FARM, Festival Agrícola e Repenique da Madeira, is held every two years by the Câmara de Santana in the town square, with music and a parade of tractors. No price is published.
9 to 11 October
Caneças, Odivelas
The Festas de Arco Maria Teresa honour Santa Teresinha with a procession and live music, including the choir of the Universidade Sénior de Casal de Cambra. No price is published.
22 to 25 October
Ourém, Santarém
Four days in the Parque da Cidade with food stalls, crafts, concerts and a funfair. The rock band UHF is among the acts. No price is published.
16 to 17 October
Alandroal, Évora
A two-day parish festa in the Alentejo, run by the village festival committee, in which the statue of Our Lady of the Rosary is crowned. No programme or price is published.
10 to 11 October
Bombarral, Leiria
Free
Two days of re-enactments of the Peninsular War battle, with a historic encampment and tributes: in the Largo do Município in Bombarral on the 10th and at Columbeira, by the battle's interpretation centre, on the 11th. Free entry.
8 to 13 October
Vila Real de Santo António, Faro
Six days of stalls, crafts, food, regional sweets and fairground rides along the avenue by the old wall. The 12th is a holiday in Spain, so expect many visitors from across the river that day. Open from 10:00 to 02:00 (to 01:00 on the first and last day). No price is published.
Now streaming
RTP Play
A village sitcom, 30-minute episodes, everyday conversational Portuguese. All 12 episodes of the new season are live now. European Portuguese, checked on RTP Play, Portugal.
From 24 August
RTP1
Sketch-style social satire, eight new episodes, 22:30 on RTP1 and RTP Play. Wordplay-heavy, so best suited to higher intermediate learners. European Portuguese, checked on RTP Play, Portugal.
In cinemas
Nationwide
2026's most-watched Portuguese film, still drawing audiences in NOS cinemas. A dialogue-driven 1980s music drama rather than fast slang, with Portuguese-language original-version screenings. European Portuguese, checked on NOS Cinemas, Portugal.
No date set
Only nationality applicants needing the language test
IAVE's own page states that no sitting of the language test for nationality acquisition is expected before the end of the current year.
17 October sitting, registration open
Only people needing CIPLE or CAPLE certification
Registration for the 17 October sitting opened on 7 September at 15:00 Lisbon time and is open now. The 7 November sitting opens for registration on 14 September at 15:00. Registration for the 19 September sitting has closed. The higher-level exams fall in the first week of November, DIPLE on 3 November, DEPLE and DUPLE on 4 November and DAPLE on 5 November, with registration closing 20 October. Earlier 2026 CIPLE sittings had already gone esgotado, full.
Within 2 years of residency
Only drivers with a foreign licence
Once resident in Portugal, a foreign driving licence must be exchanged for a Portuguese one within two years of establishing residency.
From 2027
Only vehicle owners
The government's simplified IUC payment regime, a single or split payment depending on the amount owed, takes effect from 2027, not 2026. The reform reorganises payment dates only and does not raise the tax itself.
In force since 19 May
Nationwide
Legal-residence periods for naturalisation rise to 7 years for Portuguese-speaking-country and EU nationals, and 10 years for others. Automatic nationality for children born in Portugal to resident foreign parents now requires parental will plus 5 years' prior residence. The special regime for descendants of Sephardic Jews has ended. Procedures formally pending on 19 May 2026 continue under the previous version of the law.
Overdue since 16 August
Nationwide
The law required government to update the Nationality Regulation within 90 days of publication, a deadline of 16 August 2026. As of this update no such regulation has appeared on Diário da República, so the practical mechanics of the new knowledge requirement remain unclear.
Reopened 18 July
Lisbon
The Founder's Collection reopened after a renovation that restored the original 1969 layout. Open Wednesday to Monday, 10:00 to 18:00, closed Tuesdays. Adult ticket 10 euros, under-18s free. A reduced senior ticket is offered, though the exact rate varies by source, so it is worth confirming at the door. Free entry on Sunday afternoons.
Closed, no date
Lisbon
Shut since November 2025 for PRR-funded works, with reopening only loosely pencilled in for the second half of 2026. The standard senior concession across Portugal's national museum network is 50 percent off, with free entry for residents on Sundays and holidays until 14:00, though this museum's own rate is unconfirmed while it is closed.
Runs to 10 January 2027
Porto
One of the museum's most ambitious shows in years, pairing 24 Miró works from the 1960s and 70s with 53 contemporary pieces. Open every day except 25 December and 1 January. Over-65s get 50 percent off. General ticket 22 euros, 19 euros for residents. Free the first Sunday of every month, all day, for residents.
7 October
Porto
António Pinho Vargas's opera, to a libretto by the poet Manuel Gusmão, first staged at São Carlos in 1998 and built out of voices, fragments of speech and quotation rather than characters. It is about the revolution and what came after it, including 25 November. This is a concert version, brought north by the national opera house. Sung in Portuguese and hard going, so come for what it is about rather than for listening practice.
10 October
Lisbon
A song-opera made with the conductor Aldo Brizzi from the Sanskrit poem Gita Govinda, performed with the Núcleo de Ópera da Bahia, choir and orchestra. The venue says it is his only Portuguese date and one of very few anywhere in Europe this year. Brazilian Portuguese rather than European, so take it as a night out and not as practice. Tickets 60 to 120 euros.
10 October
Lisbon
Free
The Évora international organ festival comes to Lisbon for the first time in its history, opening its new season at five in the afternoon with the young Spanish organist Nadal Roig Serralta, who won the festival’s first organ competition last year. Free entry, and an hour long.
11 October
Lisbon
A male choir with Coimbra and classical guitars, working through fado from Coimbra and Lisbon, Amália and José Afonso, and songs from Cape Verde, Brazil, Angola, Mozambique and Timor. Choral singing is slower and far more clearly enunciated than a solo fadista, which makes this one of the easiest concerts of the autumn to follow. Five in the afternoon, an hour and a half, in the small Coliseu Club room.
Out now
New album
The fado singer's debut as sole lyricist and composer, blending fado with flamenco, Arabic music and jazz, featuring Ana Moura and Agir. The core fado tracks are slow and repetitive, which makes them good for learners; the flamenco and jazz-inflected tracks move faster. European Portuguese, Lisbon fadista.
30 September and 2 October Lisbon, 15 October Porto
Lisbon and Porto
The 1980s new-wave band reunites for three shows. Both Lisbon nights at the Coliseu dos Recreios are sold out, and the Porto date is down to its last tickets. Fast, dense rock, so not a learner pick, included as a notable cultural event.
Saturday afternoons, September to November
Entroncamento
The Museu Nacional Ferroviario puts a fifty-minute chamber concert into its halls on Saturday afternoons at half past three, through to November, for the 170th anniversary of the railway in Portugal. There is no extra charge: the concerts are covered by the ordinary museum ticket.
16 to 18 October
Alcoutim, Faro
The Guadiana International Music Festival puts over 20 acts on two stages by the river at Alcoutim, with Sanlúcar de Guadiana in Spain across the water. Quem é o Bob? headline, with Margem do Rio, Juke Joint Blues and The Crooners among the rest. Free.
17 October
Póvoa de Varzim
Cantar a Povoa marks ninety years of the Rancho Poveiro, with the group and the town philharmonic band together at a quarter to ten in the evening.
30 October
Barcelos
Free
The fifth concert of the Barcelos Fest Ensemble season brings the cellist Varoujan Bartikian and the pianist Bernardo Santos into the parish church. All six concerts in the series are free.
5 October
Barcelos, Braga
The Banda Musical de Belinho and the Banda Musical de Oliveira play together at three in the afternoon at the Campo 5 de Outubro, closing the Ciclo de Bandas Cândido Bastos.
4 October
Sanguinheira, Cantanhede
Os Amigos do Zeca play the songs of José Afonso at half past nine at the Centro Social de Recreio e Cultura da Sanguinheira. Tickets are sold at the junta de freguesia, at Café Cantinho and at the Escola de Condução Zita.
11 October
Rebordões Souto, Ponte de Lima
Free
The Associação Banda de Música de Estorãos plays at three in the afternoon in the churchyard of the parish church at Rebordões Souto. Free entry, organised by the Município de Ponte de Lima.
10 October
Sardoal, Santarém
The Camerata de Estudantes do Instituto Superior Técnico plays Luís de Freitas Branco at half past nine at the Centro Cultural Gil Vicente, with commentary by Sara Maia, presented by Celebratorium in its series of commented concerts. The year marks the composer’s 136th anniversary. Tickets 2.68 euros.
15 October
Albergaria-a-Velha, Aveiro
Free
The Coral da Jobra, a local choir of more than fifty years' standing, sings mostly in Portuguese with piano, violin, flute and percussion in the Espaço Café-Concerto of the Cineteatro Alba at ten on a Thursday night, an hour, in the theatre's Às Quintas series. Free.
3 October, 5.30pm
Perolivas, Reguengos de Monsaraz
The Banda da Sociedade Filarmónica Corvalense brings its programme Com/Passos Musicais, overtures, marches and pasodobles, to the Polidesportivo de Perolivas at half past five on a Saturday. Instrumental, so nothing to follow but the tune. No price is published.
24 October, 5.30pm
Bragança
The 27th Encontro Internacional de Grupos Corais brings the Coral Brigantino, Coral Amadeus, Coral de Chaves and the Orfeão Limiano from Ponte de Lima to the theatre's auditorium for a hundred minutes on a Saturday afternoon. Mostly sung in Portuguese, slowly and clearly, as choirs do. Two euros.
10 October, 8pm
Bemposta, Penamacor
Four fadistas, António Sousa, Conceição Martins, Milu Silva and Valéria Gonçalves, sing with Portuguese guitar and viola in the Salão da Junta de Freguesia, put on by the village's own sports and culture association. The concert has no published price; the optional jantar-convívio is fifteen euros, booked by 6 October on 965 817 136.
19 December, 9.30pm
Santa Comba Dão
The Sociedade Filarmónica Lealdade Pinheirense, the band of Pinheiro de Ázere, gives its twelfth Gala de Natal at the Casa da Cultura, ninety minutes of wind-band Christmas repertoire. Five euros; the programme is promised nearer the day.
9 October, 9.30pm
Ferreira do Zêzere, Santarém
Free
Galveias Em-Cante turns José Luís Peixoto's novel Galveias into Alentejo cante for cantadores, accordion, violin, bass clarinet and percussion, directed by Amílcar Vasques-Dias, and Peixoto himself talks afterwards. In the town library. Sung in Portuguese. Free entry.
25 October, 4.30pm
Monção, Viana do Castelo
The Grupo DesFados marks its tenth birthday with the songs that made its name, joined by a guest orchestra from Leiria, at half past four on a Sunday in the town's cine-theatre. Sung in Portuguese. Five euros.
3 October, 9.30pm
Santa Maria da Feira
The Orquestra Sinfónica de Jovens de Santa Maria da Feira, under Paulo Martins, with a prize-winning young soloist, at the Cineteatro António Lamoso. Instrumental. The page sells tickets but does not show a price.
8 November, 5pm
Loulé
The Associação de Fado do Algarve's Gala Celeste Rodrigues, named for the fadista, on a Sunday afternoon. Eight euros; free for holders of the Loulé council senior card and for children up to twelve, with tickets collected at the box office.
14 November, 6pm
Lamego
The Quarteto Santa Cruz and guitarist Paulo Vaz de Carvalho play three Boccherini quintets, among them the Fandango and the Retirada de Madrid, in Lamego's theatre on a Saturday at six. Instrumental. Eight euros, seven fifty with discount.
3 October, 8pm
Portalegre
The Centro Vicentino da Serra puts on an evening of fado, sung in Portuguese, in aid of its Viajar por uma Causa project in São Tomé e Príncipe, with the council's support. Adults 20 euros, children aged six to ten 12 euros.
9 October, 9.30pm
Monção, Viana do Castelo
Contraponto is an a cappella group of young singers trained together at the Academia de Música de Viana do Castelo, singing classical, jazz and pop with no instruments, in Portuguese and other languages. Seventy minutes, no interval, doors at 8.30pm. Seats 5 euros.
2 October, 9.30pm
Nisa, Portalegre
Nisa marks World Music Day with the Quarteto de Guitarras Concordis, four guitarists together since 2005, playing a Portuguese repertoire that includes Carlos Paredes and Zeca Afonso. Instrumental. No price is published.
7 November, 9.30pm
Penacova, Coimbra
The band plays swing, jazz, rock'n'roll and boogie-woogie, sung in English and Portuguese. Seats 15 euros.
26 September to 22 November
Viana do Castelo
Free
The diocese's organ cycle opens in the Sé on 26 September at 9.30pm, then moves to São Domingos (10 October), Serreleis (6 November), the Misericórdia (15 November, 4pm), the monastery of São Romão de Neiva (21 November) and Areosa (22 November, 4pm). Evening concerts at 9.30pm. Instrumental. Free.
4 October, from 2pm
Castanheira do Vouga, Águeda
The União de Bandas de Águeda brings the six philharmonic bands of the council together: a parade of all six at 2pm, then a band concert by the church. Instrumental. No price is published.
18 October, 4pm
Sardoal, Santarém
Five accordionists play traditional Portuguese music, classical pieces and variety, in solos and duos, then all together at the end. About two hours. Tickets through the venue's page; no price printed there.
18 October, 6pm
Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira
Free
A soprano with violin, viola, cello and piano, in the classical music season at Angra's cultural centre. Free.
3 October, 6pm
Évora
The Grupo Vocal Olisipo sings Renaissance polyphony, part of the Jornadas Internacionais on the old music school of the Sé de Évora. No price is published.
4 October, 6pm
Querença, Loulé
Sérgio Gladkyy and Diogo Pardal play Piazzolla, Debussy, Bartók and Gershwin with no amplification. Doors 5pm. 30 euros with wine, water and snacks; booking needed.
24 October, 9pm
Monsanto, Idanha-a-Nova
Free
The Encontros MED end with voice, lyra, oud and frame drums, tracing the old modal music that runs from the Iberian peninsula across the Mediterranean. Sung in Spanish and Turkish. Free.
2 and 3 October
Vila de Rei, Castelo Branco
The tuna is the Portuguese student band in black capes, with guitars, mandolins and tambourines. A night of serenades at the Parque de Feiras on the 2nd from 9.30pm, then four visiting tunas in the Auditório Municipal on the 3rd at 9pm. Sung in Portuguese. No price is published.
17 October, 9.30pm
Águas de Moura, Palmela
Free
Susana Martins and Rafael Ascenso sing, with Rui do Cabo and Albano Jerónimo on viola and Portuguese guitar, as part of Palmela's Month of Music. Sung in Portuguese. Free.
10 October, 4pm
Pousafoles do Bispo, Sabugal
Sabugal's Sons do Côa festival takes music to five places in the council through October. This afternoon is Inês Vaz with her show "Partir. Revenir." in the parish church of Pousafoles do Bispo. No price is published.
18 October, 4pm
Olhão, Faro
Free
Pedro Viola sings in the town auditorium's Sunday fado series. Sung in Portuguese. Free.
24 October, 9.30pm
Santiago do Cacém, Setúbal
The singer brings "Pouco a Pouco", a stripped-back evening of songs, stories and conversation. Tickets on Ticketline; no price is published on the council page.
17 October, 9.30pm
Penafirme, Torres Vedras
Dinner at 7.30pm (fish soup, braised beef, arroz doce), then a show of fado and popular songs from around Portugal with Portuguese guitar, viola, piano and accordion. Sung in Portuguese. 25 euros, 20 for members; book on 927 599 535.
30 October, 9.30pm
Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira
Free
Sónia Pereira Trio presents "Gratidão", an evening of poetry and music. Free, but collect a ticket at the box office on 29 October or from 6pm on the day.
17 October, 9.30pm
Neiva, Viana do Castelo
Free
The Coro de Pequenos Cantores de Esposende, the Coro Ars Vocalis and the Coro Sonus Aura sing "Welcome to... Whanau", which also opens the 40th year of the Escola de Música de Esposende. Free.
10 October, 5pm
Alpedrinha, Fundão
Free
The Beira Interior Choir Competition brings choirs from Portugal, Czechia, Lithuania, Estonia and Poland to the Fundão from 7 to 11 October, with free concerts. This one is in the parish church of Alpedrinha. The choirs singing it are not named yet. Free.
9, 10 and 11 October
Pinhel, Guarda
Pinhel's Festival Património visits three parishes in one weekend: fado and Coimbra song in the church at Gouveias (Friday, 9.30pm), Lisbon fado at the Junta de Freguesia in Souropires (Saturday, 9.30pm), and Portuguese guitar with a youth choir in the church at Valbom (Sunday, 4.30pm). Sung in Portuguese. No price is published.
15 October, 9.30pm
Caldas da Rainha, Leiria
João Lóio sings with his guitar and António Durães reads poems, in an intimate evening of about 75 minutes. In Portuguese. No price is published.
10 October, 6pm
Funchal, Madeira
A chamber concert with the Legno Duo, Joana Costa on violin and Duarte Santos on percussion. Instrumental. Tickets 20 euros, at the Loja Gaudeamus or at the door from 5pm.
3 to 18 October
Vila Nova de Gaia
Free
The council gives each of its historic bands a concert: the Sociedade Musical 1.º de Agosto (3 October, 9.30pm), the Banda Musical Leverense, founded in 1832 (5 October, 5pm), the Sociedade Filarmónica de Crestuma (17 October, 9.30pm) and the Banda Musical de Avintes (18 October, 5pm). Instrumental. Free, until the hall is full.
8 October, 9.30pm
Vila Nova de Famalicão, Braga
The Casa das Artes holds fado in its café every month. This night has Matilde Costa, then Filomena Sousa, with Portuguese guitar, fado viola and acoustic bass, for about 80 minutes. Sung in Portuguese. No price is published.
Starting now
Nationwide
In Portuguese, uva is a grape and vindima is the harvest. The Vinho Verde region's harvest is expected to pick up from mid-month, depending on region, with the wine institute forecasting production up 12 percent nationally.
Ending soon
Nationwide
In Portuguese, figo. Still available but closer to the tail of the season than the peak, with the season closing in September.
Early this year
Oeste
In Portuguese, pera rocha. The Oeste region's harvest began before 15 August this year because of the heat, with growers estimating 131,000 tonnes, 13 percent more than last year.
Just arriving
Nationwide
In Portuguese, marmelo. Due from mid-month, depending on region, once temperatures start dropping.
23 to 25 October
Vinhais and Arouca
Nothing is at market yet, and the two councils that make the most of the crop have both booked the last full weekend of October. Vinhais holds its 21st Rural Castanea in Trás-os-Montes, and Arouca runs its Festival da Castanha on the Avenida 25 de Abril with roasting, traditional dancing and regional stalls. Worth putting in a diary now if a magusto is the plan.
28 to 30 November
Aljezur
Free
The Lyra sweet potato that carries the Aljezur name, eaten through everything from convent sweets to savoury dishes. Entry and parking are both free, which the festival says plainly.
4 October
Vila Nova de Poiares, Coimbra
Free
The Confraria da Chanfana and the council aim to cook record quantities of chanfana in the certified black clay pots of Olho Marinho, handed out free on the Alameda de Santo André between noon and six, with traditional pastries and wine tastings alongside.
11 October
Penalva do Castelo, Viseu
The thirtieth fair for the Bravo de Esmolfe apple, the variety native to Esmolfe parish, runs from eight in the morning to nine at night at the Centro de Exposições de Produtos DOC, with products and crafts on sale.
18 to 22 November
Alcaide, Fundão
The village mushroom festival runs tasquinhas serving mushroom dishes, mycological walks in the Serra da Gardunha, workshops, talks, cooking shows and a Mercado da Terra. The 2026 programme is not published yet.
1 to 5 October
Torres Novas, Santarém
Free
The 39th Feira Nacional dos Frutos Secos fills the old town with growers' stalls built around the figo preto de Torres Novas, the town's dried black fig, alongside almonds, walnuts and raisins and the cakes, jams and liqueurs made from them, with a dried-fig pastry competition. The council says entry is free.
2 to 5 October
Alvaiázere, Leiria
The chícharo is the grass pea, a poor man's pulse that this small town has made its own. The 22nd Festival Gastronómico runs tasquinhas kept by local associations, a market of local produce, crafts and bric-a-brac, street entertainment, concerts and guided walks.
3 to 5 October
Lorvão, Penacova
Free
The fifth Mostra Nacional de Doçaria Conventual sets twenty of the country's best-known makers up inside the Mosteiro de Lorvão, from the local pastéis de Lorvão and nevadas de Penacova to ovos moles from Aveiro, pastel de Tentúgal and sericaia from Évora, with workshops, talks, organ recitals and choirs in the church. Free entry while there is room.
7 and 8 November
Meruge, Oliveira do Hospital
The 23rd Feira do Porco e do Enchido: association-run tavernas serve arroz da sua, torresmos na caçoila and pork roasted on the spit, and local producers sell hand-made chouriças, farinheiras, alheiras, cured hams and morcelas. The village of Meruge gets thousands of visitors for it.
19 to 22 November
Alcobaça
The 28th Mostra Internacional de Doces e Licores Conventuais fills the monastery with more than thirty makers from across Portugal and abroad, selling the egg-and-sugar recipes the Cistercian nuns and monks left behind, with the liqueurs to match. It has run since 1999 and is the biggest event of its kind in the country. The programme and entry price are not published yet; past editions charged a few euros at the door.
2 to 4 October
Armamar, Viseu
Free
The Feira da Maçã de Montanha puts the apple grown on the high slopes of Armamar in front of the people who grow it, with apple cakes and preserves, cheeses, sausages and wine, tastings and cooking demonstrations. Free entry.
23 to 25 October
Sernancelhe, Viseu
Sernancelhe's Festa da Castanha puts the growers' stalls in the street, with tastings, cooking over open fires, craft demonstrations, concerts and things for families. The town's chestnut has its own protected name. No price is published.
11 October
Fazendas do Cortiço, Montemor-o-Novo
The nineteenth Feira do Mel runs all day: a walk at 8.30am, a beekeepers' talk in the morning, a shared lunch, then Alentejo singing groups and a rancho through the afternoon, with the Bolo de Mel prizes at 4.15pm. Local honey, produce and crafts on sale throughout. No price is published.
31 October and 1 November
Góis, Coimbra
The Feira dos Santos, do Mel e da Castanha fills the town sports hall and the ground around it with beekeepers, craftspeople and local traders over the All Saints weekend. No price is published.
7 to 11 October
Vila Verde, Braga
The thirty-fourth Festa das Colheitas is the regional produce fair of Vila Verde, with farm traditions, popular music, Minho cooking and local crafts. No price is published.
10 and 11 October
Idanha-a-Velha, Castelo Branco
Casqueiro is the local wood-oven bread, and this weekend festival celebrates it in the walled village of Idanha-a-Velha, as part of the council's yearly run of food festivals. No price is published.
1 to 4 October
Camacha, Madeira
The parish of Camacha and the Grupo de Folclore do Rochão put on four days in the Largo da Achada around the apple, the parish's crop, with folk music and food. No price is published.
10 and 11 October
Martim Longo, Alcoutim
Martim Longo's fair celebrates the red partridge and the crafts and produce of the hills around it, earlier in the year than usual and on a new site. Organised by the Câmara de Alcoutim. No price is published.
17 to 25 October
Vila de Rei, Castelo Branco
Achigã is black bass, a freshwater fish, and for nine days three restaurants in Vila de Rei build their menus around it. Prices are the restaurants' own.
24 and 25 October
Carrapichana, Celorico da Beira
The council, the parish and two local farming groups hold a weekend festival around Serra da Estrela DOP lamb in Carrapichana. From 26 October to 1 November, restaurants in the council keep lamb dishes on the menu. No price is published.
23 to 25 October
Abrantes, Santarém
Free
The 24th national fair of traditional sweets fills the Esplanada 1.º de Maio in the old town with more than thirty stalls from around the country and the islands. This year's theme is olive oil in sweets, with the local Broas Fervidas (olive oil, honey and walnut) made live at the opening. Free entry.
4 to 6 December
Melgaço, Viana do Castelo
Three days of sparkling wines from the Monção and Melgaço sub-region, the home of Alvarinho, with local food and produce alongside. No price is published.
10 and 11 October
São João da Serra, Oliveira de Frades
The market opens on Saturday at 2pm, with a tasting of the parish's own wines at 3.30pm and a cookery demonstration in the evening. Sunday brings more tastings from 11am, lunch at 12.30 and the local rancho folclórico at 3pm. No price is published.
17 to 25 October
Cadaval, Lisboa
Cadaval marks the end of the harvest at the table for nine days, reviving the old rural adiafa, alongside its national festival of Vinho Leve. No price is published.
9 to 11 October
Lara, Monção
The second edition of a three-day village fair near Monção, in a covered tent beside the local association's clubhouse, with music, food, crafts and local traditions. It opens on the 9th at 18:00. No price is published.
18 October
Crato, Portalegre
Free
The last stage of the council's Rota das Romarias walks, starting and ending at the Jardim Municipal and passing the Roman remains around the town. Registration is free and includes insurance; sign up with the council's sports office.
arrendamento
Renting, in the legal sense: the letting of a house or flat. The word on the contract and in the law.
If you rent a home in Portugal, your paper is a "contrato de arrendamento". The verb is "arrendar". In everyday talk people also say "alugar uma casa", but the contract and the law say arrendamento. The article carries the rest of the set: the "senhorio" is the landlord, the "inquilino" the tenant, the "renda" the monthly rent, the "caução" the deposit and the "despejo" the eviction. Under the Government's first text, a landlord could ask for three deposits instead of two, and an eviction could start after two months of unpaid rent instead of three. The deposit rule is one of the points now set to change before the final vote.
PSD e Chega chegaram a acordo para alterar na especialidade proposta do Governo sobre arrendamento
PSD and Chega reach a deal to amend the Government's rental proposal in committee.
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on that dayrunning through it
16 things on this page have no single date, so they are not on the calendar. 4 more are dated beyond these two months.
A story, quote or joke in European Portuguese every Saturday morning, with the translation and one word explained. Always free, and you can stop whenever you like.
Everything here is checked against the source named beside it. Dates and opening times do change, so check with the organiser before you travel. This page is not legal, tax or medical advice.
