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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 23 October 2026
24, 25 and 28 October
Novais, Vila Nova de Famalicão
A parish festa for São Simão. Saturday has a concertina group at 20:00 and fireworks at midnight. Sunday has a street band in the morning, then Mass at 15:00 and the procession. A last Mass on Wednesday the 28th closes it.
28 October
Sardoal, Santarém
The Feira de São Simão, also called the Feira da Fossa, is always on 28 October, the day olive pickers from the Beira Baixa used to arrive. Traders call out their chestnuts, walnuts, almonds, dried figs and grain. This year it moves to the Avenida Heróis do Ultramar.
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.
30 October to 1 November
Alvito, Beja
The old All Saints fair in Alvito has concerts on the Friday and Saturday nights, with Miguel Gameiro & Pólo Norte and Os Quatro e Meia, plus a Xutos & Pontapés tribute band and a popular afternoon. Sunday has a lunch for people from Alvito.
31 October, 9pm
Landeira, Vendas Novas
Free
The Rancho Folclórico de Landeira hosts its St Martin's folk festival in the village club's hall. Free.
1 November
Cerdal, Valença
The Feira dos Santos in Cerdal is a market and a pilgrimage on the same day. Hundreds of stalls sell farm produce, clothes, crafts and farm machinery. There is new wine to taste, regional snacks, a cattle fair, popular music and races for Garrano horses.
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.
7 November
Aranhas, Penamacor
The Rancho Folclórico de Aranhas, founded in 1936, marks its 90th birthday. The photo exhibition opens at 9am at the Penamacor municipal museum, a talk on folklore today follows at 10am at the Teatro Clube, and at 4pm the group performs in the churchyard in Aranhas, followed by a community chestnut roast.
7 November, 4pm
Luzianes-Gare, Odemira
An afternoon of local tradition at the Centro Social. It starts at 4pm with cante ao baldão accompanied by viola campaniça, then local folk poets at 6pm and amateur accordionists at 7pm.
8 November, 2.30pm
Esposende, Braga
The council and the folk groups of the area hold their yearly magusto in the Largo do Mercado, open to everyone. There are roast chestnuts, vinho verde and dances and songs from the participating groups.
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.
15 November, 10am to 7pm
Esposende, Braga
A crafts fair in the Largo Rodrigues Sampaio, held to promote local and regional crafts and heritage. The council lists the day and hours but no list of stallholders.
15 November
Vila Real
A mushroom walk in the woods of Casa de Mateus with the mycologist Miguel Soares runs from 10am to 2pm, followed by a lunch with regional wines. At 3pm an exhibition by the artist Jiôn Kiim opens, and at 4pm the Borealis Ensemble gives a concert.
26 to 29 November
Estremoz, Évora
Naturest, a fair of hunting, fishing and outdoor activities, fills Pavilion C of the Estremoz fairground during the town's Cozinha dos Ganhões. Opens Thursday at 7pm and ends Sunday at 8pm.
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.
5 and 6 December
Loulé, Faro
Free
Loulé council's Christmas fair brings food producers and craftspeople from the Serra do Caldeirão to the old Carnival warehouse beside the Convento de Santo António. Some crafts are made on the spot. Free.
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.
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.
7 November sitting, registration open
Only people needing CIPLE or CAPLE certification
Registration for the 7 November sitting has been open since 14 September, and the calendar gives 20 October as the last day. The 17 October sitting closed for registration on 5 October. The higher-level exams fall in the first week of November: DIPLE on 3 November, DUPLE on 4 November and DAPLE on 5 November. DIPLE and DUPLE close for registration on 20 October. DEPLE on 4 November is already full (esgotado).
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.
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.
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.
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.
27 October, 9pm
Águeda, Aveiro
A guitar quartet plays Portuguese music by Carlos Paredes, Madredeus and others, with Estefânia Surreira reading poetry between the pieces, in Portuguese. About an hour. Tickets 5 euros.
29 to 31 October
Amarante, Porto
Three days of jazz curated by Mário Barreiros. The programme includes Legacy: Miles & Coltrane, for the hundredth anniversary of both men's birth, and the Orquestra Jazz de Matosinhos with Fuensanta. Each evening ends in the café-concert with the Romeu Tristão Trio. Tickets €10 in the stalls and €8 in the balcony.
30 October, 9.30pm
Arganil, Coimbra
Musical Amália: Fado e Saudade comes to Arganil. The council lists only the title, the time and the place.
30 October, 9.30pm
Arouca, Aveiro
Free
Juan de la Rubia, organist of the Sagrada Família basilica in Barcelona, gives a one-hour recital in the choir stalls of Arouca's monastery. Part of the sixth FIOMS organ festival. Free.
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.
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.
30 October to 1 November
Ílhavo, Aveiro
A town music festival built on local community projects: the Coro da Madrugada sings the songs of Rui Veloso on Saturday at 10pm, and the Orquestra do Mar plays with Margarida Campelo as Dina on Sunday at 6pm. On Friday there is a concert by the band LES A LES, and the Companhia Jovem de Dança dances on Friday and Saturday. Tickets for the auditorium shows are on sale at the box offices and online.
30 October, 9.30pm
Gafanha da Encarnação, Ílhavo
The evening closes the parish's series of Friday events for its centenary as a freguesia. It is a night of fado at the Salão Cultural Manuel das Neves. The page names no singers.
30 October, 7pm
Lagos, Faro
Free
A 60-minute concert with Avi Avital and Vasco Dantas in the Igreja de São Sebastião, part of the Algarve Music Series with the support of Lagos council. Free.
30 October, 9.30pm
Póvoa de Varzim, Porto
Disco Voador is Joana Manarte on voice and percussion and Tiago Enrique on guitars, singing songs that tell stories about the world and humanity. Tickets €5.
31 October, 9pm
Reguengos de Monsaraz, Évora
Free
A fado night in honour of Maria Valejo, a fadista born in the municipality. Ten singers take part, with the choir of the local Casa do Povo, presented by Isabel Angelino. Free.
31 October, 5pm
São Pedro do Corval, Reguengos de Monsaraz
Free
The Vox Aurea Ensemble sings without instruments. The first half is popular songs from Spain and Portugal, the second half songs from Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Cuba and Bolivia. Part of the Arte(s) em Palco festival. Free.
31 October, 9.30pm
Santa Maria da Feira, Aveiro
The Banda Marcial do Vale, a philharmonic band more than a hundred years old, plays Penumbra, a 90-minute concert about light and shadow. Tickets €7 to €10, with discounts for people aged 65 and over.
31 October, 9.30pm
Alvalade, Santiago do Cacém
Free
Malino play acoustic guitars with percussion, in tunes and rhythms of their own. Free, but pick up a ticket first at the Auditório António Chainho, the Alvalade archaeology museum or the Alvalade parish council.
31 October, 8.30pm, and 1 November, 4pm
Costa da Caparica, Almada
The 11th festival named after Ercília Costa, the fadista from Costa da Caparica known as the Santa do Fado. Five singers on Saturday night, with José Manuel Neto on Portuguese guitar, and five more on Sunday afternoon. Book through BOL, by email at reservas@gandaia.info or on 937 446 925.
31 October, 6pm
Matosinhos, Porto
Free
The Quarteto de Cordas de Matosinhos, resident in the town since 2008 and once an ECHO Rising Stars pick, plays in the council's 2026 classical season. Free, while seats last.
31 October, 6pm
Vendas Novas, Évora
Tiago Bettencourt and Luísa Sobral share songs, influences and stories in a format made for the new Passagens festival, and the session is moderated by David Lopes. Tickets €5.
31 October, 9.30pm
Figueira da Foz, Coimbra
Rui Veloso plays in trio format with Alexandre Manaia and Eduardo Espinho, so the songs are carried by guitars. It is in the Grande Auditório of the Centro de Artes e Espectáculos. Tickets €30 or €35 depending on the seats.
31 October, 9pm
Tropeço, Arouca
Free
Two groups of cantadeiras, from Adaúfe and from Tropeço, sing alongside Bach played on organ and violin by Jun Bouterey-Ishido and Matilde Loureiro. It is part of the ECOS entre as SERRAS music cycle. Free.
31 October, 9pm
Santa Maria da Feira, Aveiro
A staged production of Puccini's opera, 105 minutes long, with the soprano Olesya Golovneva and the tenor Ermin Ašceric. Doors open at 8pm. Tickets €10 to €25, depending on the seats.
31 October, 7pm
Braga
A string concert in the Música de Câmara de Braga series: Bach's Concerto for Two Violins, the Chaconne attributed to Vitali, Wieniawski's Légende and Bottesini's Gran Duo Concertante for violin and double bass, with the Com.Cordas Ensemble under Stefano Pagliani. Tickets are sold online and at the basilica from 5pm on the day.
1 November, 6pm
Leça da Palmeira, Matosinhos
Free
The Orquestra e Ensemble Vocal Pro Musica perform Mozart's full Requiem in D minor in the parish church, with four soloists and more than a hundred performers, as part of the All Saints' celebrations. Free entry, subject to the room's capacity.
5 November, 9pm
Guarda
Free
Pedro Mestre plays the viola campaniça and talks about it: where it came from, how it changed, and its best-known players. Free.
6 to 29 November
Santa Maria da Feira, Aveiro
The council's organ cycle moves from church to church with Portuguese and foreign organists: Santa Maria da Feira on the 6th, Arrifana on the 8th, S. Paio de Oleiros on the 15th, Gião on the 22nd, Paços de Brandão on the 27th and Lourosa on the 29th. Times and prices are not published yet.
6 to 14 November
Almeirim, Santarém
The 13th Guitarra d'Alma festival plays in different places in the municipality. The ESART Portuguese guitar ensemble opens it on 6 November at Raposa, Jorge Fernando and the town band play on 7 November, Miguel Lemos on 13 November at 9.30pm, and Custódio Castelo with the Tunisian Virtuoso Quartet closes it on 14 November at 9.30pm. Tickets €2 to €15, or a general pass for €22.
6 to 28 November
Maia, Porto
Free
A series of ten concerts by two local bands, the Banda Marcial de Gueifães and the Banda de Música de Moreira, in parish churches and monasteries across the municipality. Most start at 9.30pm on Fridays and Saturdays, with a few at 4pm on Sundays. It opens on 6 November in Folgosa and ends on 28 November in Vila Nova da Telha. Free.
7 November, 9.30pm
Ponte de Lima, Viana do Castelo
The Filomúsica Ensemble, singers and players from the Teatro Nacional de São Carlos and the Orquestra Sinfónica Portuguesa, gives an evening of opera. Tickets €4.
7 to 22 November
Valongo, Porto
The sixth international organ and sacred music festival brings five concerts to Alfena, Campo, Ermesinde, Sobrado and Valongo. It opens on 7 November at 9.30pm in Valongo parish church with soprano Daniela Rego and organist Samuel Pinto.
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.
7 November, 7pm
Póvoa de Varzim
Free
A friendship concert between the twin towns Póvoa de Varzim and A Guarda in Galicia, with the Coro Cantábile, the Coro Juvenil Pró-Música and the Ensemble Pró-Música orchestra, at the Igreja da Misericórdia. Free.
7 November, 9.30pm
Leiria
The Orquestra Jazz de Leiria plays with the American double bassist Christian McBride as its guest, at the Teatro José Lúcio da Silva. About 70 minutes.
7 November, 6pm
Funchal, Madeira
Five concerts by seven pianists from six countries, with music from Bach, Mozart and Beethoven to Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninov and Gershwin, at the Teatro Municipal Baltazar Dias. The listing gives only the 7 November date.
8 November, 6pm
Alcobaça, Leiria
A choir sings well-known choral works by Bach, Mahler, Byrd, Praetorius and Purcell side by side with modern reworkings of them, in the medieval refectory of Alcobaça monastery. Part of the Cistermúsica festival. One hour. Tickets €12.
8 November, 5pm
Coimbra
Eça de Queirós and Jaime Batalha Reis wrote the words and Augusto Machado the music in 1869. The score was lost for 120 years, until it turned up at the National Library with no title on it. The Banda Amizade and the Filarmónica União Taveirense stage it in the Convento's large hall. Tickets on the Convento's website.
8 November, 7pm
Barão de São João, Lagos
Free
Duo Lundú, the singer Joana Godinho and the guitarist José Farinha, have played songs for voice and guitar together for more than 25 years. Their focus is 19th-century Portuguese chamber song, on a romantic guitar from about 1800 and a classical one. One hour. Free.
8 November, 4pm
Caminha, Viana do Castelo
Free
A concert for João Lourenço Rebelo, a 17th-century Portuguese composer. The Orfeão de Vila Praia de Âncora, a group from the Academia de Música Fernandes Fão and Os Lagóias, a cante alentejano group from Portalegre, sing. Free, while seats last.
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.
10 November
Cantanhede
The Rumos Ensemble plays new arrangements of regional folk music taken from Michel Giacometti's recordings and other archives, set against film shot in every region of Portugal. At the Auditório da Biblioteca Municipal.
12 to 21 November
Guimarães
The 35th Guimarães Jazz festival runs at the Centro Cultural Vila Flor, opening on 12 November at 9.30pm with the Brazilian guitarist Toninho Horta and the Orquestra de Guimarães. Later nights include Kurt Rosenwinkel, Peter Evans and Kurt Elling with the North Macedonia national jazz orchestra. Opening-night tickets €20.
13 November, 9.30pm
Montijo, Setúbal
Cláudia Sul, who records as A Sul, plays her debut album Quer Quer Quer, written after two losses but full of energy and humour. Tickets €10, €8 for Montijo residents, €6 for over-65s and other discounts.
13 and 14 November, 7pm and 9.30pm
Maia, Porto
Free
Two evenings, two concerts each. On Friday the Quarteto de Coimbra sings Coimbra song at 7pm and the young fadista Mia Morgado follows at 9.30pm. On Saturday Bruno Alves sings at 7pm and Vânia Leal at 9.30pm. Free, no booking, first come first served.
13 and 14 November, 9.30pm
Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira
Carolina Deslandes sings some of contemporary Portuguese music's best-known songs in an intimate voice-and-guitar format, in the Grande Auditório of the Centro Cultural e de Congressos. A second night was added because of demand.
14 November, 9pm
Reguengos de Monsaraz, Évora
Free
The Banda da Sociedade Filarmónica Harmonia Reguenguense gives its concert in the former Marcão & Irmão metalworks factory. Instrumental. Free.
14 November, 6pm
Funchal, Madeira
Free
Suzuna Takahashi and Sotiris Athanasiou, winners of the Reuven International Mandolin Competition, give an hour's recital for the Madeira Mandolin Festival. Free.
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.
14 November, 9.30pm
São Caetano, Cantanhede
The Grupo Vocal Ançãble gives a recital of the music of Monsenhor Nunes Pereira at the Igreja de São Caetano, in homage to him on the 120th anniversary of his birth.
14 November, 9.30pm
Marinha Grande
The pianist and composer plays solo at the Teatro Stephens, reworking jazz pieces from the 1980s and 1990s through improvisation. Tickets €10.
14 November, 9.30pm
Póvoa de Varzim
Abrunhosa brings his national Inverbo tour to the Póvoa Arena, mixing songs from the new album with the classics of his career. Tickets €20 to €40.
14 November, dinner from 8pm
Chaves
A dinner show at the Hotel Casino Chaves, with dinner admission from 8pm to 9pm and Ana Moura's concert at 10.30pm. Dress code casual chic. Dinner show €100 per person.
15 November, 6pm
Évora
The early-music ensemble laReverdie sings works by Hildegard von Bingen, the 12th-century abbess and composer, with an organ improvisation before each piece. Part of the Évora International Organ Festival. One hour.
15 November, 4.30pm
Pedrógão, Torres Novas
Soloists of the Orquestra Alma Mater play a classical programme and talk about each piece as they go. It is part of the Teatro Virgínia's series of concerts away from the theatre.
15 November, 3pm
Vila Nova da Barquinha, Santarém
Free
The band of the Vila Nova da Barquinha volunteer firefighters hosts a second philharmonic band for a 90-minute afternoon concert. Free, but collect a ticket at the Centro Cultural first.
20 and 21 November, 9.30pm
Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira
Two nights of island music from the Azores, Madeira, the Canaries and Cape Verde. On Friday, Quarto Crescente e Amigos from the Azores and Xarabanda from Madeira. On Saturday, El Batijero from the Canaries and a band from Cape Verde.
20 November, 9.30pm
Maia
The singer plays the Fórum da Maia's autumn concerts in the Grande Auditório, with her latest album Tropical Glaciar from 2024. Tickets €10, or €18 for two.
20 to 28 November, five music nights
Sesimbra
The Casa de Ópera do Cabo Espichel season has the opera Eu Sou Alma on 20 November, a violin and double bass concert on 21 November, a piano recital on 22 November, Yegor Zabelov on 27 November and Francisco Sassetti on 28 November, in venues around Sesimbra. The opera and Sassetti are €10 and the other three are free.
21 November, 4pm
Lagos, Faro
Free
The Proyecto Piano Joven gives a piano concert, part of the fifth Infante D. Henrique music festival and competition. Free.
21 November, 9.30pm
Maia
Mafalda Veiga presents O Inverno Não Dura Tanto Quanto Parece with the Ensemble Ibérico, with songs such as Planície, Restolho and Cada Lugar Teu and new ones from her next album. Tickets €10, or €18 for two.
21 November, 6pm
Funchal, Madeira
The Orquestra Clássica da Madeira presents the Legno Duo, Duarte Santos and Joana Costa, in the Salão Nobre of the Assembleia Legislativa da Madeira, as part of the 60th anniversary of the Lions Clube do Funchal. Tickets €20, with discounts for children and young people.
27 November, 9.30pm
Torres Novas, Santarém
St. Dominic's Gospel Choir sings in the open air in the Praça 5 de Outubro, in a concert put on by the Teatro Virgínia. Sung mainly in English.
27 November, 9pm
Lagos, Faro
Free
The 2026 Algarve International Organ Festival plays Lagos's Santa Maria church. The council does not name the organist. Free.
28 and 29 November, 9.30pm
Aveiro
Carolina Deslandes performs in a trio of voice, guitar and cello, with her guitarist Feodor Bivol and the cellist Sandra Martins, at the Teatro Aveirense. Tickets €25 to €30.
29 November, 4pm
Sardoal, Santarém
Free
The conductor Vítor Ferreira brings singers from several Médio Tejo councils together as one choir, the Coro dos Comuns. Free, but pick up a ticket first.
5 December, 8pm
Ribeira Brava, Madeira
Free
The clarinet ensemble of Madeira's arts conservatoire, directed by José António Sousa, plays a one-hour Christmas concert in the parish church. Free.
5 December, 9.30pm
Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira
The Glenn Miller Orchestra, directed by Ray McVay, recreates the sound of the 1940s big bands with swing hits such as Moonlight Serenade, at the Centro Cultural e de Congressos.
7 December, 10pm
Arcos de Valdevez, Viana do Castelo
A piano, violin and cello trio plays Ryuichi Sakamoto's album 1996 from the original scores, with video art. The music includes pieces from The Last Emperor and Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence. Tickets €5.
13 December, 5pm
Aveiro
The orchestra and choir of Aveiro's Gulbenkian music conservatoire play orchestral pieces and two suites for choir and orchestra on traditional Christmas tunes. Tickets €5.
15 December, 9pm
Bragança
Pianist Filipe Pinto-Ribeiro and four string players from Switzerland, Norway and Portugal play Schubert's Trout Quintet and Dvořák's first piano quartet, to close the Bragança ClassicFest. Tickets €6.
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.
19 December, 9.30pm
Mirandela, Bragança
The Soul Gospel Project, a gospel choir with professional musicians, gives a Christmas concert in the town auditorium. Gospel songs with a contemporary sound. Tickets go on sale soon, and no price is published yet.
19 December, 9pm
Setúbal
The Orquestra de Jazz de Setúbal's Christmas concert, with the singer João Ribeiro, goes through Frank Sinatra's classics. Tickets €10.
19 December, 5pm
Vila Franca de Xira
Free
Pedro Santos on accordion and João Pedro Silva on saxophone play original pieces, closing the Clássica na Fábrica season at the Fábrica das Palavras. Free, subject to the capacity of the room.
20 December, 4pm
Barreiro
The ensemble of the Academia de Jazz Os Franceses plays original arrangements of Christmas classics once recorded by singers such as Ella Fitzgerald and Nat King Cole, at the Auditório Municipal Augusto Cabrita. Tickets €5.
20 December, 8pm
Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira
Free
The soprano Alla Lanova, the organist Olga Lysa and a string and clarinet group play a Christmas concert in the Igreja do Colégio, part of the 2026 classical music season. Free.
27 December, 8pm
Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira
Free
Grygoriy Grytsyuk on piano, Svitlana Poustovhar on cello and Taras Poustovgar on clarinet play the end-of-year concert that closes the 2026 classical music season, at the Paços do Concelho. Free.
28 December
Funchal, Madeira
The Orquestra Clássica da Madeira's traditional end-of-year concert. The young pianist Rafael Kyrychenko plays Rachmaninov's second piano concerto, then the orchestra plays Shostakovich's Jazz Suite No. 2 with its famous Waltz No. 2. Conducted by Luís Andrade. The council has not published the time, place or price yet.
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.
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.
Until 30 November
Ponte de Lima, Viana do Castelo
Through October and November, 25 places in and around Ponte de Lima serve a glass of the local Loureiro vinho verde with a small snack for €4. The website lists each place with its pairing and opening hours.
22 October to 1 November
Santarém
Free
The 45th national food festival fills the Casa do Campino with Portuguese cooking and its traditions. It opens at noon on 22 October. Entry is free; you pay for what you eat.
23 October to 21 November
Moimenta da Beira, Viseu
Over four weeks, four chefs take turns in local restaurants, each for two nights: Marco Gomes on 23 and 24 October, Eduardo Sarmento on 30 and 31 October, Joaquim Silva on 13 and 14 November, and Gilbert Van Lee on 20 and 21 November. Book with each restaurant; the council page lists the phone numbers.
23 October to 1 November
Santo André, Santiago do Cacém
Ten restaurants in Santo André serve dishes from the lagoon, the sea and the land for the festival's tenth edition. On 31 October at 6pm there is a wine tasting, the Prova de Vinhos Pinheiro da Cruz, at the restaurant Ti Lena & Casa do Gin.
28 October to 1 November
Arraiolos, Évora
Arraiolos holds its 25th food show, the 17th festival of the Empada de Arraiolos (the town's own small pie) and its carpet fair together, across five days.
30 October to 1 November
Trancoso, Guarda
The council's 13th chestnut and autumn food fair, held in the town's multi-use pavilion. The programme is not published yet.
30 October to 1 November
Sambade, Alfândega da Fé
Three days of chestnuts, local food and music in Sambade, with a mountain walk, a wild boar hunt, a chestnut seminar with a prize for the best chestnut, and the traditional Queimada de Monte Mel.
30 October to 8 November
Penela, Coimbra
Eight restaurants around Penela cook lamb and mushrooms for ten days, with Terras de Sicó wine, Rabaçal cheese and honey. Each makes its own dishes, some traditional and some new.
30 October to 1 November
Macedo de Cavaleiros, Bragança
The first of the council's seven gastronomic weekends puts the chestnut in the soup, the main course and the dessert at the participating restaurants, with both traditional recipes and new ones.
30 to 31 October
Sabóia, Odemira
The autumn edition of the medronho festival opens the community distillery and the medronho interpretation centre. There is a small medronho market (open Friday 2pm to 10pm and Saturday 10am to 10pm), tastings, talks, workshops, walks among the strawberry trees and live music. Entry to the market is free.
31 October
Bucos, Cabeceiras de Basto
The Bucos Viva association holds a soup festival in the village. The council gives the date and place but no programme or price.
31 October, from 4.30pm
Ferradosa, Mirandela
The village festa committee runs an afternoon and evening of music, a snack and dinner. The menu is chestnuts, caldo verde, grilled meat and drinks, with Halloween surprises for children. €12 a person; book by 28 October.
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.
31 October to 1 November
Figueiró dos Vinhos, Leiria
The 20th fair of convent sweets and pastries moves to the town square this year, after storm damage at its usual site. It opens on Saturday 31 October at 11:00.
1 to 16 November
Borba, Évora
Restaurants across Borba cook with chestnuts and pour local wine for two weeks, starting with the town's Feira dos Santos and its wine festival. The council runs it as a cooking competition, with a prize draw for diners.
1 November, 12.30pm
São Pedro Velho, Mirandela
A Sunday lunch in São Pedro Velho to mark autumn and the magusto. The menu is sopa da pedra, roast chestnuts and new wine.
6 to 8 November
Carrazedo de Montenegro, Valpaços
Carrazedo de Montenegro, which calls itself the chestnut capital, holds its fair for the Judia, the local chestnut variety. The full programme is not out yet.
6 to 8 November
São Pedro de Castelões, Vale de Cambra
A village fair for the Castanha de Castelões, known locally for being easy to peel. Three days of music, food, local produce, crafts and animals.
6 to 22 November
Lourinhã, Lisboa
Restaurants in the Lourinhã brandy region put the local Aguardente DOC on their menus, in starters, mains, desserts and drinks. Lourinhã is the only region in Portugal demarcated just for brandy. The last weekend, 20 to 22 November, also has the Aguardente DOC fesT at the municipal sports pavilion.
6 to 8 November
Tendais, Cinfães
A village fair for chestnuts and local produce, run by a Tendais parish association for 22 years. Three days of chestnuts, fruit and vegetables from local growers, traditional music and folk dance groups, under cover in the Montemuro hall.
6 to 8 November
Montemor-o-Novo, Évora
The council's soup festival, now past its 21st edition, where visitors taste the soups and vote for the best one. Past years have had cação (dogfish) soup, Alentejo tomato soup and sopa da pedra, with cante alentejano, fado and folk groups. The 2026 programme is not out yet.
7 to 15 November
Seia, Guarda
Restaurants around Seia put traditional mountain dishes on their menus for nine days: kid, lamb, trout, Serra da Estrela cheese, requeijão, smoked sausages, honey, rye bread and Dão wine from the area.
7 and 8 November
Prados, Celorico da Beira
Celorico da Beira holds its chestnut festival in the village of Prados over a weekend. The programme is still being prepared, and no price is published.
7 and 8 November
Soutosa, Moimenta da Beira
The village of Soutosa celebrates its mountain cooking and local traditions over a weekend, with entertainment and popular music.
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.
7 to 8 November
Açor, Fundão
The village of Açor marks the chestnut season with two days of local food: maranhos, rabbit in olive oil, chanfana and beans with cabbage, with medronho brandy and bread from the village oven.
8 November, 1pm
Carapinheira, Montemor-o-Velho
The eighth soup festival of the Carapinheira parish social centre. The council gives the date and time but no menu or price.
8 November, 12.30pm
Cumeira de Cima, Porto de Mós
The second feijoada festival of the Associação Recreativa Cumeirense, at its building in Cumeira de Cima. No menu or price is published.
11 November, 3pm to 10pm
Bensafrim, Lagos
Free
The Bensafrim parish council holds a magusto on St Martin's Day, from mid-afternoon into the evening. Free.
13 to 15 November
Pinhel, Guarda
A wine and food fair for the Beira Interior, with guided wine tastings, tastings of local products, cooking demonstrations, a food area and music.
13 to 15 November
Paredes de Coura, Viana do Castelo
Restaurants in Paredes de Coura serve cozido à moda de Coura, the local boiled meat stew, for one weekend. The town's food is built on river trout, smoked sausages, kid, lamb and Cachena beef, Boalhosa potatoes and Galician cabbage. Part of the Porto and North food weekends.
13 to 15 November
Vila Franca de Xira, Lisboa
Small and large wine producers from around Portugal pour their wines, with guided tastings, music and cooking demonstrations of local recipes. Entry is free; the tasting glass costs €5. Friday 6pm to midnight, Saturday 3pm to midnight, Sunday 3pm to 8pm.
14 to 15 November
Marvão, Portalegre
Marvão holds the 42nd edition of its Festa do Castanheiro and chestnut fair over a weekend, from 10am each day. The council has not published a programme or a price on the pages checked.
14 to 15 November
São Paio, Gouveia
The 25th Festival das Sopas da Serra da Estrela is the first festival devoted entirely to soup. This year there are 25 competition soups to taste, plus extra soups from elsewhere, and a professional jury judging blind. On Saturday evening at 6pm there is a community chestnut roast with music.
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.
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.
20 to 22 November
Lousã, Coimbra
Lousã's honey and chestnut fair, in its 35th year, brings producers of the two local products together for three days. The local honey, Mel da Serra da Lousã, has its own protected name. The programme is not published yet.
27 November to 8 December
Valença, Viana do Castelo
Valença's chocolate festival, inside the walled fortress, runs from late November to the 8 December holiday. The council lists the dates but no programme yet.
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.
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.
vendem-se
Are sold. The "se" makes the verb passive, so nobody has to be named as the seller.
It is the word on the signs in house windows: "Vende-se" means for sale, and "Arrenda-se" or "Aluga-se" means to let. With one thing it is "vende-se", with several it is "vendem-se", because the verb agrees with what is being sold. The article has the numbers behind the headline: 37,854 homes were sold in the second quarter, 9% fewer than a year before, while the median price rose 18.4% to €2,445 a square metre.
Casas ficam mais caras, mas vendem-se menos em Portugal
Houses get more expensive, but fewer are sold in Portugal.
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on that dayrunning through it
15 things on this page have no single date, so they are not on the calendar. 16 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.
