Porto's festivals & annual events
From São João to New Year's Eve on the Aliados, here's every festival worth planning around, month by month. Plus a few that are worth a day trip up north. We update dates as soon as they're announced.
Dates last checked 3 Oct 2026
Coming up 3
The next festivals on the calendar
São Martinho
Chestnut season: magustos, roasted chestnuts and the first young wine (água-pé).
📍 Across Porto
Christmas lights & markets
The big tree on the Aliados, lights through Baixa, and Christmas markets with stalls, mulled wine and chestnuts.
📍 Aliados · Palácio de Cristal · Baixa
New Year's Eve on the Aliados
Free concerts on the Aliados, then fireworks at midnight. Arrive early, as it fills up fast.
📍 Avenida dos Aliados
The year at a glance
Every annual festival, month by month
January
1 eventJaneiras
Groups go door to door singing traditional New Year songs. Look out for concerts in churches and squares.
📍 Neighbourhoods across Porto
February
2 eventsCarnaval de Ovar
Northern Portugal's biggest carnival, with samba groups, parades and costumes. Carnival Tuesday is 9 Feb 2027.
📍 Ovar · 45 min south
Fantasporto
Porto's international film festival, famous for fantasy, horror and sci-fi. Running since 1981.
📍 Cinema Batalha
March
1 eventSemana Santa in Braga
Holy Week processions through the old town by torchlight. Portugal's most famous Easter celebrations.
📍 Braga · 50 min north
May
2 eventsQueima das Fitas
The students' end-of-year week: a parade through Baixa and nightly concerts.
📍 Queimódromo · Parque da Cidade
Serralves em Festa
Around 50 non-stop hours of free concerts, performances and art in the museum and park.
📍 Serralves · Boavista
June
4 eventsPrimavera Sound Porto
Porto's biggest music festival, held on the grassy slopes of the city park the week after Barcelona's.
📍 Parque da Cidade
São João
The city's biggest night: plastic hammers, grilled sardines, basil pots, fireworks over the Douro at midnight, then everyone heads to the beach at dawn.
📍 All over Porto · Ribeira & Fontainhas
São João de Braga
Braga's own São João, with concerts, a fair and processions in a more traditional style.
📍 Braga · 50 min north
São Pedro da Afurada
A fishing village festival across the river: sardines, a boat procession and a street party.
📍 Afurada · Gaia
July
1 eventMEO Marés
The summer beach festival formerly called Marés Vivas, now in Matosinhos instead of Gaia.
📍 Praia do Aterro · Leça da Palmeira
August
4 eventsFestas Gualterianas
Guimarães' big summer festival, with a medieval parade, giant figures and a fair.
📍 Guimarães · 50 min
Paredes de Coura
The much-loved indie festival in a river valley in Minho. Camping and swimming in the river.
📍 Praia do Taboão · 1h30 north
Senhora da Agonia
The north's most spectacular romaria: gold-laden traditional costumes, flower carpets and a sea procession.
📍 Viana do Castelo · 1h north
São Bartolomeu & Banho Santo
A parade of paper costumes, then the traditional "holy bath" in the sea at Praia do Ourigo.
📍 Foz do Douro
September
1 eventFeira do Livro do Porto
Porto's book fair in the Palácio gardens, with talks, concerts and sunset views over the river.
📍 Jardins do Palácio de Cristal
November
1 eventSão Martinho
Chestnut season: magustos, roasted chestnuts and the first young wine (água-pé).
📍 Across Porto
December
2 eventsChristmas lights & markets
The big tree on the Aliados, lights through Baixa, and Christmas markets with stalls, mulled wine and chestnuts.
📍 Aliados · Palácio de Cristal · Baixa
New Year's Eve on the Aliados
Free concerts on the Aliados, then fireworks at midnight. Arrive early, as it fills up fast.
📍 Avenida dos Aliados
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Good to know
Dates change from year to year. Always check the official website before you book travel or tickets.
