LISBON EVENTS
What Happens in the City
There is always something going on in Lisbon throughout the year, from major concerts to film and music festivals.
Below is a list of the regular annual events in the city, and for the most up-to-date list of concerts, shows, soccer games and events in Lisbon, click here:
ALL LISBON CONCERTS AND EVENTS TICKETS »
Love football (soccer) and want to see a match while in Lisbon or elsewhere in Portugal? You can get Benfica, Sporting Portugal, or FC Porto tickets here.
REGULAR LISBON EVENTS
March
Half Marathon - Thousands of athletes run 20 km across 25 de Abril Bridge to the finishing line at the Jeronimos Monastery in Belém. Official site here.
Lisbon Fashion Week - ModaLisboa - Portugal's top designers present their collections down the catwalk in March and October, and celebrate with glamorous parties and after-show events.
April
IndieLisboa - Indepedent Film Festival - Screening hundreds of international independent films, this has become one of the biggest festivals in the city. (www.indielisboa.com)
Dias da Musica - Belem Cultural Center (CCB) opens its doors to a marathon of classical music concerts over a weekend in late April.
May
Rock in Rio - Lisboa - The biggest musical entertainment event in the world moved from Rio de Janeiro to Lisbon in 2004. It now takes place in Bela Vista Park close to the Parque das Nações district every two years, where the world's top entertainers perform live over several days. Famous names from the previous editions included Sting and Britney Spears. A "World Stage" also presents the best artists in World Music, while an "Electronic Tent" is where the most famous international DJs spin until morning.
Book Fair - Open-air stalls in Edward VII Park sell discounted books, including some rare volumes. Most are in Portuguese, but there are usually some stalls that include English-language editions.
June
Super Bock Super Rock - This annual rock music festival takes place for several days in late June/early July in Parque Tejo just past Vasco da Gama Bridge by Parque das Nações or south of the city near Meco Beach. Bands and artists in previous editions have included Placebo, Metallica, Korn, System of a Down, Tool, Lenny Kravitz, and Marilyn Manson.
Gay Pride - A week of events held at various venues around the city, culminating in the Pride March down Avenida da Liberdade and a street party. In 2005 the party took place in Monsanto Park; in 2006 it was right in the center of the city, in Figueira Square, while in 2009 it took over the Belem district. It's been in Comercio Square since 2010.
Alive - Rock Music Festival - Major international rock bands perform in Lisbon.
Alkantara Festival - A bi-annual performing arts festival taking place in different places throughout Lisbon, from streets, to parks, theaters, clubs, including theatre, dance, concerts and hybrid forms by Portuguese and international artists.
Troia International Film Festival - Long-established film festival south of Lisbon, in Setubal. (www.festroia.pt)
Santos Populares - Marches down Avenida da Liberdade and major street parties in Alfama in honor of Saint Anthony and other saints, although there's nothing religious about theses feasts. They're an excuse for eating, drinking, and dancing on the streets.
July
Almada Theater Festival - The country's most important theater festival hosts several national and international theater companies. Although it is organized by the city of Almada across the river, performances also take place in several venues around Lisbon.
Sintra Music Festival - A prestigious classical music and ballet festival that has taken place in enchanting Sintra for over 40 years. Shows are held at Olga Cadaval Cultural Centre, as well as at several of Sintra's palaces and estates, gardens and parks.
Sparkling Party - This gay party marked the end of the summer in its first edition, but will now take place right in the middle of the year's hottest season with all-night partying in varying vanues.
August
Jazz em Agosto - The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation's open-air amphitheater is the stage for several Jazz musicians and concerts over the month of August.
September
ExperimentaDesign - A bi-annual international event dedicated to design, architecture and contemporary culture, showcasing original projects, concepts and ideas in conferences, screenings, exhibitions, workshops and debates, in several different venues around the city.
Queer Lisboa - Gay and Lesbian Film Festival - Now over a decade old, this festival features dozens of international films that focus on gay issues. The screenings take place in several theaters around the city. (www.queerlisboa.pt)
MOTELx - Lisbon International Horror Film Festival - The world's best thrillers are shown in Lisbon.
October
DocLisboa - Documentary Film Festival - Annual film festival screening short and feature length documentaries from around the world. It takes place in Culturgest uptown and includes an open forum for a debate about filmmaking and the selected films screened. (www.doclisboa.org)
Lisbon Fashion Week - ModaLisboa - The Spring/Summer collections of Portugal's top designers for the following year are sent down the runway followed by after-show parties and events.
French Cinema Festival - The latest (and best) French films are shown in Lisbon, organized by the French-Portuguese Institute.
Lesboa Party - This lesbian dance party (open to all genders and sexual orientations) takes place every few months, but it's in October that it celebrates the anniversary of the very first party with... another party!
December
New Year's Eve - Comercio Square and Vasco da Gama Tower are the settings for Lisbon's fireworks announcing the new year. National pop singers and bands add to the celebrations on a stage in Comercio Square.
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