Last updated Apr 2, 2025
From celebrating sausages and sweet potatoes to Michelin-starred chefs cooking with fire, Portugal honours its rich gastronomic heritage with dozens of food festivals, wine fairs and events.
Food is closely intertwined with culture in Portugal so it’s no surprise the small country puts on more than its fair share of food events. Each village has a specific and special cuisine or locally grown product to celebrate, so why not throw a huge party?
I’ve scoured the country to find the best Portuguese food festivals that celebrate traditional dishes, top chefs and Portuguese culture. Read on to discover more than 40 food festivals across Portugal.
Music lover? Check out this article with best music festivals in 2025. Medieval minstrel? Step this way. Culture vulture? Check out these traditional events.
Have you heard the term “confrarias”?
Portuguese confrarias, also known as brotherhoods, are an intriguing part of Portugal’s living cultural and culinary heritage. Each brotherhood is made up of people with a passion for a certain type of food or drink. Sometimes it’s broad, like the Confraria Gastronómica do Bacalhau (salted cod), while other times it’s more specific, like the Confraria da Caldeirada, which exists in support of a seafood stew. Funnily enough, they wear matching cloaks and have badges like Boy Scouts. Many of these clubs can trace their roots back to medieval times, and throughout the year they host festivals, contests and events to celebrate their chosen food or drink.
Note: I’ve done my best to ensure the information in this article is accurate at the time of publishing. Be sure to check the website or links in case anything changes closer to the date.
April 2025
Queijo, Pão e Vinho
When: 4-6 April 2025
Where: São Gonçalo, Palmela – about 30 minutes south of Lisbon
Cheese, bread, wine – what more could you want? I attended this fun local food festival south of Lisbon in 2023 and it was a brilliant day out. Entry was €1 and gave us access to more than a dozen hyper-local wine producers and almost as many cheesemakers. The star is the famous DOP Queijo do Azeitão, a gooey, stinky sheep’s cheese that I adore. Bring cash (and a plastic cup if you already have one).
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Expobarrancos – Feira do Presunto e dos Enchidos (Smoked Meats Festival)
When: 11-13 April 2025
Where: Barrancos, on the border with Spain almost three hours west of Lisbon
Expect a showcase of presunto (prosciutto), chouriço (chorizo), alheira (a game bird sausage with a fascinating history), blood sausage and other Portuguese enchidos at this three-day party. There will be concerts into the night, markets and food.
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Read next: The best cooking classes in Lisbon, Porto, the Algarve, Azores & Madeira
XIV Grande Mostra Vinhos de Portugal (Portuguese Wine Show)
When: 11-13 April 2025
Where: Albufeira, Algarve coast
This huge wine fair will take over the Espaço Multiusos de Albufeira, bringing more than 100 exhibitors to the space. That makes the 13th edition one of Portugal’s largest wine shows, with more than 9,000 people expected. It’s put on by the Confraria do Bacchus de Albufeira with doors open from 3pm each day.
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Festa do Arroz (Rice Festival)
When: 12 April 2025
Where: Ponte de Sor, two-hour drive northeast of Lisbon.
Rice pudding – or arroz doce – is big news in Ponte de Sor. This town, two hours northeast of Lisbon, as rice-growing heritage and the 11th edition of the rice festival has good money up for grabs for the prize winners. Beyond rice there will be music and fanfare too.
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Avinho (Wine Festival)
When: 11-13 April 2025
Where: Azambuja, Ribatejo
This wine festival celebrates Azambuja wine and wineries with a three-day event. Jump on the train from Lisbon, pay €3 for a commemorative cup, and enjoy unlimited free tastings of local wines. Besides wine, wine, wine there’s evening concerts with known Portuguese artists, a parade celebrating rural heritage, and food.
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Vidigueira Vinho
When: 18-19 April 2025
Where: Vidigueira, Alentejo near Beja
At Easter the Alentejo town of Vidigueira will be throwing a huge party to promote its local wines. Expect plenty of wine tastings, a roster of concerts, can’t Alentejano (traditional singing) and a local crafts market. At the same time the town isx running a gastronomic week, highlighting the best regional produce from olive oil to oranges.
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Feira da Bola Doce e dos Produtos da Terra
When: 17-19 April 2025
Where: Jardim dos Frades Trinos in Miranda do Douro, far northeast corner of Portugal
Tras-on-Montes is one of my favourite areas of Portugal, so if you’re looking for an excuse to visit the far remote northeast, maybe this cake festival is it. The festival always aligns with Easter and celebrates “Bola Doce Mirandesa”. You’ll also experience local culture like the Pauliteiros, can taste Tras-on-Montes smoked sausages and meats, and local liqueurs and wines.
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Festa do Vinho do Cartaxo
When: 30 April – 4 May 2025
Where: Cartaxo, one-hour north of Lisbon
Join the 34rd edition of the Cartaxo Wine Festival, where dozens of local wineries bring their top drops to taste alongside artisan markets and local taverns. Expect traditional music and concerts, plus a traditional parade and entertainment until midnight each evening.
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May
Mostra de Vinhos (Wine Festival)
When: 2-4 May 2025
Where: Fernando Pó, Palmela region, south of Lisbon
This wine fair has been held since 1995 to showcase the vinhos produced around the town of Fernando Pó, just south of Lisbon. Expect a few days with wine tastings, cooking demos, snacks, concerts, cante Alentejano, folk dancing, jazz and more.
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Provocação de Sabores (Wine Festivals)
When: 11 May 2025
Where: Barreiro, south of Lisbon (you can take a ferry there!)
Wine lovers are invited to this tasting event, where more than 55 producers are expected to present their wines to the public. There will be music, guided tastings, and food too. Doors open from 3pm.
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Mercado á Moda Antiga (Old-style Market)
When: 9-11 May 2025
Where: Pinhal Novo, south of Lisbon
Venture back in time with the 8th edition of this old-fashioned market. Try local traditions, like sopa caramela and pudim de abóbora, and buy produce direct from farmers.
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Festival do Arroz Carolino das Lezírias Ribatejanas (Rice Festival)
When: 16-18 May 2025
Where: Samora Correia, a 45-minute drive from Lisbon
Love rice? Don’t miss the festival celebrating Carolino rice, the native grain of this most rice-loving of all European countries. The 7th edition will be held in Samora Correia and features a program with cooking demonstrations, stages, music, entertainment and, of course, plenty of delicious Portuguese rice.
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ÉvoraWine 2025
When: 23-24 May 2025
Where: Praça do Giraldo, Évora, Alentejo
This wine festival looks like a whole lot of fun. It takes place in the huge main square of Évora, the Alentejo capital, bringing together wine producers and wine lovers for the 10th edition in 2025. Expect plenty of tastings, cooking demonstrations, snacks and live music – you need to purchase tickets to enter.
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Vamos á Vila
When: 30 May – 1 June 2025
Where: Monchique, Algarve
This festival celebrates local traditions in Monchique, one of the Algarve’s mountain towns. Here expect local products to be the hero – smoked sausages, honey, medronho liquer, local sweets and artisans. of course there will be music, markets and entertainment too.
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June 2025
Santos Populares
When: All of June, but especially June 12
Where: Lisbon
The Santos Populares celebrations that take over Lisbon’s oldest neighbourhoods each June are more of a cultural affair than a food festival, but like any good party the fun revolves around good food and drink. Sometimes in English it’s nicknamed Lisbon’s Sardine Festival, and you can always find the fun by following the fishy scent or billowing charcoal smoke.
More information – read my guide to Saint Antonio festival in Lisbon
Festa da Cereja (Cherry Festival)
When: 6-8 June 2025
Where: Fundão, almost three hours from both Porto and Lisbon
One doesn’t need an excuse to visit Fundão, a historic mountain village considered one of the most beautiful in the country. It’s just a bonus that you can find excellent cherries. Of course, a great crop is reason to celebrate – expect three days of markets, entertainment, concerts and even a tourist train through the cherry orchards.
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Related Blog: 18 best medieval and historic events in Portugal
July
Feira do Vinho Verde (Green Wine Fair)
When: First weekend of July – 4-6 July 2025
Where: Castelo de Paiva, one-hour from Porto
Over three huge days taste award-winning vinho verde region wines along with traditional snacks and local sweets. Many people think vinho verde is simply a zesty, slightly effervescent white wine, but it is actually a region that produces juicy fresh reds too. Expect a program of folk dance and music too.
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Festival do Pão 2025 (Bread Festival)
When: 5-14 July 2024 (2025 TBC)
Where: Mafra, 45-minute north of Lisbon.
Mafra’s Jardim do Cerco becomes the stage for the annual bread festival, which celebrates the well-known and loved local pão de Mafra. Like most Portuguese festivals, this will be a big party with food and artisan markets, entertainment and a big stage with music, drum lines and folk dancing.
More information to come
XXVIIII Festival do Caracol (Snail Festival)
When: 28 June to 2 July (2025 TBC)
Where: Porches, Algarve.
Portugal’s summer hero is the snail. And in the Algarve locals celebrate the favourite post-beach snack with a full three-day festival. Expect plenty of delicious snails, along with traditional sweets, and a music and cultural program, and river views.
More information to come
Vagos Sensation Gourmet
When: 4-13 July 2025
Where: Praia da Vagueira, one-hour south from Porto
A stone’s throw from the beach, this food festival celebrates the local gastronomy with three huge festival days. Expect Michelin-starred chefs from around the country, cooking demonstrations, workshops, talks, food stalls, snacks, wine, concerts and more.
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Festival da Sardinha (Sardine Festival)
When: 4-7, 11-14 July 2024 (2025 TBC)
Where: Praia do Pedrógão in Leiria, halfway between Lisbon and Porto
Summer means sardines and here they take it seriously. In the middle of July, Praia do Pedrógão becomes the centre of all things sardinha, with around 5 tonnes consumed during the festival. You’ll find a big party atmosphere with stalls peddling sardines, huge stages with music and plenty of beachside fun.
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Guarda Wine Fest
When: 12-14 July 2024 (2025 TBC)
Where: Alameda de Santo André
Sip, swirl and sample wines from the Douro and Dão regions at this festival bringing together about 40 producers. Taste famous drops and new experiments, hear from the winemakers and learn more about the landscapes of this region. Pair tastings with cooking demonstrations and jazz for a great few days in the Beira region. Entry is free and tastings are possible with the purchase of an official tasting glass.
More information to come
Read next: The best pastel de nata cooking classes in Lisbon and Porto
Festival de Gastronomia do Maranho
When: 18-21 July 2024 (2025 TBC)
Where: Alameda da Carvalha, Sertã – two hours from both Lisbon and Porto
This huge festival – with big concerts, fun run events and more – celebrates an unusual rice sausage. This local delicacy is said to have emerged more than 200 years ago, and was popular on feast days last century. Basically a large sausage is stuffed with goat or sheep meat, plus ham, chorizo, mint, parsley, dry rice, salt, spices and white wine. It’s boiled, sliced, served and a good excuse for a party.
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Related blog: Where to eat in Lisbon: 28 best restaurants and tascas
Chefs on Fire – Aveiro Pop-Up
When: 19-20 July 2025
Where: Parque Infante D. Pedro, Aveiro
I absolutely adore the Chefs on Fire event that happens in Lisbon in September each year, and this smaller pop-up under the same name in Aveiro should be a blast. Expect a relaxed afternoon with live music and top Portuguese chefs cooking in the open-air with fire.
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Festival do Caldo de Peixe (Fish Soup Festival)
When: 26-28 July 2024 (2025 TBC)
Where: Rabo do Peixe, on São Miguel Island in the Azores.
Historically connected to the sea, Rabo do Peixe celebrates its heritage with a party starring a traditional fish soup. The delicious rich broth features big chunks of fish and bread, making it more a meal than a starter. Learn about the lives of local fishermen and enjoy warm hospitality you can only get on a remote island.
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Sines Tasquinhas Food Festival
When: 12 July – 3 August 2024 (2025 TBC)
Where: Sines – two hours south from Lisbon
Around 20 food tents will pop up along the beachfront in Sines, each with a tasquinha (little tasca/bistro) inside. Expect daily entertainment and concerts with music of all genres. Some of the concerts overlap with the Festival Músicas do Mundo program.
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XXXII Feira de Enchidos, Queijo e Mel – (Smoked Meats, Cheese & Honey Fair)
When: 27 July – 4 August 2024 (2025 TBC)
Where: Vila De Rei
In 2023 we can expect the 32nd edition of Vila de Rei’s fair dedicated to local smoked meats, cheese and honey. It’s said thousands attend this nine-day event, which includes big Portuguese names in music and entertainment plus around 100 stalls with produce, regional cuisine and artisans.
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August 2024
Festival da Sardinha (Sardine Festival)
When: 30 July – 4 August 2024 (2025 TBC)
Where: Portimão, Algarve – 50 minutes west from Faro
Sardines are the summer star of this big Algarve festival. Follow the salty, smokey wafts from the barbecues to find the festival where some 2,000 seats fill up fast. Once you’ve had your feast of fish, venture towards the stage where big name Portuguese acts take the mic each night.
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Festival do Marisco (Seafood Festival)
When: 9-14 August 2025
Where: Olhão, 15-minute drive from Faro in the Algarve
Olhão is one of my favourite Algarve towns, mostly thanks to the brilliant waterfront twin market halls. A huge tent gets set up nearby for the annual Marisco festival, a mega celebration of all things shellfish. You can taste traditional dishes, such as Arroz de Marisco (seafood rice), Cataplana (seafood steamed in special copper pan) and Feijoada de Búzios (whelk and bean stew), and admire fresh spider crab, whelks and cockles.
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Related Blog: Best music festivals in Portugal in 2023
Festival do Bacalhau (Salted Cod Festival)
When: 13-17 August 2025
Where: Jardim Oudinot in Gafanha da Nazaré, about 50 minutes south of Porto
Where better to celebrate Portugal’s favourite ingredient than in the bacalhau capital? Courageous sailors left Portugal for the cold seas of Newfoundland and Greenland to fish for cod, a beloved staple in the Portuguese diet. For five days in August try bacalhau cooked in various ways, taste wines from Bairrada, and enjoy entertainment, music and markets.
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Festival da Sopa da Pedra (Rock Soup Festival)
When: 27-31 August 2025
Where: Almeirim, 70-minute drive from Lisbon
Only Portugal could host a festival dedicated to a single soup (and this isn’t the only soup fest). Sopa da Pedra (rock soup) is a bit like a minestrone and has a special legend attached, as well as a literal stone. Chase down this local soup festival at Almeririm’s Parque das Tilias to try the dish along with other petiscos (snacks/tapas). You can expect to find a big festival atmosphere with concerts, market stalls and more.
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Festa da Broa de Avintes (Corn Bread Festival)
When: 23 August – 1 September 2024 (2025 TBC)
Where: Avintes, near Porto
This year will be the 34th cornbread festival in the town of Avintes, just south of Porto. More than just a celebration of this regional bread, the festival includes concerts, trail running and cooking demonstrations too.
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Read next: 25 traditional dishes to order in Portugal
Madeira Wine Fest
When: 25 August – 15 September 2024 (2025 TBC)
Where: Funchal, Madeira Island
Madeira wine is a really interesting product, and one that you can explore with this festival that includes many events – from harvesting to tasting – across the island. If you want to join a harvest, you can take part in this tradition!
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Vindouro – Festa Pombalina
When: 30 August – 1 September 2024 (2025 TBC)
Where: São João da Pesqueira, two hours east of Porto
Combining wine and history, this huge Douro Valley event celebrates the Pombaline era (late 1700s) and local winemaking traditions. Expect three days of fantastic Douro wines (with more than 100 wine producers) and historical Portuguese baroque-vibes, harking back to the early days of the Douro’s wine-growing heritage. There will be a Pombaline parade, entertainment, wine tastings, big concerts with live music and DJs, and regional markets in Portugal’s oldest town.
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September
Festa das Vindimas
When: 4-9 September 2025
Where: Palmela, 30-minute drive from Lisbon
Each year this festival celebrates the local wine harvest and Palmela’s winemaking traditions. A huge party takes place over many days with many events, including the crowning of a festival Queen. Join in grape picking, wine tasting, traditional dancing, and concerts. Taste local traditional dishes and, of course, sample local wines.
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FRIMOR – Feira Nacional da Cebola (Onion Fair)
When: 1-7 September 2025
Where: Rio Maior, Central Portugal
The humble onion is the star of this fair, a centuries-old tradition in Rio Maior. More than two dozen onion farmers will be there with their crops. But like any good Portuguese town fair you’ll also find an artisan market, regional produce and sweets, concerts and entertainment.
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Mediterranean Diet Fair
When: 5-8 September 2024 (2025 TBC)
Where: Tavira, Algarve
The 10th edition of this fair brings 170 exhibitors to Tavira in the food and artisans space. You’ll find evens across the historic centre of the city, and at the markets.
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Arrebita Festa da Gastronomia – Portimão
When: 7-8 September 2024 (2025 TBC)
Where: Praça da República, Portimão, Algarve
This food festival pops up in smaller Portuguese cities and towns, bringing top city chefs with it. It’s a street food fair with restaurant quality dishes, and best of all – every plate is €7.
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Alma do Vinho Alenquer
When: 12-15 September 2024 (2025 TBC)
Where: Alenquer, 45-minute drive north of Lisbon
Alma do Vinho is one of Portugal’s largest wine festivals, and the program combines tasting top quality wine with huge concerts, grape stomping, chefs, and exhibits. You pay entry and get a wine glass to taste unlimited amounts of wine, then party until the wee hours with live music.
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Meating
When: 14-15 September 2024 (2025 TBC)
Where: Miranda do Douro, three hours inland from Porto
This cool festival in the remote Trás-os-Montes region combines food and music. Expect cooking demonstations, musicians in residency, street concerts and entertainment, and a mash of tradition and innovation. The fun is set in the ruins of the Episcopal Palace.
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Read next… A complete guide to the best festivals in Portugal in 2025
Chefs on Fire
When: 20-21 September 2025
Where: FIARTIL, Estoril, about 30-minutes west from Lisbon
Chefs on Fire is the jewel in the crown of Portugal’s food festivals. Set in a beautiful park, beneath towering pine trees, some of Portugal’s most highly regarded and Michelin-starred chefs cook up a feast using only fire. Each day chefs and food changes, along with a line-up of great bands and musicians too. Unmissable.
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October
Feira Nacional dos Frutos Secos (National Dried Fruit Fair)
When: 3-6 October (2025 TBC)
Where: Torres Novas, 80-min drive north of Lisbon
Apparently Torres Novas is the dried fruits and nuts capital of Portugal, and since 1985 the town has held this big fair to celebrate. In Portuguese frutos secos means both dried nuts and dried fruits – so I’d expect stalls with locally grown walnuts, almonds, dried fruits and more.
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Festival da Cerveja Artesanal com Lúpulo Feirense (Artisan Beer Festival)
When: 5-8 October (2025 TBC)
Where: Santa Maria da Feira, between Porto and Aveiro
Curious about how hops is grown? Sometime usually in August you can participate in the harvesting and drying of 20 varieties of hops grown on the banks of the Cáster River. Then return a couple of months later to taste special editions crafted with the same hops. Each year the Festival da Cerveja Artesanal com Lúpulo Feirense (craft beer festival) in Santa Maria da Feira challenges artisanal breweries to create special brews. The three-day festival program features tastings, beer pairings and workshops, plus music, DJ sets and markets.
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Grandes Escolhas | Vinhos & Sabores
When: 19-21 October 2024 (2025 TBC)
Where: Pavilion 1 of FIL (Feira Internacional de Lisboa), Parque das Nações, Lisbon
Wine lovers can’t miss this HUGE exhibition of Portugal’s top vinhos. This major wine show brings together winemakers from across Portugal to show off their wines. There will also be cooking demonstrations and entertainment.
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XXII Feira Nacional de Doçaria Tradicional de Abrantes (National Sweets Fair)
When: 25-27 October 2024 (2025 TBC)
Where: Abrantes, 90-minute drive north of Lisbon
If you have a sweet tooth, mark this festival in your diary. The fair is a showcase of traditional sweets from across Portugal, along with local honey, jams, sweets and liqueurs produced in the town.
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Festival Nacional de Gastronomia (National Gastronomic Festival)
When: 25 October – 3 November 2024 (2025 TBC)
Where: Santarém
The smaller city of Santarém tries to represent all of Portugal’s rich regional cuisines in one big showcase. Held for more than 40 years, you’ll find a bit of everything at this food festival, with cuisine from the north to south to the islands of Azores and Madeira. Expect food stalls, cooking demonstrations, wine tastings and more, plus confrarias from across Portugal.
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Read next: 6 best food markets in Portugal
November
Trancoso Feira da Castanha (Chestnut Fair)
When: 1-3 November 2024 (2025 TBC)
Where: Trancoso, in the interior Serra da Estrela area
Trancoso is a really cute mountain town wrapped in ancient walls and topped by a castle. It happens to be a huge chestnut-producing region too. Last year’s chestnut celebration included mountain biking, cooking demonstrations, competitions and concerts.
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Marvão Feira da Castanha (Chestnut Fair)
When: 8-9 November 2025
Where: Marvão, on the border with Spain east of Lisbon
There’s nothing better than hot chestnuts in autumn, and it’s the focus at this cultural festival in the ancient village of Marvão. Apparently 4,500 kilograms of chestnuts are consumed, along with 1,500 litres of wine. In existence for more than 40 years, it celebrates the local culture and traditions too with an artisan market, folk singing and entertainment.
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São Martinho or Magusto
When: 11 November 2025
Speaking of Saint Martin (or São Martinho), November 11 is a favourite day to celebrate in Portugal. Saint Martin was a Roman soldier who cut his cloak in half to share with a cold beggar. Afterwards the sun came out – and it’s why warm winter days in early November are called Saint Martin’s Summer. This time of year the Portuguese enjoy Magusto, a celebration that involves bonfires, wine and chestnuts, especially in the Trás-os-Montes and Beira Baixa areas.
Festa da Vinha e do Vinho
When: 11-16 November 2025
Where: Borba, Alentejo
This major wine festival takes place in the Alentejo town of Borba, known for its tannin-heavy reds. Over a number of days you can expect plenty of wine tastings, local gastronomy, tascas, an arraial for São Martinho with talha wine, music and DJs, a parade, folk bands, artisan goods, local products and winery visits.
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Xira Wine Fest
When: 15-17 November 2024 (2025 TBC)
Where: Vila Franca de Xira, 30-minutes north of Lisbon
Held at a big pavilion, the Xira Wine Fest celebrates World Tourism Day with a showcase of local gastronomy. Sample the goods from local wine and food producers at this party.
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26ª Mostra Internacional de Doces & Licores Conventuais de Alcobaça (Convent Sweets Fair in Alcobaça)
When: 15-17 November 2024 (2025 TBC)
Where: Alcobaça, 90-minutes north of Lisbon
This is a unique food festival that brings together around 40 exhibitors from across Portugal that produce convent sweets and liqueurs. Essentially all of Portugal’s most traditional sweets have roots in convents where the monks or nuns famously produced various treats and sweets. This fair, that’s place since 1999 in the famous Monastery of Alcobaça, brings this rich culture to one place.
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Festival da Batata-Doce (Sweet Potato Festival)
When: 29 November – 1 December 2024 (2025 TBC)
Where: Aljezur, one-hour from Faro or three from Lisbon
The humble sweet potato is in the spotlight at this special western Algarve festival. Expect to find plenty of food stalls making the most of the star ingredient, dozens and dozens of exhibitors, and a stage with music and fun kicking on until 2am some nights. How late would you party for a potato?
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December 2025
Vitifrades
When: 5-7 December 2025
Where: Vila de Frades, Alentejo
This Alentejo village, famous for its tradition of talha wines, is throwing a big weekend festival to celebrate the ancient art of aging wine in terracotta. There will be concerts, cante Alentejano, and plenty of wine.
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XXI Feira da Vinha e do Vinho de Amareleja
When: 6-8 December 2024 (2025 TBC)
Where: Amareleja – Moura, Alentejo – 2.5 hours from Lisbon
This December celebration of wine is a fun weekend deep in the Alentejo. Close to the border with Spain, Amareleja and Moura crack bottles open for a “Rota das Adegas” wine tasting on the Saturday with commentary and Cante Alentejano. On Sunday the highlight is a concert, plus there is music all weekend long.
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Read next… A complete guide to the best festivals in Portugal in 2024 & 2025
Christmas Hopen Braga Beer Festival
When: 13-15 December 2024 (2025 TBC)
Where: Mercado Municipal de Braga, 30-minute drive north of Porto
Hopen returns for a Christmas market celebrating all things craft beer. Taking over the local markethall, this craft beer festival will showcase the best of the Portuguese craft beer movement over a weekend with tastings, concerts and fun.
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January 2026
XXVII Feira Gastronómica do Porco (Pork Festival)
XXXIIII Feira do Fumeiro (Smoked Sausage Festival)
Festa das Chouriças (Sausage Festival)
Festa das Varas do Fumeiro (Smoked Meat Festival)
When: 24-26 January 2025 (always falls on the last weekend of January)
Where: Aranhas, close to Monsanto village – about 3 hours from both Lisbon and Porto
This traditional festival is centred around smoked sausages – chouriço (chorizo), morcela (blood sausage), alheira (game sausage). It always falls on the last weekend of January, and on the Saturday you’ll see locals parade through the streets with sticks hung with various smoked sausages from the local Beira Baixa region. Like any good Portuguese town festival, there will also be street entertainment, concerts, children’s entertainment and, of course, local gastronomy.
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February 2026
Feira do Fumeiro de Vinhais (Smoked Meats Fair)
XXVI Festival de Sabores Mirandeses
46ª Feira do Queijo de Celorico da Beira (Cheese Fair)
Feira do Queijo do Alentejo (Cheese Fair)
Simplesmente Vinho
Festival do Butelo e das Casulas (Sausage & Bean Festival)
March 2026
28ª edição do Mês da Enguia – Rainha do Tejo (Eel Month)
When: 1-31 March 2025
Where: Santarem, one-hour north of Lisbon.
Portugal gets really excited about eel season. Though I’d say this is the only place celebrating them for a mnonth with an action-packed program of parades, artisans fairs, concerts, walking and biking tours and so much more. Something seems o fall every Friday, Saturday and Sunday throughout the month.
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Festival do Peixe do Rio (River Fish Festival)
When: 7-16 March 2025
Where: Alandroal, two hours east of Lisbon.
Discover the versatility of river fish. Taste it grilled, fried, in tacos, as ceviche, and more with market stalls and cooking demonstrations. On weekends a fair in the Praça da República will have locally made products, workshops, games and entertainment. Plus there’s a program with mountain biking, hot air balloon rides, guided hikes, and a fishing contest in the Grande Lago de Alqueva.
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Festival do Ouriço-do-Mar (Sea Urchin Festival)
When: 10-19 March 2025
Where: Ericeira, 45 minutes from Lisbon.
On weekends you can drop into the local market to try the raw, natural sea delicacy along with arrtisanal beer and local wine. On weekends there is also cooking demonstrations with top Portuguese chefs and other entertainment. Throughout the festival, a long list of local restaurants have special dishes using sea urchin.
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Talha à Mesa (Amphora Wine Festival)
When: 22-23 March 2025
Where: Vidigueira, Alentejo
This weekend is focused on talha wines – the huge clay amphora vessels that are still used to make some Alentejo wines. At the Adega Cooperativa de Vidigueira there will be a bar with only talha wines, invited chefs cooking up a feast, cooking demonstrations, entertainment and a masterclass. Book tickets for the various events ahead of time.
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Tasquinhas, Rio Maior
When: 28 March – 6 April 2025
Where: Rio Maior, 1-hour north of Lisbon.
If you love Portuguese food then you surely love tascas, the homely canteens and diners that dish up rustic Portuguese food. The 38th edition of Tasquinhas is popping up in Rio Maior, about 70 minutes north of Lisbon, in late March. Get to know the traditions and food of the region with a huge pavilion filled with pop-up tascas and markets selling sweets, liquors and local artisan goods.
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FYI in my best food festivals and events list I’ve chosen to only include proper food festivals, pop-up markets and gastronomic events across Portugal. Some towns throw “food festivals” that are just a marketing ploy – they highlight the local ingredient in restaurants, but there’s no festival heart, fanfare or central stage. A nice idea, but not the Portuguese food party we’re looking for!
Am I missing any great food festivals or events happening in Portugal in 2025? Leave me a comment…
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