Festivals in Lisbon
Lisbon is a city filled with music, food, and celebrations that happen year-round and can be found in nearly every neighborhood. While the festivals like the Santos Populares are very fun and easy to find, many organized festivals in Lisbon provide a more structured experience and venue. Lisbon hosts several festivals all year round, focused on celebrating topics like cinema, music, culture, dance, and many other themes.
Some of the biggest music festivals in Lisbon include:
Super Bock Super Rock: Super Bock Super Rock
One of the biggest music festivals in Portugal is Super Bock Super Rock, which started in 1995 and has been growing in popularity each year since. The festival takes place on a weekend in July and hosts popular mainstream music, mixing internationally known artists with local Portuguese musicians.
Rock in Rio: Rock in Rio Lisboa
Rock in Rio is an international festival that has its roots in Rio de Janeiro but now has venues across the world. The festival in Lisbon is held at the Parque Tejo every other year in late June, with the next festival in Lisbon planned for the year 2026. Rock in Rio hosts a mix of headliners from rock bands from the 80s and 90s, along with well-known international contemporary pop artists.
NOS Alive: NOS Alive
NOS Alive is an annual music and arts festival that has been running since 2007, held in the Algés riverside, close to Lisbon. NOS Alive takes place on the second weekend of July and hosts mainly globally known music in English, with some Portuguese influence included in their lineup as well.
Out Jazz: OUT JAZZ 2024
Out Jazz is an annual open-air music event in Lisbon with free admission that takes place on Sunday afternoons from May through September in different parks and gardens throughout the city. Established in 2006, the festival features a diverse mix of jazz, soul, funk, and hip-hop performances, offering both live concerts and DJ sets.
Lisb-On #Jardim Sonoro: Lisb-On
Lisb-On #JardimSonoro is an annual electronic music festival that has been held since 2014 in Jardim Keil do Amaral, a scenic location within the Monsanto Forest Park. The festival focuses solely on electronic music with a variety of electronic styles, including disco, house, and techno, and has a special focus on sustainability and cultural diversity.
While these are just some of Lisbon’s many music festivals offered throughout the year, the city also has an assortment of other cultural experiences to offer. If you enjoy cinema, the many film festivals Lisbon has to offer will be right up your alley!
Some popular film festivals in the capital city are:
Lisbon & Estoril Film Festival: LEFFEST
The Lisbon & Estoril Film Festival is an annual international film festival held in Estoril each November. LEFFEST has a focus on contemporary film production, but has in recent years expanded beyond cinema by bridging it with other arts and disciplines. The festival has hosted notable artists such as Francis Ford Coppola, David Lynch, Bernardo Bertolucci, and Agnès Varda.
Indie Lisboa: IndieLisboa
IndieLisboa is Lisbon’s International Independent Film Festival that takes place at the beginning of May and is dedicated to showcasing independent cinema that typically doesn’t reach mainstream distribution channels. Established in 2004, the festival provides a platform for both emerging and established filmmakers to present their work to diverse audiences.
Queer Lisboa: Queer Lisboa
Queer Lisboa was founded in 1997 and is the oldest film festival in Lisbon. Queer Lisboa has the specific purpose of showing films about LGBTQ+ identities, in a genre coined internationally as “Queer Cinema.” In addition to film screenings, Queer Lisboa hosts a variety of events such as workshops, debates, and educational dialogues on LGBTQ+ topics.
Olhares do Mediterrâneo: Olhares do Mediterrâneo
The Olhares do Mediterrâneo Women’s Film Festival began in 2014 and is the first International Film Festival in Portugal dedicated to giving visibility to the presence of women in the international cinematographic arena. The festival takes place from the end of October through the beginning of November and mainly focuses on showing the work of female filmmakers from Mediterranean countries.
While music and film festivals are both very fun to attend, Lisbon also hosts more interactive festivals that promote attendee participation. The festivals below range from literature to fashion festivals, and while this list covers many festivals, it is not exhaustive, and there is likely a festival for everyone somewhere in Lisbon.
A couple of notable fashion and culture festivals in Lisbon include:
European Capoeira Art Festival: FESTIVAL EUROPEU DA ARTE CAPOEIRA LISBOA 2025
The Lisbon European Capoeira Art Festival (Festival Europeu da Arte Capoeira Lisboa) is a significant gathering for capoeira practitioners worldwide scheduled in mid-April. The festival allows both beginners and veterans to connect with capoeiristas from all over the world. However, American capoeiristas are invited to enroll in the event’s workshops and associated sessions, while Europeans and Brazilians are also allowed to participate in the competitions.
Alkantara Festival: Alkantara Festival
The Alkantara Festival is an annual international performing arts festival typically held during November. The festival features a diverse program of dance, theater, performance art, and interdisciplinary events that address political, cultural, and social themes. The festival also holds dialogue through workshops, talks, and other interactive events to build a community that reflects on contemporary artistic practices and their relevance in today’s world.
Moda Lisboa: ModaLisboa Capital
ModaLisboa, also known as Lisbon Fashion Week, is an internationally known biannual event that takes place in early March, dedicated to showcasing Portuguese fashion design. ModaLisboa serves as a platform that promotes fashion shows, conferences, workshops, mentoring sessions, and exhibitions, aiming to develop the Portuguese fashion industry for national and international audiences.
Feira do Livro de Lisboa: Feira do Livro
The Feira do Livro de Lisboa (Lisbon Book Fair) is an annual event celebrating literature since it began in 1930. Traditionally held at the Parque Eduardo VII, the fair brings together publishers, booksellers, and readers, offering a diverse selection of books ranging from the latest releases to rare and antique editions. The festival takes place throughout most of the month of June and aims to promote reading habits and literacy among visitors of all ages.
Like every capital and big city, Lisbon hosts several festivals year-round, celebrating themes like cinema, music, culture, fashion, and many more. Whether you are looking to dance with friends to music, immerse yourself in cinema from around the world, or find a new favorite book, Lisbon has a festival for you.
