Event Details
Welcome to the Festas de Lisboa (Popular Saints) 2027
Every June, Lisbon turns into a city of music, grilled sardine smoke and street parties. The Festas dos Santos Populares trace back to a tradition dating to the 13th century. Three saints are celebrated: Santo António (12/13 June, the city's patron saint and by far the most important), São João (23/24 June, celebrated mainly in Porto) and São Pedro (28/29 June). The high point in Lisbon is the night of Santo António on 12 into 13 June, a municipal holiday.
Highlights
- Marchas Populares: choreographed neighbourhood parade along Avenida da Liberdade on 12 June
- Lively street parties (arraiais) in Alfama, Mouraria, Graça, Bica and other neighbourhoods
- Grilled sardines (sardinhas assadas) sold on nearly every corner
- Collective wedding ceremony "Casamentos de Santo António" at Sé Cathedral
- Manjericos (basil pots with love poems) as a classic gift of the festival
- Street parties already from late May/early June, ahead of the main peak
Find Accommodation in Lisboa
Compare the best hotel prices for this event and secure your accommodation in time.
Free cancellation on most hotels
Program
Celebrations begin as early as late May/early June with the first street parties in the historic neighbourhoods, and the city gets decked out in colourful streamers and lights. On 12 June at 11:30 AM, the traditional mass wedding "Casamentos de Santo António" takes place, with several couples marrying at Sé Cathedral and the City Hall. That same evening, around 8:00 PM, the big Marchas Populares parade kicks off on Avenida da Liberdade; each neighbourhood competes with its own choreography, costumes and music, and a winning marcha is announced at the end of the night. The party then continues into the early morning hours in the neighbourhoods, with music, dancing and grilled sardines. The festivities carry on with São João (23/24 June) and São Pedro (28/29 June) before the month of popular saints closes on 29 June.
Tickets
The street parties and the Marchas Populares parade along Avenida da Liberdade are free to attend. A separate, ticketed preview of the Marchas usually takes place in late May at Altice Arena, with tickets available through the usual ticketing platforms. For the individual street parties (arraiais), costs are generally limited to food and drinks.
Visitor Tips
- Arrive early in the neighbourhoods (Alfama, Graça), as things get very crowded on peak days.
- Use public transport, since many streets in the old town are closed to traffic.
- Bring cash for food and drinks at the stalls.
- Wear comfortable shoes, as the old town has steep, cobblestoned alleys.
- Buy a manjerico; it is a classic souvenir and love token of the Festas.
