Event Details
Welcome to the Festival do Butelo e das Casulas 2026
From 28 February to 5 March 2026, Praça Camões in the historic center of Bragança (Trás os Montes, northern Portugal) becomes the stage for one of the region's best known food festivals. At its heart is the Butelo, a traditional smoked sausage made from pig bladder or stomach filled with spine and rib bones, served with Casulas (dried bean pods). The festival traditionally takes place on the weekend before Carnival.
Highlights
- Around 50 exhibitors selling smoked meats, wine, olive oil, honey, bread and pastries from the region
- Live cooking shows by well known chefs
- Gastronomic week with butelo and casulas dishes at around 23 participating restaurants
- "Máscaras Portuguesas" exhibition at the Bragança Cultural Center
- Mountain bike route themed around butelo and casulas
- The Carnaval dos Caretos taking place alongside the festival, with a parade of traditional masked groups from Portugal and Spain
- Symbolic "burning of the devil" (Queima do Diabo) closing the celebrations
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Program
The food area on Praça Camões opens daily from 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM, offering regional products for sale alongside tastings and live cooking shows. On 1 March, the main Carnaval dos Caretos parade takes place, with traditional masked performers (Caretos) from Portugal and Spain walking through the old town; the event closes with the symbolic burning of a devil figure. At the same time, the Semana Gastronómica runs from 28 February to 9 March, with 23 restaurants across Bragança featuring their own butelo and casulas dishes, many as set menus with starter, dessert and drink for between 20 and 30 euros.
Tickets
Admission to the Festival do Butelo e das Casulas is free. Only food, drinks and set menus at the participating stalls and restaurants come at individual prices.
Visitor Tips
- Book accommodation in Bragança early, as hotel capacity often sells out for this weekend.
- Underground car parks at Praça Camões and Av. Sá Carneiro offer parking for more than 900 vehicles.
- Pack warm clothing, as late February still brings winter temperatures to Trás os Montes.
- To try the butelo, take advantage of the gastronomic week at the participating restaurants.
- For the Caretos parade on 1 March, arrive early to find a good spot along the old town streets.
