Lisbon’s Santos Populares 2025: Your Guide to Different Parties Throughout the City

Lisbon is about to come alive with its most vibrant celebration of the year – the Santos Populares (Popular Saints) festivals. These beloved neighborhood celebrations transform the city into a colorful tapestry of music, traditional food, and community spirit. Whether you’re a local or visitor, this guide will help you navigate the festivities across Lisbon’s most characteristic neighborhoods. From riverside revelry to historic village celebrations, here’s everything you need to know about Lisbon’s biggest party of 2025.

The Santos Neighborhood Kicks of the Santos Populares Celebrations

Date – May 16 to June 15, 2025
Location – Terrapleno de Santos (next to K Urban Beach)
Hours – Sunday to Thursday, 4 PM to 11 PM; Fridays, Saturdays and Holiday Evenings, 4 PM to 1 AM
Entry – Free 

The Santos neighborhood kicks off the festivities with its signature event “Santos in Santos,” which returns to Terrapleno. Featuring live music, traditional food and drinks, and free entry, it’s one of the biggest parties in the city.

Musical Program

Beyond music and food, the event includes numerous attractions, which makes it perfect for families and groups of friends celebrating by the Tagus River. Visitors can enjoy a giant Ferris wheel, bumper cars for children and adults, thrill rides (Kanguro, Break Dance and Mega Dance), children’s rides, a haunted house, trampolines, and a game room.

Vila Berta

Date – May 31 to June 12, 2025
Location – Graça

One of Lisbon’s best festivals, the Vila Berta celebration in Graça, starts this month. The tradition among the neighborhood’s residents has existed for at least 100 years.

What began as a festival exclusively for residents now attracts thousands of visitors from around the world. In this festival, all neighbors contribute. Older residents handle decorations and raffles, while others manage sweets and sardines. There is involvement from all generations, and it is the residents themselves who organize the festival. At Vila Berta, you will feel like you’re being welcomed right into someone’s backyard, although you are actually seated at a long table on one of the neighborhood’s narrow streets. Perhaps this cozy, convivial feeling is why it was voted the best festival in Lisbon by NiT readers in 2023.

Arraial da Misericórdia

Date – June 1-30, 2025
Location – Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara
Hours – Sunday to Thursday, 10 AM to 10 PM; Fridays, Saturdays and Holiday Evenings, 10 AM to midnight. On June 12 (Santo António eve), from 10 AM to 4 AM on June 13.
Entry – Free

The São Pedro de Alcântara viewpoint fills with color and joy to celebrate Lisbon’s Popular Saints (Santos Populares) festival. With one of the most beautiful views of Lisbon as its backdrop, the Misericórdia Festival offers one of the best musical entertainment programs during the Popular Saints festivities. This year’s program features twelve performances by popular music artists recognized in the Portuguese music scene.

Traditional festival dishes will be out in full force including grilled sardines, pork sandwiches (bifanas), snacks, sweets, and other savory options, among many other choices, along with artisanal products.

This event is organized by the Misericórdia Parish Council and includes the participation of various local associations and community groups.

Bring your friends and family and have fun! 

Grande Arraial de Belém

Date – May 30 to June 15, 2025
Location – Parque dos Moinhos de Santana
Hours – Monday to Friday from 5 PM; Saturday, Sunday, and Holidays from 3 PM

After last year’s success, Belém will once again be dressed in light and color to host the second edition of the Grande Arraial de Belém. 

Between May 30 and June 15, this unique neighborhood will again transform into the epicenter of the year’s most anticipated party, with a program full of great performers and activities designed for everyone. Parque dos Moinhos de Santana promises to come alive with music, dance, entertainment for all ages.

This year, the biggest highlights include Deixa Rolá on May 30, Tio Jel with his contagious energy on May 31, Toy on June 4, and Sék Mintendes on June 7.

This year, June 8 will be reserved for the June festivities typical of Brazil – a singular day that promises plenty of music, dance, and entertainment with a very special touch.

The big night of Santo António on June 12 has all the ingredients to be truly memorable. Tudo ao Molho, the original Paladin band, will be on stage with all their joy, followed by the incomparable Quimbé and Rubim, with P*ta da Loucura, in an explosive show not to be missed.

Hot Crazy Boy follows with his unique dynamic, and to end on a high note, the Party Animals will make the night of June 12 even more epic with their well-known Crazy Hour.

The Grande Arraial de Belém emphasizes its family-friendliness with spaces dedicated to children, activities, inflatables, amusement park rides, and plenty of entertainment throughout the event. It’s a unique way to celebrate the Santos Populares with the whole family in a safe and welcoming environment.

Of course, there will be traditional food and drink stands with a wide range of choices for everyone, featuring the most traditional Portuguese cuisine, but also with some surprises. Stay tuned!

Arraial Santo António

Date – May 27 to June 19, 2025
Location – Praça da Alegria
Entry – Free

The Santo António Festival will feature live music (Fridays, Saturdays, and Holiday Evenings), drinks, and snacks. Get ready because plenty of entertainment is guaranteed.

Arraial dos Navegantes

Date – June 6-8, 2025
Location – Passeio do Levante 4.81.01

Amidst balloons, marches, and basil trees, feel your heart beat stronger to the smell of sardines, infectious dances, and warmth of the festival attendees. The live music schedule is yet to be announced.

Arraial de São Miguel (Alfama)

Date – June 1-30, 2025
Location – Alfama

Entertainment abounds at the São Miguel Festival. The largest festival in the heart of Alfama and the most charismatic in the city takes place throughout June, organized by the Santa Maria Maior Parish Council. Live popular music on weekends and holiday evenings. Stay tuned for the full schedule.

Arraial da Academia de Santo Amaro

Date – June 1-30, 2025
Location – R. Academia Recreativa de Santo Amaro 8A

Count on live music nights along with traditional snacks and refreshments with a beautiful view of the April 25 Bridge with a very local neighborhood feeling.

Arraial de Campo de Ourique

Date – June 20-22, 2025
Location – Rua José Gomes Ferreira, no Quartel dos Bombeiros Voluntários

Campo de Ourique will host its own festival during the third week of June. Mark your calendar and stay tuned for more updates.

Embrace the Spirit of Santos Populares in Lisbon!

Starting with the first festival in the Santos neighborhood on May 16, Lisbon transforms into one huge party where the smell of grilled sardines and chorizo fill the air, the multi-colored streamers festoon the streets, and the Sagres beer flows. The Santos Populares festivals represent the heart and soul of Lisbon’s identity, where generations come together to share in the joy of music, food, and community spirit. We created this short guide to introduce some farther flung celebrations outside of the center of Lisbon including Campo de Ourique, Santo Amaro, and Belém. Each neighborhood brings its unique character to these festivities.

Whether you’re savoring freshly grilled sardines on bread, dancing to popular music until dawn, or simply soaking in the festive atmosphere with locals and tourists, the Santos Populares show off Lisbon’s energetic side in the biggest possible way. So mark your calendars, gather your friends and family, and prepare to experience Lisbon at its most colorful and lively – especially on the night of June 12, where the party goes all night long including the Marchas Populares parade on Avenida da Liberdade! Map out your Santos Populares plans and we’ll see you at the festivals!