Ho ho ho! Santa Claus hasn’t arrived yet, but the holiday spirit is already starting to be felt here and there. For example, in Vigo (in Galicia), the big opening celebration takes place on November 14 (Saturday) at 5 p.m., with a parade featuring animated characters from Disney, Marvel, and Pixar. But we’ll talk about this Galician festive paradise another time. For now, we already have the answer to one of the burning questions: when will the holiday lights be turned on in Porto?
According to the Porto City Council (CMP) news portal, the kickoff for Christmas 2026 in Porto will take place on Saturday, November 28, at 6 p.m., on Avenida dos Aliados, with the customary “welcome” ceremony for the lighting of the Christmas tree in Praça do General Humberto Delgado. In addition, there will be a concert, though the lineup has not yet been announced.
Four Christmas centers
At the moment, the official Christmas 2026 program has not yet been announced, but the four main Christmas hubs in Porto are already known, namely:
- Avenida dos Aliados: concerts and light shows
- Largo Amor de Perdição: workshops and shows for the whole family
- Mouzinho de Albuquerque Square (Boavista): will now be known as Fantasy Square
- D. João I Square: set to be the new venue for the ice rink
A month of festivities
As in previous years, the official program will include a variety of activities for kids and adults alike, ranging from music and theater to traveling entertainment at markets and squares, with events taking place across all seven parishes in the municipality of Porto. In addition, the São Silvestre race will take place in the city on December 20 (Sunday).
This year, the city will invest up to 765,000 euros in Christmas lighting, more than the 700,000 euros invested last Christmas.
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