In Porto, the Primavera Sound kicked off the summer music festivals season. However, this is only the beginning, so over the next few months you can browse through Portugal, from North to South, to the rhythm of the best music to liven up the hot season even more.
From the classics Parede de Couras and CA Vilar de Mouros, not forgetting the ‘heavy’ sounds of Vagos Metal Fest and, of course, giants such as MEO KALORAMA there are several festivals. So if you haven’t decided on your destination yet, read the article to the end and choose your favorite.
Table Of Contents
Rock in Rio Lisboa
To kick off the music festivals season, June brings us another edition of Rock in Rio Lisboa, which this year celebrates its 20th anniversary in Portugal. This time, Parque Tejo was the setting chosen to host the event.
From rock to the mainstream pop, the line-up features names like Scorpions, Evanescence, Ed Sheeran, Camila Cabello, Jonas Brothers, Ivete Sangalo and many more.
Where: Parque Tejo Lisboa
When: weekends of June 15 and 16 & June 22 and 23
Tickets: daily 84,83€; passes for each of the weekends (147€); VIP entrance for each of the days (360€)
NOS Alive
This year, NOS Alive celebrates its 16th edition and is already a benchmark in the world of summer festivals.
This season, the poster features music legends like Pearl Jam, global sensations like Dua Lipa, Arcade Fire and Benjamin Clementine, among many others
Where: Parque Marítimo de Algés
When: july 11th to 13th
Tickets: 84.83€ (daily entrance); 169.66€ (two-day pass); 204€ (three-day pass)
Super Bock Super Rock
July promises a lot of excitement in the south of Portugal, with another edition of Super Bock Super Rock at Praia do Meco in Sesimbra.
From July 18 to 20, the line-up promises to delight many fans of summer festivals, with Maneskin, Tom Morello, Nina Kraviz and many others.
Where: Herdade do Cabeço da Flauta, Meco
When: july 18th to 20th
Tickets: 72€ (daily entrance); 154€ (pass without camping); 164€ (pass with camping)
MEO Marés Vivas
With this event, it’s time to head north, more specifically to the neighboring municipality of Vila Nova de Gaia. Around here, MEO Marés Vivas promises to excite local and international audiences onceagain.
As it’s an urban festival, it’s relatively easy to get to the venue by public transport. The artists who will be playing music at the event include, for example: Take That; Ornatos Violeta; Snow Patrol; James Arthur and Rag’n’Bone Man, etc.
Where: Near the mouth of the Douro River, Vila Nova de Gaia
When: july 19th to 21st
Tickets: 45€ (daily entrance); 90€ (general pass)
Vagos Metal Fest
The world of music festivals in Portugal isn’t just rock and pop. In fact, in the center and north of the country, there are some events that warm the heart of any self-respecting metalhead.
In this context, one of the highlights is the Vagos Metal Fest, in the Aveiro district. The line-up includes such greats as Overkill, Blind Guardian and Epica, but also the unmissable Mão Morta.
Where: Quinta do Ega, Vagos
When: august 2nd to 4th
Tickets: 45€ (daily entrance); 93.50€ (general pass)
Vodafone Paredes de Coura
In the ‘dear month of August’, Minho is a veritable Mecca for many Portuguese festival-goers. After all, this is where you’ll find some of the oldest musical events of its kind in Portugal.
As usual, Vodafone Paredes de Coura combines internationally recognized artists with up-and-coming ones.
Cat Power, Idles, The Jesus and The Mary Chain are some of the confirmed names, among others.
Where: Praia Fluvial do Taboão – Caminho do Agrelo 251, Romariz
When: august 14th to 17th
Tickets: daily tickets (60€) and four-day general pass (120€)
CA Vilar de Mouros
Continuing the musical journey through Minho, the next suggestion takes us to the ‘old man’ – we say, with all due respect – Vilar de Mouros.
Considered one of the oldest music festivals on the Iberian Peninsula, it features names such as: Queens of The Stone Age soulfly and The Darkness, among others.
What’s more, if you have some extra time, take the opportunity to (re)discover Caminha one of the most beautiful beaches in the north Portugal.
Where: Vilar de Mouros, municipality of Caminha
When: august 21st to 24th
Tickets: 53,50€ (daily) and 133,75€ (general pass)
MEO KALORAMA
Last but not least, the summer festival season couldn’t have ended any better. After all, another edition of the MEO KALORAMA, which is getting stronger every year.
In fact, this promises to be one of the main destinations for Portuguese megalomaniacs and beyond.
From August 29 to 31, there’s Massive Attack, Fever Ray, Sam Smith, Peggy Gou, LCD Soundsystem, The Smile, Jungle, Gossip, The Kills, Ana Moura, among others.
Where: Bela Vista Park, Lisbon
When: August 29-31
Tickets: on the Fever platform