Time flies, and before we know it, we’re about to welcome fall, while Halloween is fast approaching. That’s why it’s so important to make the most of every moment. And before September comes to an end, there’s no shortage of things to enjoy— whether you’re on your own or with friends—in Porto and the surrounding area.
Exhibitions, themed events, and concerts are just a few of the suggestions that promise to liven up your days. If you’re running out of ideas for what to do this month, here’s the perfect place to start. In the end, all you have to do is pick your favorite activities and let the fun take over.
Almost a century after the first video footage of surfing in Europe was captured at Leça Beach, Matosinhos is hosting a stop on the world circuit. The Xacobeo Norte Surf Fest is hosting the World Surf League’s QS 6000 INTL event , bringing around 220 surfers to the northern beaches.
The addition of the WSL expands the festival’s format, which now spans six days. In addition to the competition in the water, the second half of the event features a parallel program on the beach, including concerts by Lee-Ann Curren and Sea Angels, DJ sets, talks on surf culture, surf skate and yoga workshops, and adaptive surfing sessions.
The Porto Book Fair returns to the Crystal Palace Gardens with over 200 events and 144 booths featuring publishers, booksellers, and used-book dealers. The 13th edition pays tribute to Porto-born poet Inês Lourenço, winner of the Gil Vicente Grand Prize for Poetry, and introduces a brand-new feature: the debut of international guests. For the first time in the Fair’s history, authors from outside Portugal will be in attendance, with confirmed names including Palestinian poet Mohammed El-Kurd, as well as Rim Battal, Elvis Guerra, and Angélica Liddell.
Beyond the book stalls, the daily program fills the gardens with outdoor movies, children’s workshops, art installations, and a packed lineup of Portuguese music. Every day in the late afternoon, the Concha Acústica hosts concerts by established artists such as Manuela Azevedo and Hélder Gonçalves, Janeiro, and Tatanka, culminating with Lena d’Água and Benjamim at the closing ceremony. The Almeida Garrett Municipal Library also serves as a venue for dozens of reading sessions and activities designed for families.
Candlelight Concerts are a true global phenomenon, popping up in cities all over the world. And Porto is no exception, with its now-traditional candlelit performances at iconic venues, such as the Pestana Palácio do Freixo.
However, the magic is far from limited to Porto alone, with several events scheduled at the exquisite Hilton Porto Gaia. ABBA, Michael Jackson, Pink Floyd, and Coldplay are just a few of the tribute shows on the lineup.
CÚPULA bids farewell to Arcozelo and moves to the center of Vila Nova de Gaia for its eighth edition, taking on a new scale. The international contemporary circus festival, organized by the National Institute of Circus Arts (INAC), divides its program into two distinct parts, bringing dozens of free shows, music, and art installations to the city’s public spaces.
On the first weekend, Cais de Gaia becomes the epicenter of the event, with performances spread across five stages (Rabelo, Margem, Afluente, Douro, and Cais). Highlights include street art and new circus productions by companies such as Cia. Errância, Teatro do Mar, and BlucinQue. The following week, the action moves to Parque da Lavandeira in a more participatory format, featuring creative workshops, circus workshops, yoga sessions, and performance installations.
Leça do Balio Medieval Fair
For six days, one of the most iconic medieval fairs in Greater Porto will once again take over the area around the Leça do Balio Monastery in Matosinhos. From September 8 to 13, the event “The Hospitallers on the Camino de Santiago” immersively recreates the pilgrims’ journey and epic moments from our history, such as the iconic wedding of King Fernando and Queen Leonor Teles.
The program is perfect for a full day out: it features a craft market, a food court, performances by dancers, musicians, and jugglers, falconry, and plenty of activities for the whole family. A true journey back in time.
Cabaret: New Xperience is back with a fresh new look, the result of a partnership between MXM and the Cénica Porto Hotel. The stage of the former Teatro Modestos serves as the backdrop for an evening that evokes the spirit of the Belle Époque, blending dance, humor, and immersive performances.
The format combines theater and gastronomy: the experience begins with dinner served in the audience, before the curtains rise on a show centered on suspense and sensuality. The three-course menu includes meat options and vegetarian dishes, paired with the hotel’s wine selection.
Serralves Park is transformed into a vast open-air gallery with the fourth edition of “Serralves em Luz.” Under the creative direction of Nuno Maya and produced by OCUBO, the event explores the theme “Light vs. Darkness” through a roughly 2-kilometer nighttime trail featuring 20 multimedia and interactive installations.
For the first time, the route features original soundtracks composed by seven prominent figures in the Portuguese music scene, including Rodrigo Leão, Maria João, and Noiserv. The experience also includes the collective installation “O Meu Sol,” created in collaboration with the Educational Service and elementary schools in Porto
The Atkinson Museum, in the WOW cultural district, is hosting the “Egyptian Treasures” exhibition . The show recreates scenic settings from Ancient Egypt through an immersive journey that takes you through temples, hieroglyphs, and the treasures of Tutankhamun.
The collection includes about a hundred replicas and reproductions of historical artifacts. The design and detailing of the objects were overseen and curated by the Fundación Sophia.
Palace Gardens Nights
The musical event “Noites dos Jardins do Palácio” returns for another edition, in partnership with the Porto City Council, featuring a lineup dedicated to the best of Portuguese music.
From September 11–12, six artists promise plenty of excitement in one of the city’s most iconic gardens: Pedro Abrunhosa, Tiago Nacarato, Rita Rocha, T-Rex, Bárbara Bandeira, and Nenny are the confirmed acts.
Porto Pride 2026
Porto Pride returns from September 11 to 13 for three days of excitement, music, and celebration of diversity, freedom, expression, and inclusion. With over 20 confirmed artists and activities planned at various locations throughout Porto, the event’s lineup is headlined by well-known names such as Kiko Is Hot, Suzy Guerra, and Saint Caboclo, among others.
Discover the city’s identity and history through a 360° audiovisual show that revisits ten local legends, narrated by Pedro Abrunhosa and Jeremy Irons. The experience combines light projections with artificial intelligence, allowing you to become one of the characters and capture a video record of the adventure.
The journey culminates in a metaverse experience ( LBVR) developed by the production company Ocubo, where you can explore virtual environments, interact directly with the space, and solve challenges focused on preserving Invicta’s intangible heritage.
The Bloom Festival returns and once again transforms the Maia Aerodrome into one of the most unusual settings for electronic music in Portugal. The actual runway once again serves as a dance floor, hosting over 40 artists in a non-stop 35-hour music program. The lineup brings together leading names from the global scene with national talents, crafting a sonic journey through different atmospheres and intensities.
The big news for the second edition is Bloom Village, a new glamping area that lets you sleep and wake up right on the grounds. The event offers a continuous experience within the active airfield, culminating in Bloom Sunrise—the symbolic closing moment designed to keep the main dance floor going as the first light of morning arrives.
The “Family Saturdays” series is back at the Bolhão Market with monthly workshops open to all ages. Through December, the Porto market is dedicating one morning a month to hands-on and creative activities designed to engage kids and adults alike.
The schedule of activities varies with each edition. The program ranges from making artisanal ice cream cones, hosted by Zé Badio ice cream shop, to permaculture workshops in pots, not to mention Halloween pumpkin carving and creating Christmas postcards using engraving techniques.
After wrapping up its regular operations in January and leaving behind more than two decades of history in Porto’s nightlife, the iconic Tendinha dos Clérigos is reopening its doors for a special occasion. This isn’t a permanent reopening, but rather the second one-off gathering for the community that made the venue what it is, following a similar initiative that marked its anniversary.
With the motto “See you every now and then,” founder Alberto Fonseca’s idea is to bring the dance floor and music back to life from time to time, allowing the city’s different generations to return to this legendary venue for one night.
Temporary exhibition “Aqui, Massarelos”
The Electric Tram Museum presents the exhibition “Aqui, Massarelos,” dedicated to the very neighborhood where the museum is located. The exhibition is the result of a partnership with the Massarelos Residents’ Association, marking the 50th anniversary of its founding, and delves into the neighborhood’s history through photographs and firsthand accounts.
The exhibition brings together portraits and first-person narratives , documenting the experiences of those who live there and the population’s historical relationship with the Douro River. More than just records of the physical space, it gathers the stories told by the residents themselves to trace the identity of one of Porto’s most distinctive neighborhoods.
