Portimão Sardine Festival 2026
30 years of music, fun and sardines!
Local PickEvent
The most famous annual sardine festival in the Algarve is back! Live music, entertainment, plenty of fresh fish and sardines galore! Portimão's Sardine Festival is a must-do. From 4th to 9th August 2026. Live concerts everynight plus entertainment for the kids, and a special recreation of the sardines arriving at the dock. See the details below.
Sardines have been a part of the tradition and culture of the Algarve for many years and this little fish has remained a firm favourite with locals and visitors to the region - grilled to perfection over charcoal and eaten with Portuguese bread and a fresh salad - delicious!
Many restaurants in the Algarve will have sardines on the menu throughout the year but the best time to eat sardines is in August, and especially during the annual Sardine Festival in Portimão.
This year the festival opens on 4th August and runs to 9th August If you want to sample local sardines, this is the place. The sardines are freshly caught and at their best at this time of the year. Plus there is live music every evening with a great line up of bands - click the website button for the full programme or see the details below.
The Festival takes place by the River Arade in Portimão, with plenty of stands grilling sardines over charcoal, and with lots of other delicious goodies to sample.
Highlight - Reenactment of sardines boats arriving to harbour
Don't miss the opening event of the festival which steps back in time to recreate the boats laden with sardines arriving at the dock and being unloaded, ready to be sent to the local market.
There is entertainment each evening at the festival with the headline acts on the stage from 10pm:
Highlights include:
See the map in the Image Gallery for information on parking and location of participating restaurant, outside of the festival area.
Sardines have been a part of the tradition and culture of the Algarve for many years and this little fish has remained a firm favourite with locals and visitors to the region - grilled to perfection over charcoal and eaten with Portuguese bread and a fresh salad - delicious!
Many restaurants in the Algarve will have sardines on the menu throughout the year but the best time to eat sardines is in August, and especially during the annual Sardine Festival in Portimão.
This year the festival opens on 4th August and runs to 9th August If you want to sample local sardines, this is the place. The sardines are freshly caught and at their best at this time of the year. Plus there is live music every evening with a great line up of bands - click the website button for the full programme or see the details below.
The Festival takes place by the River Arade in Portimão, with plenty of stands grilling sardines over charcoal, and with lots of other delicious goodies to sample.
- Free entry
- Open from 18:00h to 00:00h
- Location: Portimão riverside
- check out this guide to the best of Portimão
- Live music every evening, plus show coooking and entertainment
Highlight - Reenactment of sardines boats arriving to harbour
Don't miss the opening event of the festival which steps back in time to recreate the boats laden with sardines arriving at the dock and being unloaded, ready to be sent to the local market.
- at Gil Eanes dock in Portimão, near the old bridge.
There is entertainment each evening at the festival with the headline acts on the stage from 10pm:
Highlights include:
- 7th Aug - Cuca Roseta
- 9th Aug - Xutos e Pontapés
See the map in the Image Gallery for information on parking and location of participating restaurant, outside of the festival area.
Available Dates
August 20266 dates
Tue 4th AugWed 5th AugThu 6th AugFri 7th AugSat 8th AugSun 9th Aug
