Lisbon Events Calendar: Festivals, Races and Fairs by Month
The recurring events that shape the Lisbon year, when they usually happen, the next confirmed dates and where to check transport changes.
Lisbon’s big recurring events follow a fairly fixed calendar: Carnival in February or March, the Lisbon Half Marathon in March, IndieLisboa in late April and May, Rock in Rio Lisboa in June of even years, NOS Alive in July, the Lisbon Marathon in October and Web Summit in November. Exact dates change every year and are published by the organizers and on the city’s agenda.
This calendar skips the June Santos Populares and the Christmas season, which have their own guides. Dates below are the confirmed ones we found as of November 2026.
What happens in Lisbon month by month?
| Usual month | Event | Next confirmed dates | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| February or March | Carnival | Carnival Tuesday is 9 February 2027 | Various; not a statutory holiday |
| March | EDP Lisbon Half Marathon | Sunday 7 March 2027 | 25 de Abril Bridge to Belém |
| Late March or April | Peixe em Lisboa (fish and seafood festival) | Not yet announced | Recent editions at Pavilhão Carlos Lopes |
| Late April to early May | IndieLisboa film festival | 29 April to 9 May 2027 | Cinemas across the city |
| June, even years | Rock in Rio Lisboa | 17, 18, 24 and 25 June 2028 | Cidade do Rock, Parque Tejo area |
| July | NOS Alive | 8, 9 and 10 July 2027 | Algés, on the Cascais line |
| October | EDP Lisbon Marathon | The 2026 race was on 10 October; 2027 entries are open | Coast road into Lisbon, finishing in the center |
| November | Web Summit | 9 to 12 November 2026 | MEO Arena and FIL, Parque das Nações |
When is Carnival, and is it a day off?
Carnival falls 47 days before Easter, so it moves between February and early March; in 2027 Carnival Tuesday (Terça-feira de Carnaval) is 9 February. It is not one of Portugal’s statutory public holidays. Some employers and public bodies give the day off, but you should not assume it: check your contract, collective agreement or school calendar.
Carnival events in Lisbon are listed on the city agenda each year. Our guide to public holidays in Portugal lists which days are fixed by law.
What should I know about the Lisbon half marathon and marathon?
The EDP Lisbon Half Marathon starts in the middle of the 25 de Abril Bridge and finishes at the Jerónimos Monastery in Belém. The organizer, Maratona Clube de Portugal, says the only way to reach the start is by Fertagus train to Pragal station, from either bank. The 2027 race is on Sunday 7 March, with a 3-hour time limit; the bib and kit pickup runs on 4 to 6 March at the Centro de Congressos de Lisboa.
Because the race starts on the bridge, check road closure notices if you plan to drive across that morning. The full EDP Lisbon Marathon runs in October along the coast into the city; the 2026 edition was on 10 October, and the organizer’s site lists the 2027 date and road closures once set.
What are the big music festivals?
Rock in Rio Lisboa is held in even years over two weekends in June. The 2026 edition ran on 20, 21, 27 and 28 June at the Cidade do Rock in the Parque Tejo area by the river in the east of the city, which has since been renamed Parque Papa Francisco. The organizers have announced 17, 18, 24 and 25 June 2028 for the next one.
NOS Alive takes place every July on the riverfront at Algés, just over the Lisbon boundary in Oeiras. The 2027 edition, the festival’s 19th, is on 8, 9 and 10 July. Algés station on the CP Cascais line is the obvious way in; see our guide to trains to Sintra and Cascais for fares and passes.
For both festivals, a Navegante monthly pass covers the Metro and trains inside the metropolitan area, but any extra or late services are announced by the operators before each edition.
What is on for film, food and tech?
IndieLisboa, the international independent film festival, runs in several Lisbon cinemas each spring. The 2027 dates are 29 April to 9 May.
Peixe em Lisboa is a festival of fish and seafood cooking with restaurants and chefs. Past editions have been held in late March or April at the Pavilhão Carlos Lopes in Parque Eduardo VII; we could not confirm the 2027 dates.
Web Summit, the technology conference, fills Parque das Nações each November. The 2026 edition runs from 9 to 12 November at the MEO Arena and the FIL exhibition center, both next to Oriente station. Plan for busier Metro red line trains and more traffic around Oriente on those days; CP has also offered a Web Summit transport pass, shown on its home page in November 2026.
Where does the city publish exact dates and transport changes?
- The city council’s agenda on lisboa.pt lists municipal events, road closures and public draws.
- The official tourism board, Visit Lisboa, lists festivals, concerts and fairs with dates.
- Carris, the Metro, CP, Fertagus and the river ferries post service changes on their own sites before big events. Our guide to the Navegante pass covers which operators a pass includes.
- For ticketed events, the organizer’s own site is the only reliable source for dates, prices and rules.
Bottom line
If you live in Lisbon, the dates that change daily life most are the Half Marathon morning (bridge closed), Rock in Rio and NOS Alive weekends (crowded trains east and west) and Web Summit week (crowded Oriente). Put them in your calendar early and check transport notices the week before.
FAQ
Is Rock in Rio Lisboa held every year?
No. The Lisbon edition is held in even years. After the June 2026 festival, the organizers announced the next edition for June 2028.
When is NOS Alive 2027?
On 8, 9 and 10 July 2027, according to the festival’s site. It takes place in Algés, on the western edge of Lisbon.
Is Carnival a public holiday in Portugal?
No. Carnival Tuesday is not a statutory holiday, although some employers and public bodies give the day off. In 2027 it falls on 9 February.
How do I get to the Lisbon Half Marathon start?
By Fertagus train to Pragal, according to the organizer. It is the only way to reach the start on the 25 de Abril Bridge.
