Every year, the Fundação Serralves in Porto transforms for over fifty hours into one of Europe’s most remarkable cultural events. Serralves em Festa is a non-stop festival bringing together music, dance, theatre, circus, visual arts, film screenings and workshops on one of Portugal’s most beautiful estates — and entry is completely free.
Free entry — Serralves em Festa is completely freely accessible to everyone.
How it started
Serralves em Festa was founded in 2006 as a way to open the Fundação Serralves — Porto’s museum of contemporary art — to a wider audience. What began as a modest open day quickly grew into Portugal’s largest contemporary arts event. In 2026 the festival celebrates its twentieth edition, from 29–31 May.
What to expect
The festival runs non-stop, day and night. Light installations illuminate the park, musicians play on multiple stages, and dancers and theatre makers perform in the museum, the Art Deco villa and the expansive park. The combination of the architecturally impressive Serralves estate — designed by Álvaro Siza Vieira — and the rich programme makes Serralves em Festa a unique experience.
Practical info
- Date 2026: 29–31 May
- Location: Fundação Serralves, Rua Dom João de Castro 210, Porto
- Entry: completely free
- Getting there: metro line B/C/E/F to Casa da Música, then 15 min walk or bus 201/203
- Tip: the festival starts Friday evening and runs until Sunday afternoon — staying overnight in Porto means catching more of the night programme