Portuguese Guitar Festival

Festival de Guitarra Portuguesa

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MusicLisbon
DatesDates TBA · Usually MarchCheck locally before booking
Duration2 daysListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forLive music, late nightsThe Portuguese guitar, a twelve-string
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: EUR
CategoryMusicFestival type
The story

Portuguese Guitar Festival in Lisbon

The Festival de Guitarra Portuguesa is a young Lisbon event, launched around the centenary celebrations of fado composer Carlos Paredes, that gathers musicians across generations to explore the Portuguese guitar. Its second edition ran March 6-7, 2026 across Cinema Sao Jorge, Teatro Capitolio and Teatro Variedades.

The Portuguese guitar occupies a specific and instantly recognisable place in the country's music: its pear-shaped body and twelve steel strings, tuned and played differently from the classical guitar, provide the distinctive rippling melodic line heard in almost every fado performance, yet the instrument itself has rarely had a dedicated festival of its own.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

The Portuguese guitar, a twelve-string instrument distinct from the classical Spanish guitar, is central to fado but rarely gets a festival built entirely around it, which is what makes this event's premise distinctive

02

The mystery stays covered

It was created around the centenary celebrations of Carlos Paredes, widely regarded as the instrument's most important modern virtuoso, and its second edition paid tribute to Armando Freire, known as Armandinho, a fadista who died eighty years ago and composed classics including Fado Armandinho and Fado do Bacalhau

03

The city starts moving

Spreading its programme of concerts, discussions and workshops across three historic Lisbon venues, Cinema Sao Jorge, Teatro Capitolio and Teatro Variedades, the festival is organised through a partnership between the Lisbon City Council, the Museu do Fado and the production company Ghude, giving it institutional backing unusual for such a new event

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The festival honours the Portuguese guitar tradition central to fado

Water and renewal

Living ritual

paying tribute in its recent edition to historic fadistas such as Armando Freire

The sacred route

Living ritual

and situates itself within the legacy of Carlos Paredes

The local code

Living ritual

whose centenary celebrations inspired the festival's creation

Tradition 5

Living ritual

connecting a contemporary event to a long lineage of Portuguese guitar performance

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually March

Getting around

Plan routes around set times, late-night exits, and crowded transport after headline acts.

What to wear

Smart casual clothing suited to indoor theatre and cinema venues, since performances take place in seated indoor halls rather than an outdoor festival ground. A light jacket for early-March...

Safety

At Portuguese Guitar Festival, agree on a meeting point and plan food, water and the return route before crowds thicken.

Where to stay

Choose lodging by the part of Lisbon you will actually use, not only by the cheapest room.

Tickets/cost

Ticketing varies by venue and stage. Confirm official passes before booking travel.

Language/currency

EUR

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map38.73 N, 9.15 WOpen in Google Maps

Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal

Nearest airportLIS — Lisbon Humberto Delgado
TransportPlan routes around set times, late-night exits, and crowded transport after headline acts.
Stay areaChoose lodging by the part of Lisbon you will actually use, not only by the cheapest room.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Lisbon via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Lisbon, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for March.Compare faresFestival gearSmart casual clothing suited to indoor theatre and cinema venues, since performances take place in seated indoor halls rather than an outdoor festival ground. A light jacket for early-March evenings in Lisbon.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Portugal and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Portuguese Guitar Festival?

Portuguese Guitar Festival is listed for Past edition: 6–7 March 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Portuguese Guitar Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Lisbon, Portugal. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

2 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Needs editorial review. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLAwaiting confirmation
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually March
Source statusNeeds editorial review
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