Lisbon no longer celebrates the days of revelry like it used to, when it had one of the biggest Carnival parades in the country, with several floats going down from Avenida da Liberdade to downtown Lisbon.
Although the capital now doesn’t exploit the carnival season with many dedicated events, the truth is that it doesn’t miss out on this lively festival, which attracts both adults and children.
So, we’ve chosen three parties in the city and we’ve also added four unmissable Carnival parades that are up to an hour away from the city: Loures , Sesimbra, Torres Vedras and Nazaré.
Choose your favorite Carnival shows, put on your mask and join in these fun-filled festivities, or go and parade in one of these Carnival parades.
Even if you’re a clumsy matron, it’s Carnival, and nobody gets away with anything at Carnival!
Clandestine Colombina Ball
If you think Lisbon doesn’t have a Carnival block, you’re very much mistaken! The warm-up sessions are about to begin, but the Baile da Colombina Clandestina, this year’s fifth edition, will only take place on February 10 (Saturday), in a party that promises to last until the early hours.
Address: Voz do Operário (Graça)
Time: February 10th, starting at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets: on the website
Baque Mulher Lisboa
Baque Mulher Lisboa is a maracatu group made up of women, which will also take part in Lisbon Carnival with a parade.
Few details are known about this year’s route, but in 2023 it started at Largo Chão do Loureiro, in Alfama, and ended at Largo do Intendente, where it joined the other baque in the city, Baque do Tejo.
The start of this procession full of music and animation is expected to begin at 2pm and is sure to have many surprises and special guest appearances.
Address: to be announced soon
Time: February 11, starting at 2pm
Tickets: free
Baque do Tejo
Baque do Tejo has been livening up the streets of Lisbon during Carnival since 2015, and this year should be no different, depending on the success of the pre-carnival on February 4, where the group will try to raise funds to go out on one of the Carnival days.
At this big party you’ll be able to see a show by Coco Voador, a special appearance by Rastafogo and a DJ set by Jess Soveral and, of course, Baque do Tejo, who will also be playing a small demonstration of what could happen on the days of Carnival.
Address: (Arroz Estúdios)
Time: February 4, from 18h to 00h
Tickets: €7 in advance on Instagram; €10 at the door
Loures
Near Lisbon there are a few Carnival parades that are worth a visit.
The closest to the capital is in the municipality of Loures, which starts celebrating this date on February 3, and the festivities continue until February 14.
And there’s plenty of fun on offer! In addition to the traditional Carnival parades, which this year feature 20 groups, 15 floats and around 2,500 extras, under the theme “World of Spectacle”, you can also enjoy the dances, the stage with the electric trio, the Youth Carnival Party, the popular mini-fair and, at the end, attend the burial ceremony of Santo Entrudo.
The carnival parades in Loures will take place on February 11 and 13, and admission is free.
Address: streets in the center of Loures
Schedule: from February 3rd to 14th
Tickets: free entry
Sesimbra
The Carnival in Sesimbra is also relatively close to Lisbon and is one of the most Brazilian in the country, with lots of samba and the sea nearby.
The rhythms from the other side of the Atlantic are joined by some very Portuguese traditions , such as the cegadas, the Carvalhadas, the clown parade and the Enterro do Bacalhau, the final point in the entertainment, which this year takes place on February 14.
From this list of Carnival parades in and around Lisbon, the Sesimbra Carnival is the only one where you have to pay a fee to watch the Sunday and Tuesday parades from a grandstand with seating. However, you can watch the entire parade along the waterfront completely free of charge.
Address: the grandstand is on Avenida 25 de Abril
Schedule: from February 8th to 14th
Tickets: on the
Torres Vedras
This year, the most famous and popular Carnival in the Lisbon district, the Torres Vedras Carnival, celebrates its 101st anniversary, once again accompanied by masked groups, bands, cabeçudos and, of course, the famous matrafonas.
From February 9 to 14, Torres Vedras’ carnival program is quite extensive, starting with a children’s school parade; two nighttime carnival parades; two daytime parades; and the Burial of the Holy Entrudo ceremony.
This year’s edition began on the evening of January 20, in Praça da República, with the traditional Torres Vedras Carnival Monument, which this time has the central theme of “Carnival of the Future”.
Address: streets in the center of Torres Vedras
Schedule: from February 9th to 14th
Tickets: to be announced soon
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Nazaré
Just over an hour from Lisbon is one of the most spontaneous Carnival parades in the country, with thousands of people flooding the waterfront to see practically the entire population of Nazaré experiencing the Carnival of their land in a very intense way, without explanation.
After all, this is the date of the year that Nazarenes look forward to the most throughout the year, and it is on February 3rd (the day of São Brás) that the Carnival festivities officially begin, although the celebrations begin much earlier, with the typical street dances and other themed parties throughout the town.
This Carnival is theirs alone, the Nazarenes, who will take anything to dress up in the wildest way you can imagine.
It’s “à troncage” they say, and with everything they can get their hands on, they dress up in the most original way you’ve ever seen.
More organized are the Carnival parades, which this year are held under the motto “Tá mea praia alevantada” and take place at five different times:
- February 9, Friday: Children’s Carnival at 2:30 p.m.
- February 10, Saturday: night parade at 10 p.m. on the waterfront
- February 11, Sunday: daytime parade at 3pm on the waterfront
- February 12, Carnival Tuesday: daytime parade at 3pm on the waterfront
- February 14, Ash Wednesday: Burial of the Holy Shrovetide at 5pm at the Nazaré Cultural Center
In addition to these events, there will also be evening entertainment for five days in the town’s bars and in the dance halls of various cultural and recreational associations in the municipality: Mar-Alto, Tá-Mar and BIR.
Whatever you choose, we’re sure you’ll have a great time, because this life is two days and Carnival is three.
Os bilhetes para a próxima festa secreta It Is What It Is, estão quase a esgotar