If you still don’t know what to do on the last weekend of August in Lisbon, there’s a major event waiting for you: the 5th edition of MEO KALORAMA. Recently recognized as an “Accessible Festival,” the event returns on August 28, 29, and 30 to one of the city’s largest green oases— Bela Vista Park.
With more than 50 artists on a lineup headlined by giants such as Robbie Williams, Deftones, and Ms. Lauryn Hill, there’s some last-minute news: the British band Dry Cleaning has just joined the lineup for a special concert on the Sagres Stage on August 29.
There’s no shortage of reasons to dive into this celebration of Music, Art, and Sustainability. And the best part? There are still single-day tickets and general passes available for those who waited until the last minute to decide. With you in mind, we’ve put together the definitive and indispensable guide to help you make the most of the festival—from the schedule to the Metro running until dawn, not to mention the items you can’t bring into the venue.
Concerts with no overlapping sets
One of the great advantages for those who don’t know which concert to choose is that the schedules for the two main stages (the MEO Stage and the Sagres Stage) don’t overlap. That way, you can catch the headliners’ shows without rushing around or making tough decisions.
However, this isn’t the only highlight of the 5th edition of MEO KALORAMA. In fact, the stage design itself deserves a mention. On the one hand, the MEO Stage transforms into a dynamic architectural landscape (designed by Diogo Aguiar Studio). On the other hand, the Sagres Stage gains a new visual identity inspired by traditional (and always iconic) Portuguese azulejos (created by Leonor Violeta).
Venue hours: What time should you arrive?
If you want to check the full schedule for the MEO KALORAMA festival, you can find it in this article. However, we’d like to take this opportunity to highlight what time the venue opens—a particularly important detail if you’re the type who wants to make the most of every minute.
To make sure you don’t miss a thing, take note of the official schedule:
- August 28 (Friday): doors open at 4:30 p.m. and the venue closes at 3:30 a.m.
- August 29 and 30 (Saturday and Sunday): the party starts early, with doors scheduled to open at 2:30 p.m. and the event ending at 2:30 a.m.
Map of the MEO KALORAMA venue
The last thing you want is to get lost inside Bela Vista Park, right? So you don’t end up wandering aimlessly looking for the food court or the coat check, we’re sharing the official map of the MEO KALORAMA venue with all the key spots you really need to know.
With this visual guide, you’ll find the locations of the stages to catch your favorite artists, the wristband exchange area, cashless payment points, the Repsol Food Experience Guide, and much more.
The metro will run until the early hours of the morning
Leaving your car at home is a smart choice, considering that the Lisbon Metro will be expanding its service to meet the specific needs of MEO KALORAMA festivalgoers, particularly on the Red and Green lines.
If you’re planning to go to the festival and return home on the Lisbon Metro, take note of the details of the special service:
- August 28 (Friday): the stations on the Red Line (Aeroporto, Oriente, Olivais, Bela Vista, Alameda, and S. Sebastião), as well as the stations on the Green Line (Alameda, Areeiro, Campo Grande, and Telheiras), will be open until 4 a.m.
- August 29 and 30 (Saturday and Sunday): the same stations mentioned above will be open until 3 a.m.
It’s important to note that the MEO KALORAMA organizers and Metropolitano de Lisboa itself recommend using the Bela Vista station, as it is the closest to the venue. Also, here’s a golden tip to save time: use your contactless bank card directly at the validators—no need to purchase a ticket in advance.
What’s left at the gate: the list of prohibited items
To ensure your entry into the venue is as quick and smooth as possible, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the list of prohibited items in advance to avoid any awkward situations upon arrival. So, if you want to avoid unpleasant surprises, here is the list of items that are not allowed inside the venue, according to an Instagram post by the organizers:
- Alcoholic beverages
- Firearms and bladed weapons
- Any glass or metal bottles, regardless of size
- Explosive substances or devices, pyrotechnic articles, and fireworks
- Posters that are oversized or contain offensive or discriminatory phrases
- Unauthorized promotional material
- Tents, benches, chairs, chains, ropes, and lanterns
- Strollers, car seats, or baby carriers
- Pets, with the exception of guide dogs, in compliance with current law
- Large-scale professional equipment, such as lenses and tripods
- Selfie sticks and rigid poles
- Skateboards, roller skates, and similar gear
- Large umbrellas
- Laptops, tablets, and power banks larger than a standard cell phone
- Bags/backpacks larger than A4 size or suitcases
- Megaphones, loudspeakers, musical instruments, and audio recorders, among other items.
But what are you actually allowed to bring?
If you have questions about what you can (or cannot) bring, it’s worth checking the official MEO KALORAMA website, which has a list full of useful information. In any case, we’d like to point out that the organizers allow you to bring small amounts of food, but no more than one sandwich or snack per person.
If you’re a frequent festivalgoer, you’ll know that you can use a reusable cup you have at home from previous editions. However, please note that you can only do so if the cup has a visible 40cl marking. Finally, if you bring a jacket that you don’t end up needing, you can store it in the coat racks or MobileLockers available (by reservation).
Quality cuisine for everyone
The 5th edition of MEO KALORAMA introduces a new feature that promises to delight, in particular, those who appreciate an excellent culinary experience. This year, the Repsol Food Experience Guide raises the bar with a selection of offerings that celebrate Portuguese flavors, products, and traditions—all thanks to the talent of renowned chefs.
Henrique Sá Pessoa and Marlene Vieira—both awarded 2 Repsol Guide Suns—and Ciclo (run by chefs José and Cláudia Neves), which holds 2 Suns and one Sustainable Sun, will be there showcasing their reinterpreted Portuguese cuisine featuring local and seasonal ingredients.
Useful Information
Address: Bela Vista Park (nearest Metro station: Bela Vista)
Dates: August 28, 29, and 30
Tickets: Single-day tickets are on sale for €65 (plus fees). The general pass remains available for €160 (plus fees). Tickets are available at the usual locations, MEO stores, and the Fever platform.
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