The government today announced 50% discounts for young people up to 25 years old in shows at the four national theaters. However, two theaters are closed, another will close for renovation and the Ministry of Culture has not yet clarified whether the benefit applies to traveling shows.
The Ministry of Culture announced this Thursday 50% discount for young people up to 25 years old in shows at the National Theaters D. Maria II, São João, São Carlos and CNB/Teatro Camões. However, two of these theaters are closed for renovation, another will close later this year, with only one remaining in operation.
O in Lisbon, has been closed since 2023 and is only expected to open its doors again in the first quarter of 2026, due to delays in requalification works. Since its closure, the theater has offered an itinerant program – the “National Odyssey” project – with the aim of taking the theater to more than 90 municipalities across the country.
However, it was not clear whether the 50% discounts were valid for shows outside the D. Maria II, as the measure was announced for the theater itself, which remains closed. SIC contacted the Ministry of Culture, but has not yet received a response.
The same happens with the also in Lisbon, which began renovation work in 2023 and will remain closed until September 2025. The programming, however, has also been carried out in alternative rooms.
O in Porto, which closes between May and September 2025 for rehabilitation work, will also have programming in other rooms during this period.
Of the four theaters, only one has already been intervened under the Recovery and Resilience Program (PRR). THE whose works cost R$3.5 million, was closed in 2023 and reopened in October 2024, and is now on a regular schedule. This It is the only one of the national theaters that is currently in regular operation and therefore you can directly apply the 50% discount.
In a statement, the Ministry of Culture says that the measure came into force on January 1st, after being approved by the Council of Ministers in October and aims to “guarantee access to culture and cultural assets” for citizens, as happens with the “Access 52”, which offers free entry to museums and monuments.
However, the Theaters covered by the 50% discount for young people up to 25 years old are located in Lisbon and Porto, limiting access to young people living outside large urban centers.
