Less than a month from the beginning of the 2025 edition of the Sardinha Festival, scheduled for the period from 5 to 10 August, the municipality of Portimão reveals that all preparations are being used for another celebration that combines tradition and innovation. “We want this event to remain a cultural and gastronomic landmark of the Algarve, offering proposals for all tastes,” says the municipality.
As usual, the official start of the 29th edition will be marked with the recreation of the traditional sardine discharge at Cais Gil Eanes, scheduled for 11:00 on August 5. “This is a symbolic initiative that honors the social and economic history of Portimão and invites all, residents and visitors, to revive the vibrant atmosphere of the old crowd,” says the municipality. The recreation will also be broadcast live on the official Facebook page of the municipality of Portimão.
During this morning, three thousand tasting passwords will be distributed that entitle you to two sardines on bread and a drink. These vouchers can be exchanged between August 5 and 10, from 18:00 to midnight, in one of the five restoration spaces boosted by local associations.
The roasted sardines, on the plate or on bread, will be served again by the collectivities Boa Esperança Atlético Clube Portimonense, Sports and Recreational Club of Pedra Mourinha, União Portimonense Club, GejuPCE – Gil Eanes Juventude Portimonense Clube and sports and recreational group Karrinse. “We maintain the affordable price of our ‘festival dish’ for 11 euros, consisting of five sardines, bread, cooked potato and algarve salad, without drink included,” says the municipality.
In addition to the traditional gastronomic supply, the collectivities and the exhibitors zone will make other menus, snacks and sweets, as well as handicraft products and regional agri -food sector. Outside the official enclosure, six partner restaurants in the riverside area – Dona Barca, strong and ugly, roasted fish retreat, fishmonger, u Venâncio and Zizá – will also serve roasted sardines, practicing prices individually.
The program again includes the popular showcookings, in collaboration with the gastronomic confraternity of Sardinha de Portimão. “We want to show new ways to make sardines, always keeping this product as a plate star,” says the organization. The gastronomic agenda includes demonstrations of reputable chefs such as Luís Oliveira (day 6), Nuno Martins (7th), José Moura (8), Leandro Silva and Catarina Monteiro (day 9) and João Oliveira (day 10), with dishes as original as tibirna, cataplana, bugle and sardine soup Albarda. All showcookings will be accompanied by regional wines presented by the Algarve Wine Commission (CVA), which will ensure evidence for the public.
Recognized as the best summer gastronomic festival in 2022 by Big 7 Travel, a 2023 AHRESP prizes finalist and winner of the 2025 municipal excellence award in the “Culture” category, the sardine festival is one of the largest cultural events in the south. According to the municipality of Portimão, “the success of the festival lies in the diversity of programming and the involvement of the community”.
The musical animation will feature three distinct stages: “Music in the Garden”, “Palco Sardinha” and “Main Stage”. In the 1st of December Garden, next to Time – Portimão Municipal Theater, the program starts every day at 18:00 and includes performances such as Voices of Gloria, Almargem Quartet, Village Choir, Inception Jazz Trio, Algarve Guitar Association and Ricardo Pires Quartet.
The “Sardine Stage”, displaced in 2024 to the main stage due to the high influx, maintains daily performances at 8:30 pm, with artists such as Madraça, Eduardo Viegas, José Francisco, Cranky Geeks, Saia and Afonso Silva.
The “main stage” will present concerts at 22:00 with heavy names such as Rui Veloso (day 5), Pedro Abrunhosa (day 6), Diogo Piçarra (day 7), Nena (day 8), forever Marco (day 9) and resistance (day 10).
The lounge area comes with new image, maintaining its welcoming and functional environment as a point of information, promotional actions and hobbies.
Since 2022, the festival implements sustainable practices. “We have been adopting environmental measures of the environment, such as selective waste separation, use of reusable glasses and awareness for environmental preservation,” says the municipality. In 2024, more than 5.5 tons of waste were referred for appreciation, including 4,300 kg of organic waste transformed into a natural fertilizer.
The official glass of the event can be purchased at the entrances of the venue, with prices of 1 € (20 cl) and 1.50 € (50 cl), allowing free return or exchange. “With this measure, we promote sustainability and save the environment and pocket of visitors”, concludes the municipality of Portimão.
All programming is available on the festival’s official website :.
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