Registration is now open for the 37th edition of the Arte Doce Competition Fair, one of the most emblematic events of the Algarve summer and a reference in the promotion of traditional Portuguese sweets.
Organized by Lagos City Hall, the initiative returns to the Lagos Sports Complex between the 22nd and 26th of July, with five days dedicated to flavors, creativity, music and entertainment for all ages.
According to the city hall, registrations are open until June 30th and are intended for the various categories of exhibitors admitted to the event, including sweets, crafts, restaurants and drinks, and other food products, and can be made through .
Competitions value tradition, creativity and innovation
Among the main attractions of the Arte Doce Contest Fair are once again the confectionery competitions, which challenge the creativity and technique of the participants.
In the Sweet Art category, competitors will be able to present works in the Free Theme and Mandatory Theme categories. This year, the mandatory theme will be “Lagos: Between Traditions and the Multicultural Sea”, a theme that seeks to value the local identity, the connection with the sea and the cultural diversity of the municipality.
At the same time, the “Doce de Inovação” competition will take place, dedicated to innovative proposals inspired by the tradition and endogenous products of the region.
The competitive program also includes the “Quality in Tradition” competition, focused on valuing excellence in the making of the most representative Algarve regional sweets, such as Dom Rodrigo, Doce Fino, Morgado and Doce de Figo.
As with previous editions, trophies will be awarded in all categories of the competition, and cash prizes are also planned for the winners of the Arte Doce and Doce de Inovação categories.
The Municipality of Lagos highlights that “the competitions in the Arte Doce category are open to the participation of all interested parties, regardless of whether or not they have exhibition space in the venue”, reinforcing the inclusive and participatory dimension of the event.
Douro is a guest region and the program includes big names in music
The 2026 edition will have Douro as a guest region, promoting the encounter between different expressions of Portuguese cultural and gastronomic identity.
With free entry, the Feira Concurso Arte Doce once again establishes itself as a space for promoting sweets, popular culture, gastronomy and entertainment, attracting residents and visitors to the municipality of Lagos.
The entertainment program will feature performances by several well-known names on the Portuguese music scene, including Marisa Liz, Matias Damásio, Dino D’Santiago, Carlão and Ana Moura.
According to the city hall, these moments promise to enrich visitors’ experience over the five days of the event, bringing together music, traditional flavors, sweet creativity and celebration of Portuguese culture.
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