Festivals and cultural events The Azores

One of the most important festivals in the Azores, its origins date back to the 1980s. Every year at the end of August, Santa Maria welcomes an international audience driven by a common passion: world music. The program? Relaxation during the day and concerts at night. For the occasion, the small island is transformed into a large open-air concert hall, each time welcoming several thousand spectators. The event takes place in the bay of Praia Formoso, just a few metres from the sea, in an absolutely idyllic setting.

From May to October, numerous bullfighting shows take place in the villages of Terceira. The bull runs through the streets attached to a long rope held by a group of men. An important reminder: the Portuguese - and therefore the Azoreans - do not execute the bulls at the end of a bullfight. Even if you're firmly opposed to this kind of event, don't miss it, as the popular fervor is intense throughout, and what's more, it's quite comical. If you're lucky enough to be in the Azores at this time of year, it's a must-see.

As the name suggests, this popular festival is held every year in the last week of July. For the occasion, São Roque, on the island of Pico, dons its festive garb and invites the island's inhabitants to come together for concerts, craft exhibitions, sporting events and various fairs focusing on books, gastronomy, wine... Sporting events include a canoe race, whaleboat rides, aquagym classes... The program is diverse and open to all!

This popular festival is held in the small town of Calheta, on the south coast of São Jorge. It features concerts, shows, exhibitions, ethnographic parades and sporting events. A diversified program to please all audiences! For four days, local bands as well as better-known Portuguese groups from the continent perform. Rock, funk, reggaeton, electro, pop, eurodance... there's something for everyone!

The Mardi Gras festivities, the danças de Entrudo, are one of the island's major festivities. For four days, locals take to the streets or attend popular theatrical performances. Processions, music, dances, costumes and satirical stories plunge the city into a unique festive atmosphere. According to chronicles, the first popular theater event dates back to 1622, when the Jesuits commemorated the canonization of St. Ignatius of Loyola and St. Francis Xavier in Angra.

The Terceira Autumn Literary Festival takes place in Praia da Vitória, which for the occasion becomes the region's major literary center. The town council is behind the event, which is organized by the Ramo Grande Auditorium and the Terceira Youth and Arts Academy. The program includes book presentations, book signings, poetry readings, lectures, concerts and film screenings. A major literary event, bringing together almost a hundred publishers and over 50,000 books.

Since 1999, the capital of Terceira has been living to the rhythm of jazz concerts for three days, much to the delight of locals and tourists alike. The Angra Jazz Festival, organized every year at the beginning of October by an association with the support of the town council, among others, is held in an old arena transformed into a cultural center. Designed for the general public, the event not only brings together some of the biggest names in jazz for concerts, but also organizes related activities such as workshops, conferences, exhibitions and even cinema. A must for fans of the genre!

Every year, this festival brings together folk groups from all over the world to perform all over the island of Terceira for a week. The Angra do Heroísmo Municipal Sports Pavilion hosts a variety of shows and a craft fair during the festivities. The event is considered Portugal's biggest folk festival. It's a unique festival in the Azores, offering the chance to travel with sounds and dances from the four corners of the globe. Not to be missed for its beauty, exoticism and color.