Festa da Ria Formosa 2026

Faro's oldest gastronomic festival marks its 30th edition this year, taking over the Largo de Sao Francisco from 30 July to 9 August. Organised by Vivmar, the association of Ria Formosa shellfish farmers and harvesters, with support from the city council, it puts the lagoon's clams, oysters and other shellfish centre stage, cooked to traditional local recipes and sold at accessible prices. The square opens nightly from 6pm to 1am with dining tables set out and a full programme of live music. This year's headline names include Rosinha, Jorge Guerreiro and Fernando Correia Marques, alongside a rotating cast of local and regional artists. Entry is free. It is one of the clearest ways to taste what the Ria Formosa actually produces, cooked by the people who farm it, in the middle of Faro's historic centre.