XII Festival dos Descobrimentos: Lagos to Japan, 30 April to 4 May 2026

Lagos's 12th living-history festival returns for the May bank-holiday weekend, themed "From Lagos to Japan." Free entry across the historic centre, 30 April to 4 May 2026.

The Festival dos Descobrimentos transforms the streets of Lagos into an open-air 16th-century city for five days. The programme centres on a 2,000-person historical procession linking the Portuguese Age of Discoveries with this year's Japan theme, alongside a Quinhentista fair, Moorish encampment, cavalry tournaments, kyudo and origami demonstrations, and boat rides on the replica ship Santa Bernarda.

Venues include Avenida dos Descobrimentos, Praça do Infante, Jardim da Constituição and the Museu de Lagos, all free to enter for the duration of the festival. It is the flagship cultural event of western Algarve and one of the most ambitious heritage festivals in southern Portugal.

What to expect:

• 2,000-person historical procession through the Lagos historic centre.
• Quinhentista fair with period artisans, craftsmen and food stalls.
• Moorish encampment and cavalry tournament displays.
• Kyudo and origami demos tied to the Lagos-to-Japan theme.
• Boat rides on the Santa Bernarda replica 16th-century vessel.