Carnival in Portugal: Where to Celebrate

Carnival in Portugal ranges from satirical street parades and Brazilian-style samba to ancient masked rituals in remote mountain villages. Here are the best places to celebrate Carnival in Portugal, and what to expect.

Quick answer: Carnival falls in February or early March, with the main days just before Lent (in 2027, Carnival Tuesday is 9 February). The biggest celebrations are in Torres Vedras (satirical and irreverent), Ovar and Loulé (big parades), and Funchal in Madeira (samba-style). For something unique, see the masked caretos of Podence in the northeast.

Why go

Portuguese Carnival (Carnaval, or Entrudo in the old village tradition) comes in two very different flavours. In the towns, it is a big, noisy street party with floats, costumes and plenty of political jokes. In the villages of the far north, it is something much older: masked figures, cowbells and bonfires that go back to pre-Christian winter rites. Both are a good reason to visit Portugal in the quiet months, and many events are free to watch.

When is Carnival?

Carnival ends on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, so it moves each year with Easter. In 2027, Carnival Tuesday is 9 February. Most towns hold parades on the Sunday and the Tuesday, with parties on the Friday and Saturday nights before. Some start celebrating a week or two earlier. Ovar’s programme, for example, ran for nearly four weeks in 2026.

The best Carnivals

Torres Vedras

Often called “the most Portuguese Carnival in Portugal”, it began in 1923 and runs for about six days. It’s known for political satire, floats mocking politicians and celebrities, giant-headed figures (cabeçudos) and men dressed as “matrafonas” (deliberately clumsy women, with messy wigs and padded outfits). On the Saturday night, the Carnival Kings are given the keys to the town. In 2022 it was added to Portugal’s national list of intangible heritage. Some events, such as the Tuesday afternoon parade and the night parade in the centre, have paid entry.

In 2026, storm damage forced the town to cancel its Carnival week and hold a replacement street party, Uma Festa do Caraças, from 30 April to 3 May instead. Torres Vedras is about an hour north of Lisbon by car or by express bus from the Campo Grande terminal. The Oeste railway line has had no trains south of Caldas da Rainha since January 2026, with reopening planned in stages from late 2026 into early 2027, so check before you plan on the train.

Ovar

Ovar, south of Porto, calls itself the capital of Carnival. Its Carnival dates from 1952, and the main parades on the Sunday and Tuesday afternoons bring together around 2,000 people in costumed groups and samba schools, with big floats. These main parades are ticketed, with seats in grandstands, and prices are lower the earlier you buy. Ovar is on the suburban train line between Porto and Aveiro, so it is easy to visit without a car.

Loulé

Started in 1906, Loulé’s Carnival is the oldest in the Algarve and claims to be the oldest in the country. The parade runs along the town’s main avenue, with satirical floats, samba groups and a traditional “battle of flowers”. In 2026 the parades ran on the Sunday, Monday and Tuesday afternoons, with a small entry charge shared between the groups and local charities. It is the easiest Carnival to combine with a winter beach break. See Loulé.

Madeira

Funchal’s Carnival features colourful, samba-inspired parades. The highlight is the Grand Allegoric Parade on the Saturday evening, with well over a thousand performers in feathers and sequins. On Carnival Tuesday, the more chaotic Cortejo Trapalhão (slapstick parade) is open to anyone in fancy dress. See Funchal.

Podence

In this village in Trás-os-Montes, near Macedo de Cavaleiros, the caretos, young men in fringed wool costumes and tin or leather masks, run through the streets shaking the cowbells tied to their waists and chasing onlookers. The festival is called the Entrudo Chocalheiro (the cowbell Carnival) and runs from the Saturday to Carnival Tuesday. In 2019, the Podence Carnival winter festivities were added to UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage. The Casa do Careto, a small museum in the village, explains the costumes and the tradition. Podence is remote, so you’ll need a car. See Bragança for a base nearby.

Lazarim

A village near Lamego known for its hand-carved wooden masks of devils, witches and animals, made from alder wood. The highlight is the reading of satirical “wills” by the compadres and comadres, which poke fun at local people, followed by the burning of their effigies. See Lamego.

More places worth knowing

• Nazaré: one of the liveliest Carnivals on the Silver Coast, with local Carnival songs, sea-themed costumes and parties that run late into the night. See Nazaré.
• Mealhada: the Bairrada’s Luso-Brazilian Carnival, with four local samba schools. Stay for the town’s famous roast suckling pig.
• Terceira, Azores: instead of parades, around 60 amateur groups perform comic songs and short plays, the danças e bailinhos, in village halls across the island over the four days. See Terceira.

Carnival food

• Malasadas: fried, sugared doughnuts eaten in Madeira and the Azores on Carnival Tuesday.
• Filhós and other fried sweets: found across the country before Lent begins.
• Pork: in the north, Carnival is traditionally a time for pork dishes and smoked sausages before the Lent fast.

Tips

• Dates: Carnival is linked to Easter, so it moves each year.
• Holiday: Carnival Tuesday is not an official national holiday, but it is often given as a day off and many places close. See Portugal’s public holidays in 2027.
• Book early for Madeira and Torres Vedras, where hotels fill fast.
• Some parades charge entry: a few towns charge a small fee for the main parade route, so carry some cash.
• Costumes: dressing up is part of the fun, and visitors are welcome to join in.
• Weather: February can be cold and wet on the mainland, so bring a layer under your costume. Parades can be cancelled or postponed in heavy rain.

FAQ

When is Carnival in Portugal in 2027?

Carnival Tuesday is 9 February 2027. The main parades usually take place on the Sunday (7 February) and the Tuesday, with parties on the nights before.

Is Carnival a public holiday in Portugal?

No. Carnival Tuesday is not an official national holiday, but many employers and public offices give the day off, and some shops close.

Which is the best Carnival in Portugal?

For satire and street parties, go to Torres Vedras. For big samba-style parades, choose Ovar, Loulé or Funchal, and for ancient masked traditions, go to Podence.

Do you have to pay to watch Carnival parades?

Sometimes. Ovar, Loulé and Torres Vedras charge for some of their main parades, while many smaller towns and village festivals are free.

More: the Portugal festivals calendar, Portugal in February and Easter in Portugal.

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