Lisbon Awaits - Week of September 9, 2024

⭐️ Main Events

Festival TODOS

The TODOS festival seeks to “in-neighbor the world”, maintaining its mission to be a meeting point for residents and workers of the city neighborhoods and the foreign souls that might pass by.

The goal? To reinforce or to build, if possible, neighborhood links.

Shows featuring music, dance, theatre, new circus, and performance are just some of the artistic disciplines that make TODOS, alongside photography, urban art, and guided tours.

And there is even space for food of the world.

🎥 Cinema and Film

MOTELx - Lisbon International Horror Film Festival'24

MOTELX - Lisbon International Horror Film Festival, whose 18th edition takes place from 10 to 16 September at Cinema São Jorge, is a space for socializing and discovery designed for all those looking for new authors, new films, new approaches to the genre, in short, new experiences.

‘Sasquatch Sunset’, by brothers David and Nathan Zellner, “In a Violent Nature”, by Chris Nash, “Oddity”, by Damian Mc Carthy, or “Cuckoo”, by Tilman Singer, are some of the 2024 films in the spotlight at the Festival.

Another of this year's national premieres is Edgar Pêra's "Cartas Telepáticas" [Telepathic Letters], a feature film using Artificial Intelligence, which establishes a link/correspondence between Fernando Pessoa and H.P. Lovecraft.

As far as classics are concerned, the first film by conductor António Victorino D'Almeida, ‘A Culpa’ (1980), is revisited in the Quarto Perdido section, as well as five titles banned by the dictatorship, in the cycle ‘A Bem da Nação: Os Filmes de Terror Proibidos pelo Estado Novo’ (For the Good of the Nation: Horror Films Banned by the Estado Novo), as part of the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of 25 April.

Also on this year's program will be GUIÕES - Festival do Roteiro de Língua Portuguesa, which returns to MOTELX to elect the best of the five horror screenplays selected for feature films not yet produced (the MOTELX GUIÕES 2024 Award).

Another important highlight is the high number of national films in the short film competitions (Best Portuguese Horror Short and Best European Short), a sign of the quality and vitality of current horror cinema in the country.

Cine Society ‘24

The open-air cinema will be at Doca da Marinha.

Beside the Tejo river, the nights are meant to be enjoyed while watching or re-watching movies like Notting Hill, Romeo and Juliet, Mamma Mia, Bohemian Rhapsody, or (500) Days of Summer, not to mention Top Gun: Maverick and Footloose.

The menu also includes more recent films that have left their mark on cinema such as The Wolf of Wall Street, La La Land, A Star Is Born, and Barbie.

🎭 Theater, Opera and Dance

Operafest Lisboa ‘24

The 5th edition of Operafest Lisboa, themed "Basic Instinct," kicks off with two of the most beloved Italian verismo operas: "Cavalleria Rusticana" and "Pagliacci." These performances will take place in the stunning Gardens of Palácio Marquês de Pombal in Oeiras!

Operafest 2024 Lisboa & Oeiras, led by soprano Catarina Molder and produced by Ópera do Castelo, returns with an innovative blend of tradition and avant-garde. This year's festival expands to new, exciting venues, promising captivating opera for all and doubling its audience!

For the first time, Operafest Lisboa 2024 extends its reach to Oeiras!

The 5th edition centered around the theme "Basic Instinct," launches in the magnificent Gardens of Palácio Marquês de Pombal in Oeiras. This dreamlike setting, just outside Lisbon, will host two masterpieces of Italian verismo: Mascagni's "Cavalleria Rusticana" and Leoncavallo's "Pagliacci."

Following these performances, younger audiences can enjoy Isabelle Aboulker's operatic tale "Little Thumb."

The festival then moves to its new Lisbon epicenter, the open-air Amphitheatre of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, for a production of Mozart's "Don Giovanni."

In celebration of the 500th anniversary of Luís Vaz de Camões, one of the greatest poets of all time and father of the Portuguese language, the Lisbon Triennale will host the world premiere of "Torment," a cantata performance based on Canto V of the epic poem "The Lusiads."

But there's even more in store: Cine-Opera, conferences, debates, workshops, and a unique operatic rave at Titanic sur Mer.

Join us for an unforgettable celebration of opera in Lisboa and Oeiras!

Airotic Soirée: A burlesque circus cabaret

📅 From 26 Jul to 28 Sep 2024

📍Spaço Laboratório, Av. Infante Dom Henrique, 336A

💶 From €45

Airotic Soirée: A burlesque circus cabaret

This immersive circus-style burlesque show can be experienced for a limited time only in Lisboa.

After shows in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami, the AirOtic group presents Airotic Soirée: A burlesque circus cabaret.

With extravagant costumes, seductive choreography, and jaw-dropping acrobatic performances, every moment is brimming with sensuality, magic, and glamour.

Cocktails are served before and after the show, and there's also a chance to meet the cast afterward.

🎉 Festivals

A.R.T. Music Festival

Produced by Grupo Chiado, in collaboration with Oeiras City Council, the A.R.T. Music Festival promises a unique and immersive experience for fans of Afro, reggae and trap music, bringing artists such as Alborosie & Shengen Clan, Alpha Blondy, Anthony B & House of Riddim, Chelsea Dinorath, Gentleman, Leo 2745, Regula and Ryu the Runner, among many others, to the main stage of the event that aims to be a reference in next years.

Jazz at Monserrate ‘24

Under the slogan ‘Nature and Jazz with your feet in the grass’, the festival returns for its third edition with eight sunset concerts, four family concerts, and a free masterclass; a program full of novelties that goes beyond borders for the first time, bringing together 55 national and international artists, and which has the ambition of involving the whole community: the public, students and jazz professionals.

Sunset concerts in Monserrate: a magical atmosphere to the sound of jazz 

Always at 7 pm, when the colors of the sunset further enhance the beauty of the park and Monserrate Palace, these concerts will bring national and international musicians to the stage on the lawn, both young and established, as well as singers and instrumentalists who started out in jazz but didn't stop there.

Tickets for the sunset concerts cost €15 and are already on sale on the event's official website www.jazzemmonserrate.pt. Ticket holders will have access to free transport provided by Scotturb on the days of the festival.

🎶 Music and Concerts

Fado In Chiado

Fado is Portuguese and was born in Lisbon. It was adopted by Portuguese culture and is now a symbol of Portugal, with a strong tradition in the historic districts of Lisbon.

The hour-long Fado in Chiado show features talented artists – a singer and two musicians (Portuguese guitar and classical guitar) – performing Fado and the music that makes it the national song.

The live performances are accompanied by images of unique must-visit locations in Lisbon. It is said that Fado combines nostalgia (saudade), Portuguese pride, hope, and conformism in a musical style epitomized by Amália Rodrigues. On account of these unique characteristics, Fado has now been declared part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

Fado in Chiado takes place from Monday to Saturday in the very center of Lisbon. The hour-long show is the ideal suggestion for seeing live Fado and then taking advantage of the night to discover more of the city.

Discover Fado in Chiado and you will find the soul of Lisbon

🏛️ Exhibitions

Ah, Amália - Living Experience (Ending soon)

📅 From now through September 2024

📍8 Marvila | Praça David Leandro da Silva, 81950-064 | Lisboa

💶 From 15€

The first immersive biographical story dedicated to a national personality.  
A journey of emotions hand in hand with one of the most inspiring women of all time. A dynamic and everlasting experience that will remain in the memory, beyond the boundaries of time and space.

An experience that only makes sense to us: sensorial, alive. One that crosses all the senses and emotions - the sound, the visual, the virtual, the immersive, and the unexpected. 

Over 700m2, in the city's new cultural center in Marvila, we invite visitors, guided by the fado singer's voice, to embark on a unique journey through the artist's material and immaterial estate, scenographic installations, cutting-edge technology, dynamic and interactive content, combined with storytelling that combines the physical with the digital. 

In the eight rooms of this exhibition, we combine different thematic environments, where you can get to know Amália in her various dimensions - artistic, social, personal, and international. 

🍂 Weather in September: Lisbon's Gentle Transition to Autumn

Average High: 27°C / 81°F

Average Low: 18°C / 64°F

Average Rainfall: 26 millimeters / 1 inch

September in Lisbon marks the beginning of a subtle shift from summer to autumn, offering visitors a delightful blend of warm days and comfortable nights. The city retains much of its summer charm, with average highs of 27°C (81°F) providing plenty of sunshine for outdoor exploration and al fresco dining. Evenings become slightly cooler, with lows around 18°C (64°F), perfect for enjoying Lisbon's lively nightlife without the intense heat of August.

Rainfall begins to increase slightly, with an average of 26mm over the month, but showers are typically brief and scattered. You can still expect plenty of clear, sunny days to enjoy Lisbon's stunning vistas, historic sites, and nearby beaches.

Light layers are ideal for September weather. Pack a mix of summer clothes and a light jacket or sweater for cooler evenings. Don't forget sunscreen and comfortable walking shoes – Lisbon's hills and cobblestone streets are best explored on foot.

This month offers a perfect balance for visitors. The crowds of peak summer start to thin, but the weather remains inviting for both city exploration and beach days. It's an excellent time to enjoy outdoor cafes, visit miradouros (viewpoints) for spectacular sunsets, or take day trips to nearby coastal towns like Cascais or Sintra.

September also marks the beginning of cultural seasons, with many museums and venues launching new exhibitions and performances. The pleasant temperatures make it ideal for wandering through charming neighborhoods like Bairro Alto or Chiado, discovering hidden gems, and savoring Portuguese cuisine at outdoor restaurants.

Whether you're riding the iconic Tram 28, exploring the grand Belém district, or enjoying a glass of vinho verde at a rooftop bar, September in Lisbon offers a perfect blend of summer's lingering warmth and autumn's gentle approach.