| Month | Event | Town | Last edition we found |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 30 to January 1 | New Year medieval celebration | Paderne (municipality of Albufeira) | Not confirmed |
| February or March | Carnival | Loulé | February 15 to 17, 2026 |
| Spring to autumn | Sand City Algarve (formerly FIESA) | Lagoa | Dates not confirmed |
| June | Festival MED | Loulé | June 25 to 28, 2026 |
| July | Lagoa Jazz Fest | Lagoa | July 17 to 19, 2026 |
| July | International motorcycle rally | Faro | July 15 to 18, 2027 (announced) |
| August | Sardine Festival | Portimão | August 4 to 9, 2026 |
| August | Silves Medieval Fair | Silves | August 7 to 15, 2026 |
| August | Festival do Marisco (seafood) | Olhão | August 10 to 15, 2026 |
| August | FATACIL fair | Lagoa | August 21 to 30, 2026 |
| September | Festivities of Nossa Senhora da Luz | Lagoa | September 6 to 9, 2026 |
| October | Lagoa Magic Fest | Lagoa | October 8 to 10, 2026 |
| November | São Martinho Fair | Portimão | Until November 16, 2025 |
| December | See our Christmas and New Year page | Albufeira and others |
How do I read this calendar?
The dates are those of the last edition we found, not 2027 dates, which are mostly not published yet. Each town's council is the reference for the exact days. We give no prices, no attendance figures and no line-ups: they change every year.
What happens in the Algarve from January to March?
January
A medieval New Year's celebration is held in Paderne, in the municipality of Albufeira, according to one regional guide. It places it from December 30 to January 1. We could not confirm it with the municipality, so check before you plan around it.
February, and sometimes March
Loulé's Carnival is the main event of the season. The town describes it as the oldest Carnival in Portugal, and press reports date it to 1906. A three-day parade runs along Avenida José da Costa Mealha.
The dates follow Easter, so they move. The Carnival ran from February 11 to 13 in 2024, in early March in 2025 (its gala ball was on March 3), and from February 15 to 17 in 2026. We found no confirmed 2027 dates.
March
We found no major event confirmed for March.
What happens from April to June?
April and May
Sand City Algarve, the sand-sculpture park formerly known as FIESA, is in Lagoa. It opens in spring or summer and stays open into the autumn. Guides disagree on the exact dates, and some still place it in Pêra, where it was held until 2018. We could not confirm opening dates, so check the official site before you go.
We found no other major event confirmed for April or May.
June
Festival MED takes place in Loulé's historic zone. Its 22nd edition ran from June 25 to 28, 2026, with artists from 30 countries. The town council organizes it, and the last day was free to enter. We found no confirmed 2027 dates.
What happens from July to September?
July
Lagoa's Jazz Fest ran from July 17 to 19, 2026, according to the town's 2026 calendar. In Faro, the international motorcycle rally already has dates for 2027: July 15 to 18, according to regional press. That is one of the few 2027 dates we found.
August
August is the busiest month. In 2026, four events fall within six weeks.
- Sardine Festival, Portimão. The 30th edition ran from August 4 to 9, 2026, on the riverfront by the Arade. The town council organizes it, and it dates back to 1985.
- Silves Medieval Fair. The 21st edition ran from August 7 to 15, 2026, for nine days, from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. according to the municipality of Silves. It was held August 8 to 16 in 2025 and August 9 to 17 in 2024. Some older guides place it in September. We found August dates for three editions in a row, so we use August.
- Festival do Marisco, Olhão. The seafood festival ran from August 10 to 15, 2026, for six evenings, according to the Olhão council.
- FATACIL, Lagoa. The 45th edition of the fair ran from August 21 to 30, 2026, for ten days, at the municipal fairgrounds.
If you hoped to see the Algarve in August without company, the calendar is not on your side.
September
We found one major event confirmed for September: the festivities of Nossa Senhora da Luz in Lagoa, from September 6 to 9, 2026, which coincide with the municipal holiday.
What happens from October to December?
October
Lagoa Magic Fest ran from October 8 to 10, 2026, according to the town's 2026 calendar. We could not confirm what it covers, so check its program before you go.
November
The Feira de São Martinho in Portimão is the city's oldest popular fair, dating back to 1662. It runs for about ten days around Saint Martin's Day, on November 11. It ran from November 4 to 13 in 2022 and from November 8 to 17 in 2024, and it was still running until November 16 in 2025. We could not confirm the 2026 dates when we wrote this page.
December
For Christmas markets, nativity scenes and New Year's Eve, see Christmas and New Year on the Algarve coast.
Which month is the quietest?
In what we could confirm, March and May had no major event, and September and October had one each, both in Lagoa. A quiet month means fewer events, not a closed region: we describe what winter is like in the Algarve in winter.
If you plan a trip around one event, confirm its dates with the town first. Editions move by a few days every year, and Carnival moves by weeks.
How long can I stay as an American?
Americans can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period, counted across the whole Schengen area. We explain how the count works in how long Americans can stay in Portugal without a visa.
Quick answers
Which month has the biggest events?
August. In 2026, the Sardine Festival, the Silves Medieval Fair, the Festival do Marisco and FATACIL all took place in August.
Are the 2027 dates known?
Mostly not. The exceptions we found are the Faro motorcycle rally and the Albufeira New Year's Eve program, which we describe in our Christmas article.
Where do I check a date?
On the website of the town council that runs the event. The council is the reference, not a guide.
Are the events free?
It depends on the event and the year. In 2026, the last day of Festival MED was free, while FATACIL and the Silves Medieval Fair charged entry.
What could change next?
- The 2027 dates. Most are not published yet. We update this page when the councils publish them.
- The editions. An event can move by a few days, change its format or be cancelled.
- The weather. An outdoor event can be moved or interrupted.
Sources
- Silves municipality, Silves Medieval Fair 2026, as reported by Postal; Postal for the 2024 and 2025 editions.
- Lagoa municipality, FATACIL 2026 and 2026 event calendar, as presented at the BTL and reported by Postal and Barlavento.
- Portimão municipality, Sardine Festival 2026, as reported by Postal.
- Olhão municipality, Festival do Marisco 2026, as presented at the BTL and reported by Barlavento.
- Loulé municipality, Carnival 2026 (Barlavento) and Festival MED 2026 (Postal, Barlavento, NIT, Portugal Resident); Postal and Portugal Resident for the 2024 and 2025 Carnival editions.
- Postal, Faro motorcycle rally 2027.
- Postal and The Portugal News, São Martinho Fair, 2022, 2024 and 2025 editions.
- Barlavento and Postal, move of FIESA from Pêra to Lagoa.
- Regional guide to Algarve festivals, for the Paderne celebration (single source).
General information only, last reviewed October 7, 2026.