April in Lisbon has a funny way of sneaking up on you. One minute it’s all rain showers (águas mil, naturally), the next it’s jacarandas blooming and cafés reclaiming their terraces. Yes, this month Portugal celebrates Easter and the Carnation Revolution — but beyond the calendar staples, April is really about freedom in all its forms: from winter coats, from indoor hibernation, and, depending on your schedule, from any excuse not to go out.
And go out you should. This month’s lineup leans heavily into that spirit — films that challenge, exhibitions that provoke, music that soothes, and initiatives that invite you to make stuff (or at least try). Whether you’re into wandering through archives, sketching in unexpected corners of the city, or losing a few hours to cinema that may leave you in tatters, consider this your gentle nudge to grab your umbrella and get out there.
April 3 to April 30 | ARCHIVES EXHIBITION | “Before Independence There was a Fight for Freedom” | Museu do Aljube | Suggested donation: 4€
Celebrating the 52nd anniversary of the Carnation Revolution, this exhibition digs into the archives to remind us that independence didn’t just happen — it was fought for, loudly and at great cost. Expect a necessary confrontation with Portugal’s colonial past, framed through the lens of resistance, memory, and the work still to be done. Bonus: opening night brings rhythm into the room with Batucadeiras das Olaias at 19h. The museum is closed on Mondays. Read more here.
April 4 | TRADE MARKET | Mercado das Trocas | 10h – 12h, 14h – 16h | Biblioteca Camões | FREE
Capitalism, but make it communal. Bring the things you no longer love (be honest) and swap them for something you might. It’s equal parts treasure hunt and rebellion against overconsumption. Sustainable, social, and Marie Kondo-approved. Get more info here.
April 9, 13, 20, 23, and 27 | Lisbon Drawing Club | Various locations | 19h – 21h30 | 5 – 8€
A pencil, a naked dude, and a room full of sketching strangers — what could go wrong? The Lisbon Drawing Club pops up across the city, welcoming everyone from seasoned illustrators to “I haven’t drawn since school” types. Low pressure, high charm, and materials provided. Check out the schedule here.
April 11, 18, and 25 | Arroios Mini-Market | Various times/age groups | FREE
For the small humans. The Arroios Mini-Market hands over the creative reins to kids, with workshops that involve building, drawing, questioning, and generally making a joyful mess. These wholesome events are all free with prior registration here.
April 13 | FREE ORCHESTRA CONCERT | “Colors in Grey — French Music of the Great War” | São Luiz Municipal Theater | 18h30 | FREE
It might be War, but it’s filtered through Debussy. Set in the intimate Bernardo Sassetti hall, this chamber concert investigates the quieter, more introspective side of conflict with music that is as melancholic as it is beautiful. FYI: The next session will be on June 9th, same time, same place, but themed: “Music in the Feminine.” See for yourself here.
April 13 – 10 | CLASSICAL CONCERT | Soloistas da Metropolitana | Various Times/Locations/Prices
A musical grab bag from Bach to Piazzolla, harpsichord to trombone, this series has pretty much everything. Dip in where you like — free quartets here, lunchtime concerts there — and enjoy a program that spans centuries. FYI: Free entry on April 13 at 20h for a quartet from the Gulbenkian take on Britten, Debussy, and Mozart, and on April 17 at 13h for American Quartets at the Sala do Arquivo da Câmara Municipal de Lisboa. Get the full program here.
to April 15 | FILM CYCLES | Soviet Cinema, Linklater/Hawke, Ingmar Bergman, and Mozart | Cinema Nimas | Various times | 6 – 8€
If your idea of a good night out involves sitting in the dark contemplating existence (or at least pretending to), Cinema Nimas has you covered. The “From Einstein to Tarkovsky” cycle takes you on a suitably intense journey through Soviet cinema, featuring some of the most influential directors to ever make you question reality. Running alongside it is a 30-year celebration of the creative partnership between Richard Linklater and Ethan Hawke (yes, Waking Life is in there, and yes, you should go). Prefer your existential crises a little more Scandinavian? There’s also a hefty Ingmar Bergman cycle — 23 films’ worth of it — plus a shorter Mozart-themed program, including the director’s cut of Amadeus and Bergman’s own take on The Magic Flute. In short: cancel your plans and prepare to feel things. Get the full list of showtimes here.
to April 19 | PUPPET ANIMATION | Monstra | Museu Marionetta | 10h – 18h | 2,5 – 5€
Tiny puppets with a big legacy, MONSTRA teams up with the Puppet Museum to spotlight Latvian stop-motion masters Animācijas Brigāde, proving that meticulous craftsmanship and a bit of imagination can build entire worlds. Give your inner child (or your kids) a treat and don’t miss this one. See the full schedule here.
to April 24 | BALLET | Swan Lake | Teatro Camões | Various times | 20 – 30€
If you think you know Swan Lake, think again. Fernando Duarte’s version leans into the psychological, blurring the lines between dream and reality, white swan and black swan, certainty and doubt. Add filmmaker Edgar Pêra into the mix, and suddenly ballet gets a cinematic edge. Classic, but with a twist of existential crisis. Perfect. Get tickets here.
to April 24 | CARTOON EXHIBITION | “Contra-relógio” Illustrations | Casa da Imprensa | 10h – 18h | FREE
Deadlines: the ultimate creative fuel. Print media illustrator João Fazenda turns time pressure into an art form, producing sharp images that cut through the noise. It’s fast-thinking, fast-making, and a reminder that sometimes constraints are where the magic happens. Read more here about the exhibit.
to April 30 | PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT | “Mana” Women’s Prisons in Portugal | André Príncipe | Galria Malangatana — ISPA | FREE
“Mana” takes you inside women’s prisons, not through spectacle, but through atmosphere, routine, and absence. No mirrors, early curfews, fragments of lives in suspension and captivity. It’s less about what you see and more about what you don’t. Read more here. Closed Sundays.
April 30 to May 10 | FILM FESTIVAL | IndieLisboa | Various times/locations | TBA
Lisbon’s annual reminder that cinema is alive, weird, and thriving, IndieLisboa returns with everything from experimental oddities to restored classics, plus a retrospective on mockumentaries—because sometimes fiction tells the truth better. Come for one film, leave five hours later questioning reality.
FYI: Early bird 10-ticket packs are on sale now for 27,50€ here and you can click here for the full program.
to May 4 | CONTEMPORARY ART EXHIBITION | “O Eu como Múltiplo” | MACAM | 10h – 19h | 3 – 6€
Identity, but make it complicated. This exhibition dives into the many versions of “self” — physical, emotional, imagined. Expect bodies, reflections, and at least one moment where you quietly wonder what it all means. (No answers provided.) The museum is closed on Tuesdays and on Easter Sunday. Get tickets here.
to May 29 | PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION | “Mário Soares. Portugal: Que Revolução?” | Fundação Mário Soares e Maria Barroso | 9h30 – 17h30 | FREE
Through photographs and interviews, this exhibition captures the freedom fighter-turned-statesman Mário Soares in the thick of Portugal’s democratic transformation during a pivotal moment in history. Celebrate the 25 de Abril by grabbing a front-row seat to the revolution, no time machine required. Closed on the weekends. Click here to find out more.
to June 21 | ART INSTALLATION | “Auto da Barca do Efémero” | Ana Aragão | Mosteiro dos Jerónimos | 9h30 – 17h30 | TBA
Twisted boats, surreal voyages, a ton of gold leaf, and the weight of history, set inside one of Lisbon’s most iconic monuments. Ana Aragão’s installation floats somewhere between past and present, using the “language of travel to reflect on impermanence.” It’s contemplative, slightly haunting, and perfectly at home in the Jerónimos Monastery. Closed Sundays. Read more here.
