April showers bring May flowers, and we are glad to see the end of those heavy rains that kept us indoors. And we are not alone. Now that spring is in the air, there are a ton of events going on all over Lisbon. We’ve helped cut out some of the noise so you can stop and smell the roses.
Here are our picks for May.
May 8 – 11 | Amadora Jazz Festival 13th Edition | Various Locations | FREE – 8€
Seasoned professionals and burgeoning young talent honor jazz legends and turn contemporary European jazz upside down during this four-day festival taking place in three different venues across Lisbon. It’s jazz, man, and the last concert featuring GeraJazz on the 11th is free based on availability! Check the lineup and get your tickets here.
May 9 | A Night at the Museum | MAAT | 19h30 | 85€
Drop your kids off at MAAT for a slumber party! Missed this one? It’s a monthly thing, so try again next time if you’re keen to get the kids out of the house for a rather pricey night of art and adventure. The next one is scheduled for June 20th. Click here to register.
May 10 | Asteroid City | Cine Society | Doca da Marinha | 21h | 14,50€
The Cine Society is screening Wes Anderson’s film Asteroid City alongside the Tejo at the Doca da Marinha. The “doors” open an hour before showtime so you can line up for some popcorn, grab some seats, and watch the sunset. Get tickets here.
May 15, 16, & 17 | The Epidermis Circus: The Weirdest Puppet Show You’ve Ever Seen | São Luiz Teatro Municipal | 6 – 12€
The Portuguese premier of this Canadian mind-bending puppetry display is slated to make some skin crawl as part of the 25th edition of the International Festival of Puppetry and Animated Forms (FIMFA). Who knows what we can expect? Read more and get tickets here and see the full FIMFA schedule here for more spectacular goodies going on throughout the month. Pro tip: If the show is marked with a square, it’s free, subject to availability of course.
May 17: Cinema | ET The Extra Terrestrial | Cinemateca Portuguesa – Museu do Cinema | 15h | 3,20€
Spielberg’s classic is coming to Cinemateca! If you haven’t seen it, you must. And if you have seen it, it’s time to see it again. It says it’s for kids 6 and over, but you do you. Get on your bike and ride! Get tickets here.
May 17th & 24th | Impermanent Map | MAC/CCB Grand Auditorium Foyer | 17h30 | FREE
Photographer and performance artist Lucas Damiani was challenged by the curators of the Cumplicidades Festival to create a visual map of this international festival of contemporary dance’s 2025 edition. Attendees can watch as Damiani “activates” the map to, at the very least, attempt to “dance about architecture.” IYKYK. Read more about it here.
May 17 | Guided tour by filmmaker Marta Mateus | MAC/CCB | 15h30 | FREE
This guided tour of the temporary exhibition of Belgian filmmaker, writer, and artist Chantal Akerman entitled Chantal Akerman. Travelling is part of the International Museum Day program. Expect to see what everyone from Brussles to Mexico to France has been raving about when it comes to Akerman’s work in installation, photography, film and television, and more. Some images that haven’t been shown to the public until now will also be on display. This tour is free with prior reservation. And if you miss the guided tour, don’t worry. The exhibition is on until September 9.
May 23rd & 24th | Dance Performance | Fuck Me Blind | CCB Black Box | 20h and 19h respectively | 13€
With a title like this, it’s clear whoever put it together doesn’t like to mince words. So I’ll let them do the description. “Inspired by Blue, Derek Jarman‘s autobiographical film, Italian choreographer Matteo Sedda presents a duet where the bodies claim the same force of affirmation and existence. In a hypnotic atmosphere, the dancers engage and shape each other by centrifugal force, in a fatal and irreducible balance.” Click here to get tickets.
May 24 & 25 | The Bellhop by Hilarilar Marionetas | Palácio Pimenta | FREE
Also part of the FIMFA festival, this family-friendly marionette show follows life and work in a grand hotel as shown by a bellhop juggling his workflow amidst a slew of unique and unusual characters. Find out more here.
May 28 – June 1 | Lisbon International Tango Festival | Various Venues | TBD
Get ready for five full days of hip-swishing, toe-dragging tango and milongas culminating in a spectacular final performance. Why not? Do you have a better way to round out the month? Get more info here where you can also register for their various events.
Looking for more? Head to Atlas’ events calendar for other useful ideas.
Have fun out there!
