October in Lisbon: the tourists thin out, the sweaters come out, and the city pretends it’s not still 28 degrees. It’s also when the cultural calendar comes back to life. Fashion takes over midtown, castles turn into dance floors, MAAT throws itself a birthday party, and you can watch Fight Club on a rooftop while questioning your life choices. Whether you’re after high art, free concerts in medieval churches, or just good riverside empanadas, October’s got you covered.
Looking for Halloween-specific stuff? Find out what our top picks are here.
Oct 1 – 5 | FASHION | ModaLisboa
Lisbon’s annual fashion circus is back. For five days, expect runway shows, debates, parties, and just the right amount of confusion. ModaLisboa BASE wants you to think of fashion not just as pretty clothes, but as a system that’s also political, ethical, and occasionally even practical. Venues are scattered around town: Palacete Gomes Freire (with free pop-ups and designer meetups), Avenida da Liberdade (cocktails and workshops in between luxury shopping), MUDE (talks about the future of fashion), and of course, the main tent at Pátio da Galé, where 53 runway shows will strut their way into your Instagram feed. Full program allegedly here.
Oct 2 & 3 | THEATER | A Plot / A Scandal | Teatro do Bairro Alto | 12€
Dominican Republic-born artist Ligia Lewis is bringing her acclaimed work to Lisbon. Her new piece digs up ghosts of colonialism, slavery, and resistance — Maria Olofa, José Antonio Aponte, even her own great-grandmother — and throws them on stage to dance, resist, and haunt. “Plot” here means story, land ownership, and conspiracy all at once. “Scandal” means pleasure and power at someone else’s expense. Expect English with Portuguese subtitles, bodies in motion, and history refusing to stay buried. Click here for more details.
Oct 5 | ART PARTY | MAAT 9th Anniversary | 10h – 19h | FREE
MAAT turns nine and is throwing itself a party, complete with new exhibitions, performances, and activities all day. Highlights include Cerith Wyn Evans’s light installations, the Lisbon Architecture Triennale, and a new work by Kiluanji Kia Henda. Entry is free, but you need to register at the ticket office the same day. Nothing says “party” like a line for wristbands. Read more here.
to Oct 4 | FILM | Lisbon Arab Film Festival | Culturgest | 5€
The Lisbon Arab Film Festival is back with a strong lineup of dramas, thrillers, comedies, and documentaries from across the Arab world. It’s not just about the movies — the idea is to smash stereotypes and highlight the richness of cultures often reduced to headlines. All films are subtitled in English and Portuguese, and some have age limitations. Get your advance tickets here.
Oct 5 | MARKET | Latin American Cultural Fair | Fábrica Braço de Prata | 12h – 23h | FREE
Think of it as a Latin American block party dropped into Lisbon: food stalls, crafts, music, kids’ activities, theater, book launches, and debates. Come for the empanadas, stay for the salsa, and maybe leave with a handmade Baja hoodie or two. Click here for more info.
Oct 1, 8, 15 & 22 | MUSIC | Adventus Concert Series | Igreja Nossa Senhora da Conceição Velha | 12h30 | FREE
Take a midday break from Lisbon chaos with a series of free concerts in one of the city’s most beautiful old churches. Expect themes ranging from maternal tenderness to apocalyptic visions to the quiet hope of Advent. Translation: sacred music, stunning acoustics, and a chance to sit still for an hour. Check out the program here.
Oct 12 | HISTORY | Court Dances of the 16th Century | Castelo São Jorge | 11h | FREE with entry
Because nothing says Saturday morning like pretending you’re a 16th-century duke after downing a few mimosas in Alfama. São Jorge Castle hosts reenactments of Renaissance court dances, complete with live music and historically accurate twirls. The festa will be outdoors, so pray for good weather.
to Oct 16 | FILM | Cine Society Outdoor Movies | Doca da Marinha & Carmo Rooftop | 14,50€
Cult classics under the Lisbon sky. Fight Club, American Psycho, Reservoir Dogs, Taxi Driver — basically a greatest-hits of toxic masculinity, but with popcorn and river views. Click here for the lineup.
Oct 16 – 26 | INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL | Doclisboa | Various Locations | 5€
Lisbon’s biggest ode to documentary cinema is back for its 23rd lap, with more than 200 films that range from boundary-pushing art projects to political gut-punches to stuff you’ll probably pretend you understood. Alongside the screenings, there are debates, workshops, and masterclasses for anyone who wants to talk seriously about what cinema is, should be, or maybe never was. The program is sliced into sections with names like Risks, Heartbeat, and Green Years — because apparently “Documentaries About Stuff” wasn’t artsy enough. Expect everything from Portuguese newcomers to international heavyweights, with plenty of opportunities to question your worldview and/or your attention span. Here’s the program.
Oct 24 & 25 | DANCE | Totentanz | Academia das Ciências | 19h & 21h30 | 15€
Marcos Morau and his company La Veronal bring death back to the dance floor. Inspired by medieval “dance of death” traditions, Totentanz is equal parts ritual, philosophy, and choreography. Don’t expect answers — do expect existential questions with beautiful movement and chilling lighting effects. Get your tickets here.
Oct 23 – 26 | ART FAIR | Drawing Room Lisboa | Sociedade Nacional de Belas-Artes – Various | 6 – 9€
Lisbon’s annual contemporary drawing fair is back, featuring 23 galleries, 65+ artists, and the chance to see (and maybe buy) works by both established and up-and-coming talent. Expect big names like Pedro Cabrita Reis alongside rising stars, plus the FLAD Award finalists. General admission is €9 and reduced tickets are €6. Check out what’s new, vibe on some artistic prowess, and eavesdrop on people pretending they know how to talk about line work. Click here for more information and click here for info on participating galleries.
