Art in Lisbon: featured events you can't miss

During this month of May, Lisbon becomes a true stage for the arts. Between fairs, design exhibitions, museum celebrations and meetings with artisans, discover the highlights of our cultural agenda and the main artistic events that will shake the capital.

LAAF – Lisbon Art & Antiques Fair

It is considered the most prestigious art and antiques fair in Portugal. The event brings together the main antique dealers and specialized gallery owners, and also has a parallel program that includes debates, guided tours, book launches and wine tastings.

• Dates: May 9 - 17
• Location: Cordoaria Nacional

International Museum Day

Take the opportunity to (re)discover Lisbon's museums. With free admission to several institutions and a special program, this is the perfect day to let yourself be surprised by the cultural richness of the city. This year, many museums will have guided tours, performances, creative workshops and evening events.

• Date: May 18

Lisbon by Design

This annual design and craft fair presents a careful selection of contemporary and vintage pieces, signed by artists, designers and artisans. A unique experience that crosses tradition and innovation, in one of the most charming palaces in Lisbon.

• Dates: May 21 - 25
• Location: Palacete Gomes Freire

Lisbon Design Week

The festival combines the best of contemporary design and craftsmanship. There are five days dedicated to celebrating the talent of local artists, with events taking place in various spaces in the city, such as design studios, showrooms, galleries and cultural institutions.

• Dates: May 28 to June 1

ARCOlisboa

The ARCO International Contemporary Art Fair is back in the capital. The eighth edition is attended by 84 national and international galleries, whose projects stand out for their commitment to the quality and excellence of artistic content.

• Dates: May 29 to June 1
• Location: Cordoaria Nacional

Other must-see places to breathe art

Modern Art Center

Renovated in September 2024, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation's new Modern Art Centre (CAM) hosts exhibitions by emerging and established artists, and offers a Live Arts programme, as well as various educational projects.

• Location: Rua Marquês de Fronteira, 2

Underdogs Gallery

Underdogs is now an unavoidable reference in the urban art scene. Founded by artist Vhils, the gallery represents Portuguese and international talents who challenge and push the boundaries of artistic expression.

• Location: Rua Fernando Palha, 56

Fábrica Braço de Prata

Former administration building of the War Material Factory, Fábrica Braço de Prata is today a cultural and artistic center that offers a vast program of plastic and performing arts.

•  Location: Rua da Fábrica do Material de Guerra, 1

Sunset painted by the Tejo river

 Watching the sunset at the Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology (MAAT) is much more than a beautiful setting. As the sun descends over the Tejo river, the architecture of the building takes on new contours and transforms the landscape into an impressionist painting — ephemeral, but unforgettable.

•  Location: Avenida Brasília

Art and the harmonization of forms

Spark interest in new artistic languages at the 1.618 arts gallery, in partnership with the Bairro Alto Hotel. 

1.618 arts was born as a space where art is understood as a universal language — a meeting point between the classic and the contemporary, between the timeless and the innovative. Each exhibition is thought of as a curatorial exercise in search of harmony, where different artistic expressions dialogue with each other, reflecting the diversity and richness of the current creative panorama.

With a close look at what is done in the world, the project proposes to present works by renowned artists, while focusing on emerging talent, offering them visibility and context. In addition to the exhibitions, 1.618 arts intends to expand the artistic experience through complementary initiatives, such as a collectors' club and the creation of exclusive pieces.

• Location: Rua do Alecrim, 109

Our cultural agenda is an excellent starting point to experience the city through art. But don't stop there, in Lisbon art is not only in museums — it is in the streets, in cafes and markets, in its typical neighborhoods and, above all, in the art of hospitality.