The annual Festas do Mar festival has opened in Cascais, Portugal, with headline performances by Portuguese rapper Carlão and Brazilian singer Daniela Mercury.
Running until August 30, the eight-night event takes place along the seafront between the Jardim Visconde da Luz and the Citadel of Cascais.
Cascais is a coastal town in the Lisbon district known for its maritime traditions. The Festas do Mar, or Festival of the Sea, is the municipality's primary summer celebration, bringing together live music, local gastronomy, and traditional seaside festivities.
According to the local municipality, the festival schedule features five daily concerts starting at 5:00 pm across three separate stages from Thursday to Sunday. The event offers eight nights of food and handicraft stalls alongside entertainment and dedicated daily concerts for children.
Opening Night Lineup
The main stage, Palco Cascais, located directly beside the bay, hosts the opening night concerts on Thursday. Portuguese-Brazilian singer Carolina Quintas opens the main stage at 7:00 pm, followed by Angolan-born Portuguese rapper Carlão at 8:00 pm, and Brazilian performer Daniela Mercury concluding at 10:00 pm.
Carlão, the former frontman of Portuguese hip-hop group Da Weasel, delivers his solo urban music program, while Daniela Mercury is one of Brazil's best-known samba-pop and axé recording artists.
Performances on the main stage continue on Friday with Madeira-born singer Eliza, followed by Lisbon vocalist Mariza Liz, the former lead singer of pop-rock group Amor Electro. Coimbra band Os Quatro e Meia will close the Friday night lineup.
On Saturday, the festival stage features Portuguese singer Carlota Ulrich, followed by the pop-rock music of Miguel Gameiro & Pólo Norte. Faro musician Diogo Piçarra closes Saturday evening as the headline act.
Sunday's opening weekend schedule begins with Lisbon musician Afonso Cabral, followed by Portuguese pop group Fingertips. Cascais rapper Dillaz, one of the primary figures in Portuguese urban music, finishes the first weekend.
Second Week Schedule and Fado Performances
The festival resumes on Thursday, August 27, at 6:30 pm with Fado à Janela, featuring traditional fado music performed from town windows. Alentejo musicians Diana Vilarinho and Luís Trigacheiro perform next, followed by a live concert edition of the Em Casa d' Amália project.
Fado is Portugal's historic genre of urban song, while the Em Casa d' Amália project celebrates the legacy of legendary fado singer Amália Rodrigues.
On Friday, August 28, the stage hosts Cascais singer Lara Afonso, Lisbon musician João Pedro Pais, and Leiria singer David Fonseca, the former lead vocalist of pop-rock band Silence 4.
Saturday, August 29, opens with Lisbon singer Maria León performing alongside her ensemble. Mozambican singer Stewart Sukuma performs next with an Afropop program, before Angolan artist Matias Damásio headlines the evening.
The final concert lineup on Sunday, August 30, opens with Murta, the stage name of Portuguese musician Francisco Costa. Portuguese urban music figure DJ Kamala performs next, before the Cascais Symphony Orchestra closes the festival.
Maritime Procession and Local Access
Beyond the musical concerts, the traditional procession in honour of Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes takes place on August 30 at 3:00 pm. Municipal officials stated that the procession is a central highlight of the festival, where local fishermen, fishwives, families, and friends gather to thank the patron saint for graces received and seek divine help for those working at sea.
Local authorities noted that the event receives full support from Cascais fishermen's associations, which provide their vessels to sail between Cascais bay and Guia, carrying all community members who wish to join the procession.
To support local residents, workers, and students who hold the Viver Cascais card, organisers have set up an exclusive viewing area next to the bay stage. Cardholders can access the area by collecting a wristband, with entry limited to available capacity.
