Cod Festival 2026 (Festival do Bacalhau)
From 12 to 16 August, Jardim Oudinot in Gafanha da Nazaré hosts the largest gastronomic event in the Aveiro region. Five days devoted to salt cod, with food stalls run by local associations, showcookings and concerts by Quim Barreiros, Carolina Deslandes, Gabriel O Pensador, Delfins and Ricardo Ribeiro.
The Festival do Bacalhau (Cod Festival) returns from 12 to 16 August 2026 to Jardim Oudinot in Gafanha da Nazaré, in the municipality of Ílhavo, just minutes from Aveiro. It is the region's largest gastronomic event and a celebration of the historic bond between this community and the cod fishing trade — a story spanning generations of fishermen from Gafanha and Ílhavo.
For five days, salt cod and its derivatives take centre stage. Ten food stalls run by fourteen local associations serve both traditional and reinvented recipes, paired with wines from the demarcated Bairrada region and the famous padas bread from Vale de Ílhavo. The 2026 edition is curated by chef Hélio Loureiro, one of the best-known figures in Portuguese gastronomy and a deep connoisseur of traditional cooking, and introduces a scientific curator for the first time, strengthening the festival's educational dimension.
Across the festival grounds you will find showcookings, craft markets, exhibitions and activities for all ages. The musical programme unfolds across two stages, with the Palco Estibordo as the main one: Quim Barreiros opens on 12 August, followed by Carolina Deslandes on the 13th, Gabriel O Pensador on the 14th, Delfins on the 15th and fado singer Ricardo Ribeiro closing the festival on the 16th.
For anyone visiting Aveiro in August, the Cod Festival is one of the best opportunities to taste authentic Portuguese cooking in a lively, family-friendly setting. Entry to the grounds is free — you only pay for what you eat and drink at the stalls. Arriving in the late afternoon is a good strategy, when the heat eases and the stalls start serving. Leave time to visit the Maritime Museum of Ílhavo and the Santo André Museum Ship nearby, which tell the epic story of Portugal's cod fishing fleet.
Getting there from Aveiro takes around 15 minutes by car, or you can use the urban bus network. Parking is available nearby, but on the busiest nights, especially at the weekend, it pays to arrive early. The municipality has invested 490,000 euros in the 2026 edition.
