June Festivities 2026 in Amarante

The Festas do Junho (June Festivities) are Amarante's biggest cultural and religious event, celebrated every year on the first weekend of June in honor of the city's patron saint, São Gonçalo. In 2026, they take place from 6 to 8 June, transforming the historic center and the banks of the Tâmega river into a vast open-air stage.

The program blends tradition, religion and popular culture. Highlights include the arruadas (street parades) through the city, the iconic Despique de Bombos — a competition between drum groups that fills the air with the ancestral sound of Minho percussion — performances by folklore groups and brass bands, popular marches, and the traditional Native Breeds Livestock Competition.

The religious highlight is the Procession in Honor of São Gonçalo, followed by the blessing of the city with the throwing of carnations from the balcony of the São Gonçalo Church, next to the iconic São Gonçalo Bridge. At night, the sky lights up with a stunning pyromusical show over the Tâmega river.

You cannot miss tasting the famous São Gonçalo phallic sweets, the unmistakable symbol of this centuries-old festival, linked to fertility traditions and the saint's role as matchmaker. Throughout the streets, you will find dozens of stalls with typical products, handicrafts and regional delicacies.

The Alameda Fest, a music stage set up on Alameda Teixeira de Pascoaes, brings nighttime concerts with popular Portuguese artists — a component that has been attracting more and more visitors to the June Festivities.

Amarante is one of the most beautiful cities in Northern Portugal, with its houses overlooking the Tâmega river, and these festivities are the perfect time to visit. We recommend arriving early, especially on Saturday night (pyromusical show) and Sunday morning (procession), as the city fills up with thousands of visitors from all over the country.