August 15th Festivities 2026 in Vila do Porto
From August 12–16, 2026, Vila do Porto's Municipal Garden hosts the August 15th Festivities, featuring concerts by Susana Félix, Piruka, Syro and Ronda da Madrugada, folklore, philharmonic bands, local food and a market. Free entry.
The August 15th Festivities (Festas de 15 de Agosto) are the highlight of summer in Vila do Porto and return in 2026 to the Municipal Garden, running from August 12–16. Organised by the Vila do Porto Municipal Council, the festivities honour Our Lady of the Assumption, patron saint of Santa Maria island, and for five days bring together locals, returning emigrants and tourists in a genuinely Azorean party atmosphere.
The 2026 musical lineup is one of the strongest yet, with performances by Susana Félix, rapper Piruka, Syro, Ronda da Madrugada and Rockclassicz, plus late-night sets by DJs Bagunça and Xéga da Mixagem. The programme also features philharmonic band concerts and folklore group performances that bring the island's musical traditions to the stage.
But the August 15th Festivities are much more than concerts. The Municipal Garden fills with food and drink stalls serving local flavours, while the Compre e Explore Localmente market showcases the island's shops and producers — a great opportunity to take home handicrafts and regional products from Santa Maria. Families are well catered for too, with inflatables and entertainment for children.
August 15th itself, a public holiday dedicated to the patron saint, is the most solemn moment of the festivities, with religious celebrations in honour of Our Lady of the Assumption gathering the community in the historic town. It is also the perfect time to explore Vila do Porto, the oldest settlement in the Azores, with its main street lined with manor houses, the São Brás Fort and the parish church.
Entry to the festivities is free, making this an obvious choice for anyone visiting Santa Maria in August. And if you want to keep the party going, the Maré de Agosto Festival kicks off on August 19th at Praia Formosa — a full week of music on the 'island of the sun'.
