the Accessible Festivals Program
Accessible Festivals 2025 In 2025, until 29 May, the distinction has been given Festival Accessible to the following events:
"Serralves in Festa"
Date of implementation: 30 May to 1 June
Place: Rua D. João de Castro, no 210, 4150-417 Porto
Municipality: port
Responsible entity: Serralves Foundation
Website: www.serralvesemfesta.com
"Imaginarius - International Street Theatre Festival"
Date of implementation: 22-25 May
Place: Streets of the historic center of Santa Maria da Feira
Municipality: Santa Maria da Feira
Responsible entity: Municipality of Santa Maria da Feira
Website: www.IMAGINARIUS.pt
"MEO KALORAMA"
Date of implementation: 19-21 June
Place: Bela Vista Park, Av. Dr. Arlindo Vicente, 1950 Lisbon
Municipality: Lisbon
Responsible entity: Last Tour Portugal
Website: www.meokalorama.pt
Accessible Festivals Programme 2025-2026
The “Accessible Festivals” Programme is a joint initiative of Turismo de Portugal, I.P., and Instituto Nacional para a Reabilitação, I.P. (National Institute for Rehabilitation), which aims to promote and distinguish inclusive practices in broad-spectrum cultural events that present conditions that allow accessibility and inclusion – with equal conditions of comfort, safety and autonomy – by all audiences without exception, including people with specific motor, sensory, cognitive or even those who, due to their life course, are temporarily conditioned, such as pregnant women, children and seniors.
As part of its mission to plan, implement and coordinate national policies aimed at promoting the rights of persons with disabilities, the National Institute for Rehabilitation, I.P., identified the need to promote accessibility in areas related to culture, leisure and tourism, in compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, in its Article 30, underlining the positive impact that accessible festivals can have on the general public and on persons with disabilities in particular, as well as their multiplier effect at the level of accessible services, transport and public spaces.
Decree-Law No 163/2006 of 8 August 2006, in its current version, which establishes the legal regime for accessibility to the built environment, defined the accessibility conditions to be met in the design and construction of public spaces, collective equipment and public buildings and approved the technical standards to be met by the buildings, equipment and infrastructures covered, which are reflected in the requirements for the attribution of the distinction "Accessible Festival" to be granted under this Regulation.
This initiative aims to encourage the existence of tourist and cultural offer for all, through cultural manifestations in the areas of street arts, performing arts, plastic arts, cinema, dance, literature, music and theater.
The Program also includes the annual award of the "Festival + Accessible Award", which aims to distinguish the most accessible event from the set of festivals that, having expressly applied for the award, they obtain the Accessible Festival Seal each year.
Promoters can be public or private entities and applications to the Programme must be made three months before the start of each Festival.
Entities interested in applying for their Festival should consult the Regulation contained in Order No 2276/2025 of 19 February, as well as the Application Support Manual, which contains detailed information on completing the Application Form, documentation available in the ‘Documents’ area.
The application is submitted by completing and signing the form, which must be accompanied by the supporting documents requested.
All documentation must be sent in .Zip format or via Wetransfer to the email info.allforall@turismodeportugal.pt, respecting the indications referred to in the Application Support Manual.
Questions about the program can be sent to the email info.allforall@turismodeportugal.pt.
Learn more on the website of Turismo de Portugal, I.P., this link.
The Programme already distinguished the following events:
1. IMAGINARIUS - International Street Theatre Festival
Date of implementation: 25 May – 28 May 2023 Place: Streets of the Historic Center of Santa Maria da Feira Municipality: Santa Maria da Feira Responsible entity: Municipality of Santa Maria da Feira Website: www.IMAGINARIUS.pt
2. Andanças – International Festival of Popular Dances Date of implementation: 27-30 July 2023 Location:Caminho, Reguengos de Monsaraz Municipality: Reguengos de Monsaraz Responsible entity: PEDEXUMBO – Association for the Promotion of Dance and Music Website: http://www.andancas.net/site/acessibilidade/
3. Meo Kalorama - Music Festival - Distinguished with the Festival +Accessible Award 2023 Date of implementation: 31 August, 1 and 2 September 2023 Place: Parque da Bela Vista - Avenida Dr. Arlindo Vicente, Lisbon Municipality: Lisbon Responsible entity: Kalorama Festival Unipessoal, Lda. Website: https://meokalorama.pt/pt/info/acessibilidade
4. Belém Soundcheck - Music Festival Date of implementation: 21-24 March 2024 Place: Centro Cultural de Belém - Praça do Impéri, 1449-003 Lisbon Municipality: Lisbon Responsible entity: the Centro Cultural de Belém Foundation Website: https://www.ccb.pt/
Documents