Events and Venues

Matosinhos celebrates its culture and gastronomy through vibrant festivals and fairs rooted in tradition.

The historic Senhor de Matosinhos, dating back to the 17th century, highlights the city's heritage with music, crafts, and exhibitions, while fish and seafood dishes occupy a central place. This traditional foundation has evolved into a contemporary setting, exemplified by the Out of the Blue event, which attracted 5,000 participants over four days with lectures, tastings, and visits to the fish market and canning factories. The event’s highlight is the Grande Arraial do Peixe de Matosinhos, featuring live music, cooking shows, and 20 participating restaurants offering a special menu based on local recipes.

Off-season events like Rally Fish in October and Taste Matosinhos in February attract diverse audiences, while the Sardine Festival and VisEAT Angeiras honour fishing traditions. Creative events such as Brunch on the Best Side and festivals like the Vegetarian Festival and Chocolate Festival enrich the gastronomic landscape. In 2024, the Gastronomic Weekends continued to showcase the city’s vibrant culinary culture, with 17 participating restaurants in Matosinhos.

Matosinhos offers a rich cultural infrastructure that reflects its maritime heritage, modern architecture, and vibrant community life, with a focus on inclusive cultural experiences for all. Gastronomy is intrinsically linked to this culture and can be found in unexpected places. The Municipal Library combines literary events with gastronomic experiences, while the Exploratório, home to the Porto Design Biennale, merges design, art, and gastronomy through exhibitions, lectures, and workshops.

The design incubator at the Municipal Market of Matosinhos supports creative startups, while Lionesa Business Hub promotes innovation by bringing together over 7,000 people from 46 nationalities across 120 companies for interdisciplinary collaboration. ESAD–Idea, a research centre for design and art, contributes to knowledge production in the fields of Design, Art, and Architecture, with a special focus on gastronomy.

The Matosinhos Incubation and Acceleration Centre supports companies in the fields of fishing, digital economy, design, tourism, and culture, using a phydigital model. Independent spaces such as Clavel’s Kitchen offer gastronomy and creativity training, encouraging collaboration. The Mercadona Co-Innovation Centre researches eating habits and develops innovative products. The Matosinhos Innovation Centre focuses on innovation and media companies.

The Municipal Market of Matosinhos is also a cultural hub celebrating the fishing industry, known for its seafood products and events like Out of the Blue. Quinta da Conceição hosts the Vegetarian Festival, showcasing diverse cuisines, while a visit to Pinhais Canning Factory ends with tastings. The Casa da Arquitectura, though centered on architecture, organizes events combining design, culture, and gastronomy. The Museu Quinta de Santiago values local history and traditions, while the Monument to the Heroes of the Sea and the Leixões Cruise Terminal highlight maritime connections through art and architecture.

Art galleries and studios present contemporary art, while maritime museums celebrate sea connections. Public art and urban parks enrich the city’s cultural activities.