Loulé prepares for biggest and most international MED Festival yet

With less than two weeks to go before the start of the MED Festival, Loulé is already beginning its transformation into one of Europe’s most distinctive world music destinations.

From June 25 to 28, the Algarve town’s historic centre will host the 22nd edition of the festival, bringing together artists from 30 countries for what organisers have described as the event’s most international edition to date.

Over four days, over 50 concerts will take place across multiple stages, alongside a range of food options, street performances, exhibitions, conferences and cultural activities that have helped establish MED as one of Portugal’s leading summer festivals.

This year’s programme features a line-up spanning four continents, with internationally recognised artists including Goran Bregović, Salif Keita, Sean Kuti & Egypt 80, Tiken Jah Fakoly and Portuguese singer-songwriter Sérgio Godinho.

Artists from countries including Cuba, Chile, Pakistan, Hungary, Angola and Cabo Verde will also perform, bringing music and art from all corners of the world to the Algarve.

Festival director Paulo Silva has described this year’s edition as a return to MED’s original identity as a world music festival, with a programme designed to showcase traditions, sounds and cultures from around the globe.

Visitors can expect more than just music. As in previous years, the narrow streets, squares and historic buildings of Loulé’s old town will host art installations, craft demonstrations, street performers and gastronomic experiences inspired by the cultures of the Mediterranean and beyond.

One of the most visible signs that the festival is approaching is the emergence of “Cidade MED” (MED City) across the town. Colourful decorations have begun appearing throughout the historic centre, while the official MED Store has opened at the municipal market, serving both as a ticket office and a showcase for festival merchandise created through the Loulé Criativo (Creative Loulé) project.

Many of the products on sale have been produced using recycled materials from previous editions of the festival, including the colourful fabrics that have become one of MED’s visual trademarks.

Organisers have also introduced several new features for 2026, including an expanded festival area, a new MED Lounge, a larger street-food zone and the full integration of the municipal market into the programme.

The festival will once again conclude with its popular Open Day on June 28, offering free entry and a programme focused on music, gastronomy and cultural experiences.

Among the highlights of the final day will be a performance of “Filarmonia Campaniça”, an original collaboration bringing together the RAIA project, the Moçoilas vocal group and the Sociedade Filarmónica Artistas de Minerva, which celebrates its 150th anniversary this year.

The free programme will also feature concerts, Mediterranean gastronomy showcookings, traditional music performances and a preview of the upcoming Loulé Jazz Festival.

Advance ticket sales remain available until June 22, with day tickets priced at €10 and full festival passes at €30. Prices will increase after that date to €15 and €40 respectively.

More information about the festival is available on its website.