Todos Festival 2026: Celebrating Lisbon’s Multiculturalism
Lisbon is set to become a stage for global connection as the Todos Festival — Caminhada de Culturas (Walk of Cultures) returns for its 18th edition. Running from August 25 to September 13, the festival will transform the Arroios district into a vibrant hub of theater, cinema, exhibitions, and performance art.
Since its inception in 2009, Todos has championed Lisbon as a multicultural crossroads. The festival aims to dismantle territorial ghettos and social barriers by inviting audiences to explore the city’s diverse cultural fabric through contemporary arts. This year’s program focuses on the streets, building lobbies, and hidden spaces of Arroios, weaving together personal testimonies and global traditions.
A Tapestry of Community and Cinema
The festival kicks off on August 25 with “Caminhos de pano” (Cloth Paths), a collaborative project directed by Vera Alvelos. Hosted at the Arroios market through September 5, the event brings together residents, immigrants, and refugees hosted by the Portuguese Council for Refugees to “stitch together affections” through communal craft.
Cinephiles can look forward to a diverse slate of screenings. Highlights include the acclaimed film “Flow” and Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s classic “Ali: Fear Eats the Soul,” both screening on September 7. Other featured films include “Memórias de todos + Zézios” on the 8th, followed by “A maluquinha de Arroios” and “Quarto sem vista” on the 9th, with screenings held at Auditório Camões and the Goethe-Institut Lisbon.
Live Performances and Urban Theater
The streets will come alive with immersive theater and dance. Lobby Teatro presents “Esta rua podia ter outro nome” (This street could have another name), a roaming production that will wind through the neighborhood from September 10 to 12. Other notable performances include Pedro Sousa Loureiro’s “Avó magnética” (Magnetic Grandmother) and the dance piece “Puff,” set to take place at the Forno do Tijolo Market.
For younger audiences and families, the St. Lazarus Library will host an “Exotic Toys” workshop on September 12, while the Camões Secondary School Library will feature the play “O nosso vizinho Minty” (Our neighbor Minty) on September 11.
The March of Cultures
One of the festival’s most anticipated highlights is the “Marcha de todos” (Everyone’s March) on September 12. Directed by Miguel Jesus, the parade will feature residents representing the vast international community of Arroios—including participants from Angola, Cape Verde, Brazil, Nepal, Pakistan, China, and beyond. The march will travel from the Forno do Tijolo Market to the Intendente Market, celebrating the district’s unique identity.
The festival, organized by the Academy of Cultural Producers in partnership with the Lisbon City Council, will conclude on September 13 at the Campo dos Mártires da Pátria Garden. The closing event, titled “Fazer lugar” (Making Place), invites the public to an assembly to discuss and celebrate the different ways people inhabit and share urban spaces.
Image: Pexels – Maor Attias
