About

2026 (2ND EDITION)

18 — 22 Feb.

The Festival de Música Portuscal, organized by the Associação Musical de Costa Cabral, is a pedagogical and artistic initiative that was created in 2024. It takes place annually during Carnival week, bringing together prestigious national and international artists. The event offers an intensive week of masterclasses, with the participation of more than a hundred young musicians, as well as a rich program of free concerts in various emblematic venues across the Porto region. The masterclasses are held at the Academia de Música de Costa Cabral.

With a special focus on Portuguese artists, the festival invites musicians with highly prestigious international careers, who are active as soloists, university professors, members of leading orchestras, or prizewinners in international competitions. Among the artists invited in past editions we highlight Raúl da Costa (piano), Ricardo Gaspar (viola), Michael Foyle and Pedro Meireles (violin), Varoujan Bartikian (cello), and Rui Rodrigues (double bass), among others. The mission of the Festival de Música Portuscal is to provide an unforgettable formative and artistic experience for young performers who aspire to a career in the world of music, offering them excellent conditions and the opportunity to work directly with renowned artists.

The festival’s program also includes a series of public concerts aimed at showcasing the talent of the participants and guest musicians. These concerts will take place in prominent venues across the city of Porto and will encompass a wide variety of musical styles. All concerts will be free and open to the community, reinforcing the festival’s commitment to cultural development in the city and consolidating the Portuscal as a collective project for the Northern region.

The festival also promotes cultural diversity, welcoming young musicians of different nationalities and age groups. In addition, merit scholarships are awarded to participants who demonstrate a high level of artistic spirit, dedication, and a sense of sharing throughout the event.

We believe that the Festival de Música Portuscal can serve as a true launching pad for the future careers of numerous young artists.

The Artistic Direction is under the responsibility of António Francisco Ferreira.