By Harry Nara · Last updated
- Where
- Quinta da Atalaia
- Tickets
- Ticketed
- Time of year
- September
- Dates
- Set by a weekday rule, so the date moves each year
From the organiser: Friday 3 to Sunday 5 September 2027 at Quinta da Atalaia, Amora, Seixal, with the three-day pass on sale at €35. It always falls on the first weekend of September. Opening hours, gate prices and transport here describe the last edition, 4 to 6 September 2026, and are confirmed nearer the time.
Festa do Avante is a three-day festival of music, theatre, sport and regional culture on the south bank of the Tagus, opposite Lisbon, run every year by the Portuguese Communist Party on the first weekend of September. Buy the three-day pass in advance, cross by train or ferry, and plan the late journey home before you go.
What Festa do Avante actually is
The yearly festival of the PCP, the Portuguese Communist Party, named after its newspaper, Avante!. It fills Quinta da Atalaia, a site in Amora on the south bank of the river, with music stages, a theatre, dance, film, science and children’s areas, sport and folk groups, laid out among spaces run by Portugal’s regions.
The organisers are open about what it is for. The pass is called an Entrada Permanente rather than a ticket, and they describe it as a contribution to building the festival rather than the purchase of a service.
It opens on the Friday evening and runs to Sunday night. At the last edition the gates opened at 6pm on the Friday and 10am at the weekend, closing at 1:30am on Friday and Saturday and 11pm on Sunday, with entry allowed until an hour before closing.
How to do the weekend
- Buy the pass in advance. The three-day Entrada Permanente costs €35 ahead of the festival, from Ticketline or the party’s own outlets. At the last edition it rose to €50 on the days themselves.
- Pick a few acts, then wander. The programme runs across stages, the theatre and themed spaces from afternoon to late, so mark what you want to see when it is published and leave room for whatever you pass on the way.
- Bring the children. Under-15s go free with an adult who holds a pass, and there is a children’s area with workshops and games.
- Camp for the whole weekend. A campsite with showers and a bar sits by the grounds. It needs a pass, advance registration and a fee for the whole stay.
Tickets and what it costs
The Entrada Permanente covers all three days and is €35 bought in advance; booking fees may apply. At the last edition the festival box offices charged €50 for it, or €40 for Friday, €45 for Saturday and €32.50 for Sunday.
Children aged 14 and under need no pass when they are with an adult who has one.
Official information and booking: www.festadoavante.pcp.pt
Getting there
From Lisbon, the Fertagus train crosses the 25 de Abril Bridge to Foros de Amora, the station nearest the grounds. Alternatively take the Transtejo ferry to Seixal and a Carris Metropolitana bus from the river terminal; other routes run from Cacilhas.
For the late return, Fertagus ran a special train back to Lisbon at 1:35am on the Friday and Saturday nights of the last edition, and the organiser ran its own bus from Praça de Londres in Lisbon each day. Check both against this year’s timetable.
Mistakes worth avoiding
Paying at the gate
The pass costs more on the festival days than in advance. Buy it beforehand.
Turning up near closing time
Entry stops an hour before the gates close each night. Arrive with time to spare.
Leaving the way home to chance
The grounds are across the river. Know which train, ferry or bus you are taking back before the last act.
Carrying your bags all day
There is a left-luggage service by the entrances, where bags are stored in sealed sacks. Use it.
Other Lisbon events
Frequently asked questions
When is Festa do Avante?
On the first weekend of September, from Friday evening to Sunday night.
How much is a ticket to Festa do Avante?
The three-day pass is €35 bought in advance. At the last edition it was €50 at the gate, and single days cost €32.50 to €45.
How do you get to Festa do Avante from Lisbon?
By Fertagus train to Foros de Amora, or by Transtejo ferry to Seixal and a local bus. At the last edition a special train ran back to Lisbon after midnight on Friday and Saturday.
Do you have to support the party to go?
No. Anyone with a pass can go, and the programme of music, theatre and sport is open to all.
Can children go to Festa do Avante for free?
Yes, children aged 14 and under go free when they are with an adult who holds a pass.
Sources
- Festa do Avante!, the organiser (Portuguese)
- Festa do Avante!, the pass (Portuguese)
- Festa do Avante!, hours and services (Portuguese)
- Festa do Avante!, getting there (Portuguese)
Dates on this page are checked against the organiser’s own listing and confirmed through 2027. Written and maintained by Harry Nara.