Madeira festivals calendar: the year’s main festivities, month by month
The festivals of Madeira through the year: Carnival, the Flower Festival, the Atlantic Festival, the Wine Festival, Christmas and New Year, plus the village and harvest festivals.
Exact dates for each year appear in our events calendar as soon as organisers confirm them.
Madeira has a festival for every season. Here are the big regional festivities and the most loved village celebrations, month by month. For exact dates and the latest events each week, see our calendar.
January
- New Year’s Day after the famous fireworks.
- Cantar dos Reis, the Epiphany songs, around 5 and 6 January.
- Santo Amaro, 15 January, when families end the festive season.
February
- Carnival: the Allegoric Parade and the Slapstick Parade in Funchal. 2027: 3 to 14 February. See Carnival.
March and April
- Easter processions in the parishes.
- Custard apple festival (Festa da Anona) in Faial, usually in spring.
- The Flower Festival begins at the end of April. 2027: from 29 April.
May
- The Flower Festival in Funchal, with the Wall of Hope and the Flower Parade. 2027: parades on 2 and 16 May. See the Flower Festival.
June
- The Atlantic Festival: fireworks over Funchal bay every Saturday. 2027: 4 to 27 June. See the Atlantic Festival.
- Cherry festival (Festa da Cereja) in Jardim da Serra.
- Popular saints: São João around 24 June and São Pedro on 29 June, with a boat procession in Ribeira Brava.
July
- Madeira Day, 1 July, the regional holiday.
- Summer music festivals in Funchal.
- Village arraiais every weekend. See what is an arraial.
August
- Festa da Senhora do Monte, 14 and 15 August. See Festa do Monte.
- Funchal city day, 21 August.
- The Wine Festival begins at the end of the month. 2027: 22 August to 12 September.
September
- The Wine Festival, with the live harvest in Estreito de Câmara de Lobos. 2027: 11 September. See the Wine Festival.
- Senhor Bom Jesus in Ponta Delgada, early September, one of the oldest pilgrimages.
- Apple festival (Festa do Pêro) in Ponta do Pargo.
- Columbus Festival on Porto Santo. 2027: 23 to 26 September. See the Columbus Festival.
October
- The Nature Festival, outdoor activities around the island. 2027: 5 to 10 October.
November
- Chestnut festival in Curral das Freiras, around 1 November.
- São Martinho, 11 November, with new wine and chestnuts.
- The first Christmas lights in the second half of the month.
December
- Christmas lights in Funchal from 1 December.
- Missas do Parto, 16 to 24 December.
- Noite do Mercado, 23 December.
- New Year’s Eve fireworks, 31 December.
See Christmas in Madeira and New Year’s Eve.