January

This is an old Madeiran popular tradition is celebrated all around the island, gathering families, friends and neighbours, who go out to from door to door, recreating the tradition of the Twelfth Night Songs "Cantar os Reis", typically designated “As Janeiras". Instilled in this spirit, the Associtation of the Casas do Povo of the Autonomous Region of Madeira, organizes in the Auditorium of the Municipal Garden of Funchal, on January 5, at 9:00 pm, the show "Twelth Night songs”, an event integrated in the official Christmas and New year’s festivities programme.

February

The “Festival of Compadres” (Compadres Feast) sets the official opening of Carnival festivities in Madeira, a tradition with more than 50 years celebrated with great enthusiasm in the municipality of Santana. Renowned for its originality, this event consists of a popular parade depicting humorous giant puppeteer figures, exhibiting satire, colour and merriment within the city streets of this picturesque town located in the northern side of Madeira island.

February

Carnival in Madeira offers you a diversity of activities, which you can partake either as spectator, or as an active participant. 
In Madeira, Carnival is celebrated in a constant festive atmosphere.
Both official initiatives, and those of a more spontaneous nature, are rooted in the local traditions, a time when joy and good vibes take over the streets, the local entertainment establishments and in private households. Find out more about Madeira Carnival Festivities!

March

Created in 2020, this festival is organized by the Casa do Povo da Camacha Experimental Theatre group. This festival brings to the stage both professional and amateurs theater groups from the Region, highlighting the excellent work undertaken in this area in Madeira. This festival features both national and foreign professional groups.

May

The Flower Festival is an homage to flowers, but also a cultural event that features tradition, whether with performances by folklore groups, or with the construction of the beautiful floral carpets, but also with the city´s merriment atmosphere with its musical concerts and variety shows.

May

During this day visits to museums are free. This is an opportunity to get to know its exhibitions and art works but also to participate in the various initiatives prepared exclusively for this commemorative occasion. Museums opening hours are also extended, so that more visitors get the chance to visit them. Some of the museums in the region join the celebrations of the “European Museums Night ", one of the most popular and sought-after initiatives, which allows visitors to enjoy the cultural offer of these institutions, in a peculiar schedule.

May

The Regional Meeting of Philharmonic Bands of RAM is a festival that takes place every year, in the village of Ribeira Brava. This festival was created 30 years ago, as to provide greater visibility to Philharmonic music and the work carried out by the various associations which are devoted to the promotion and preservation of this musical genre.

May

Organized by the Municipality of Ponta de Sol the “Aqui Acolá” Festival, results from the collaboration of several important local cultural entities / personalities, an event which promotes Art, Culture and Traditions. This festival is a genuine celebration of art, culture and tradition, that appeals to the interest of thousands of people of various generations and preferences, for four days, or this would not be the most eclectic festival in Madeira.

May

Created in 1974, the Funchal Book Fair sought out to follow the models applied in the rest of the country with the purpose of not only to promote literature and local authors, but also ,to provide a set of cultural and entertainment activities held in several venues.

May

The Aleste festival was born under the scope of music, presenting an alternative musical billboard, while promoting relevant Portuguese artists every year.

June

This event is an historical recreation of the collective experiences of the captaincy of Machico in the first years 5th Hundreds, which intends to raise awareness for importance of preserving and treasuring our cultural identity in the context of the Portuguese historical heritage.

June

The Regional Arts Week presents a cultural initiative based on artistic performances held at various times and locations, namely: “Festa no Jardim” (Party at the garden); Artistic Activities (dramatic expression / theater, dance, music and visual arts); ESCOLartes, Regional Plastic Arts Exhibition and Competition – held in several locations in Funchal downtown area and Madeira Tecnopolo.

June

The Regional Folklore Festival gathers several regional and national folk dancing groups presenting to both locals and visitors alike, lots of entertainment and culture for 24 hours.
This iconic ethnographic festival is hosted annually in Santana.

June

This festival is a meeting place for musicians that showcases the ancient and current musical traditions of its locals. Madeira, and particularly its migrating community played a key role in the fusion of these cultures. Madeirans, with their enormous capacity for adaptation, becoming over the years, both receivers and transmitters contributing, dynamically to this cultural and musical ‘melting pot’.

July

Funchal Jazz is an international jazz festival that annually gathers some of the most renowned national and international artists, and jazz groups. 
Held in the gardens of Santa Catarina Park, is event combines the Funchal´s unique setting with musical performances for enthusiasts of this musical genre.

July

This event takes place in the parish of Camacha, a festival that combines a gastronomic show with a popular ethnographic parade, involving and mobilizing multiple associations and cultural groups from this village.

July

This festival promotes various recreational and sporting nautical events, gastronomy shows and is considered one of the biggest summer music festivals of Madeira Island!

August

Organized by the Casa do Povo da Camacha, this festival is dedicated to the cultural traditions of this parish. For one week, this parish becomes a cultural hub, with entertainment shows, exhibitions of wicker and embroidery and musical performances by the various folklore groups from this parish.

August

The “Santacurtas” festival promotes the public exhibition of films that are neither distributed nor exhibited within Portugal’s traditional circuits. This festival aims to foster a cinematic dynamic of continuity.

August

The village of Ponta do Sol hosts this festival, in August.
 This event is promoted by the Ponta do Sol Folklore Group, in collaboration with the local municipality. The National and International Folklore Festival is attended by both regional, national and foreign folk dancing groups.

September

The Madeira Wine Festival is one of the islands main tourist entertainment events. This festival pays tribute to this precious nectar and its undeniable socio-economic importance. 
During harvest season, which takes place around late August and early September, this festival intends to recreate the ancestral traditions of Madeira local´s combined with centuries-old principles of winegrowing.

September

The Columbus Festival is based on the historical recreation of the time when this famous merchant lived on the island of Porto Santo, recollecting his experiences in the Archipelago of Madeira. 
It takes place during the month of September, in the city of Vila Baleira, and presents a set of activities in a tribute to the epic era of the Portuguese Discoveries.

October

The Madeira Nature Festival aims to promote tourism in nature by encouraging the practice of activities that allow direct contact with the rich natural heritage of the archipelago of Madeira. Both in the mountains, in the air or at sea, the choices are more than many.
Free admission!

October

The Madeira Film Festival is an international independent film festival inspired by nature, which brings together various initiatives associated with sustainability, art, education, eco-tourism, leisure, a tribute to the Laurissilva Forest declared a World Natural Heritage Site by the UNESCO.

October

The Madeira Organ Festival main purpose is to promote the organ heritage in the Region and the organisation of unique concerts, which at the same time promote the heritage and religious sites, where these instruments are placed, but also to appeal to the interest of both residents and visitors audiences, for a differentiated musical genre. This festival intends to promote the richness and diversity of the sounds of the “king of instruments” – Organ- in a historical and heritage-appreciation context.

November

The Friends of the Madeira Music Conservatory Association promote a unique music festival, the Madeira Piano Fest. 
This event presents pianists from different nationalities, presenting various combinations of piano recitals. From charming and humorous works to works of great emotional depth and artistic impact, from virtuosity and brilliance to orchestral sound effects, the Madeira Piano Fest aims to validate the nearly limitless range of this instrument, and its creative impact on composers, over ages, resulting in the creation of a vast repertoire.

December

Madeira Christmas and New year´s festivities begins with the official opening of the Christmas decorative lights in the streets of downtown Funchal. These festivities culminate with the famous fireworks show, officially recognised in 2006 by the Guinness Book of Records, as the largest fireworks show in the world. These commemorations consist of a rich and extensive programme of cultural, religious, ethnographic and artistic manifestations that take place throughout the entire month of December, an event that culminates on January 6th.

December

The old grounds of the art deco Cine Sol building, located in the village of Ponta do Sol, host another edition of the Madeira Micro International Film Festival. This festival integrates a couple of workshops.
This event is results of the collaboration of several entities, such as the Ponta do Sol Inn and Digital Berlin, a European cultural marketing firm.

All year around

dimensions existing in the regional panorama, with the obvious intention of demonstrating and evidencing the bubbling artistic nobility, with eclectic scrolls, existing in a land like Madeira.

All year round

The Regional Directorate for Culture organizes a multi-annual a program of guided visits to chapels located in Madeira, of artistic relevance of regional heritage an event which highlights guided visits in addition to musical concerts.

All year round

The Ponta do Sol Inn, in collaboration with Madeira Tourism Board, the marketing company “Urbanistas” and the Madeira Music Conservatoire, hosts another edition of “L Concerts". This is a cultural festival, whose projection has been consolidated both at national and international level. This event presents a set of 10 concerts depicting both Portuguese and international music, in addition to more alternative and traditional sounds, such as indie, rock, jazz.

All year round

A season with works by composers of all times, especially the Portuguese, with absolute premieres with the aim of contributing to the History of Music and promoting musical creations of our time.

All year round

Promoted by the madeira Academic Association (Associação Académica da Madeira), this project integrates a set of guided tours in the city area, to various site such as the Jesuits Church, Funchal´s Town hall and the Legislative Assembly of Madeira.

All year round

Developed by the Academic Association of the University of Madeira this project intends to promote the island´s heritage by disseminating the culture and value the History of Madeira to a younger audience, thirst for knowledge and new experiences.