MEO Marés

MEO Marés (formerly MEO Marés Vivas) is one of the anchors of the Portuguese festival summer, drawing tens of thousands to the seafront at Leça da Palmeira, Matosinhos, in greater Porto, for a long weekend of open-air music. Since its debut in the late 1990s it has grown into the north's biggest annual music event, pairing chart-topping international headliners with the cream of Portuguese pop, rock and hip-hop across multiple stages that run late into the warm Atlantic night.

What to expect

MEO Marés 2027 runs across three days, 16–18 July, with Rod Stewart the first act announced and a bill that mixes global stars and homegrown favourites — expect a genre-hopping line-up spanning pop, rock, reggaeton and Latin sounds rather than a single scene. Between sets the site fills with food stalls, bars and a young, high-energy Portuguese crowd; days build slowly and the biggest names take the main stage after dark. It is a festival as much about the setting and the atmosphere as any one act.

Buy tickets (day passes and three-day passes) through the official site well ahead of the summer, as headline days sell strongly. Note that the festival moved from Vila Nova de Gaia to Leça da Palmeira in 2026 and dropped "Vivas" from its name, so check the site layout and transport links on the official site before you travel.

MEO Marés is held on the seafront at Praia do Aterro in Leça da Palmeira, Matosinhos, in greater Porto. Fly into Porto Airport (OPO, Francisco Sá Carneiro), then continue to the site by taxi or ride-hail, or check the official site for festival shuttles and public transport. Extra transport typically runs on festival nights, but expect crowds after the headliners — allow time for the return trip.

• Before you go, read the UK government's FCDO travel advice for Portugal (entry requirements, safety and local laws).
• Flight delayed or cancelled on the way? See our Travel Disruption guide for your rights and live alerts.