Madeira festivals 2026 & 2027: the best events throughout the year

Madeira Nature Festival

6 to 11 October 2026

A week all about Madeira’s nature: guided hikes, paragliding, sailing and lots of activities for all ages. Ideal if you want to explore the island actively.

Our tip: read our article Hiking on Madeira first – since 2026, some trails have to be booked in advance.

Festival of Senhor dos Milagres in Machico

8 and 9 October 2026

Machico commemorates the great flood of 1803, when the chapel’s figure of Christ was washed out to sea and found again three days later. The highlight is the atmospheric candlelight procession, which draws pilgrims from all over the island.

Chestnut Festival in Curral das Freiras

31 October to 1 November 2026

In the “Nuns’ Valley”, right in the mountains, everything revolves around the sweet chestnut: chestnut soup, chestnut cake, chestnut liqueur and lots of music. Even the drive into the valley with its steep rock walls is an experience.

Our tip: first drive up to the Eira do Serrado viewpoint and look down into the valley. From there, an old stepped path, the donkey trail, leads down to the village on foot. Getting back up or to Funchal is easy by taxi or bus. And be sure to try it: not just at the festival but all year round, the Nuns’ Valley serves chestnut dishes – from chestnut soup, chestnut cake and roasted chestnuts to hot dishes such as lamb with chestnuts.

Madeira Piano Fest

7 to 15 November 2026

At the historic Teatro Baltazar Dias in Funchal, pianists from all over Europe perform classical and modern works.

Our tip: the theatre is right in the Old Town – perfect with dinner afterwards.

São Martinho – new wine and chestnuts

11 November 2026

On St Martin’s Day, Madeira tastes the new wine, served with roasted chestnuts. In the parish of São Martinho in Funchal, people celebrate with stalls around the church.

Christmas lights in Santa Cruz

21 November 2026 to 17 January 2027

Santa Cruz on the east coast is the first to start the Christmas season: the lights are switched on with live music – ten days before Funchal.

Our tip: if you’re here in late November, you’ll get a first taste of the Christmas season here.

Christmas lights and the big Market Night

1 December 2026 to 10 January 2027 · Market Night on 23 December

From 1 December, all of Funchal glows with lights, every street with its own theme. The highlight is the big Market Night on 23 December: around the Mercado dos Lavradores, half the island celebrates into the early hours with music, singing and carne de vinha d’alhos (Madeira’s traditional wine-and-garlic pork). From 12 December there are smaller market nights in towns around the island, too.

Our tip: read more about how we experience the Christmas season on the island in our article Christmas on Madeira.

New Year’s Eve fireworks over Funchal

31 December 2026

At midnight the whole bay of Funchal becomes a stage: the fireworks start at many points around the city at the same time, and cruise ships often dock in the harbour especially for New Year. In 2006 it entered the Guinness World Records as the world’s largest fireworks display – an experience that brings many guests back every year.

Our tip: our terrace sits high above Funchal with a view over the city to the harbour – a wonderful place to welcome the New Year. New Year’s Eve books up fast, so enquire early. Everything about the fireworks, the best viewpoints and planning the night is in New Year’s Eve on Madeira: the fireworks over Funchal.

Carnival on Madeira

3 to 14 February 2027 · Shrove Tuesday on 9 February

Madeira’s Carnival is considered one of Europe’s biggest street parties. On the first weekend, the big parade with samba schools and colourful costumes winds through Funchal; on Shrove Tuesday comes the Cortejo Trapalhão – a cheerful parade that anyone in costume can join.

Our tip: pack a costume. At the Cortejo Trapalhão you’re not just a spectator.

Madeira Island Ultra Trail (MIUT)

24 to 25 April 2027

More than 2,000 runners from over 30 countries race across the island at the MIUT – on the long distance, 115 km from Porto Moniz over Pico Ruivo to Machico. It’s well worth watching, especially at the finish.

Our tip for hikers: on this weekend some mountain trails around Pico Ruivo and Pico do Areeiro are full of runners. We’re happy to show you quiet alternatives.

The Flower Festival – Festa da Flor

29 April to 30 May 2027 · children’s parade on 1 May · big flower parades on 2 and 16 May, 4:30 pm

The Flower Festival is the island’s best-known festival – and for a house called Casa das Flores, naturally our favourite. On 1 May, children build the “Wall of Hope” from their flowers, and on two Sundays magnificent flower floats parade along the Avenida do Mar. There are also flower carpets in the streets, concerts and a market with flowers and regional specialities.

Our tip: from our house it’s about a 20-minute walk downhill into the city centre – for the way back, better take Bolt or a taxi. Funchal is well booked around the parades, so it pays to reserve early. You’ll find the official programme at Visit Madeira.

Atlantic Festival with fireworks

4 to 27 June 2027 · fireworks on Saturdays 5, 12, 19 and 26 June

For a whole month there are concerts in Funchal, and every Saturday evening international teams compete in the fireworks competition. In June there are also the festivals of the popular saints, with decorated streets, music and food stalls.

Our tip: June is ideal if you want to combine hiking and celebrating – up into the mountains by day, fireworks in the evening.

Festival of Nossa Senhora do Monte

14 and 15 August

One of the island’s biggest religious festivals: the church in Monte, high above Funchal, is decorated with flowers, pilgrims make their way up, and around the church people celebrate with music, dancing and regional specialities.

Our tip: a lovely outing to experience Madeira the way locals celebrate.

Festa dos Fachos in Machico – the fire festival

Late August (29 August in 2026)

In late August the bay of Machico lights up: at the Festa dos Fachos, torches and fires are traditionally lit on the hills around the town, followed by a big fireworks display over the sea. A festival celebrated mainly by locals – which is exactly what makes it so special.

Our tip: Machico is about 25 minutes by car from us. Arrive early, find a spot on the seafront promenade – and better plan a taxi or Bolt for the way back.

Madeira Wine Festival – Festa do Vinho

Late August to mid-September (2027 dates not yet published; 2026: 23 August to 13 September)

At harvest time the island celebrates its famous Madeira wine: with wine stalls and live music in Funchal, grape picking and traditional grape treading in the wine-growing areas.

Our tip: if you book directly with us, you’ll get a small bottle of Madeira wine as a welcome anyway – the perfect warm-up. And if you’d like to get to know the wine beforehand: on our hop-on hop-off bus trip, a glass at Blandy’s in Funchal was included.