FAFA OPENS THE 2026 EVENT SEASON IN THE ALGARVE MOUNTAINS

The Alta Mora ridge becomes, once again, from February 6 to 8, 2026, the epicenter of the fifth edition of the Almond Blossom Festival and marks the start of the regional events calendar, during a period traditionally marked by seasonality.

Created and promoted by the Recreational, Cultural and Sports Association of the Friends of Alta Mora (ARCDAA), the festival asserts itself as a key project for enhancing the territory, combining natural heritage, cultural identity and tourist enjoyment. Over three days, residents, visitors and hikers traverse the mountains during the full bloom of the almond trees, in one of the most distinctive landscape settings of the Algarve interior.

Hiking, and the enjoyment of the white and pink mantle of the mountain landscape, remains the central axis of the event, with four signposted routes of 6, 9, 12 and 20 kilometers, suitable for different participant profiles, with mandatory registration HERE.

The artistic programming blends tradition, ethnography, popular music, folk and world music. In 2026, the world music circuit includes Coletivo Capela, Malino, Eiró, Nuno Carpinteiro and Rubén Díez, Mar de Fora, DJ Catadiscos and A Cantadeira, alongside street entertainment with Sofia Pimentão, Malatitsch, Serrabecos, Al-Fanfare and Bando dos Quatro. Popular and traditional music will be represented by Grupo Chulada da Ponte Velha, Recanto and Bela Banda, with Filipe Santos and Filipe Silva on the Portuguese guitar and Silvino Campos on the accordion, while the ethnographic component includes the Azinhal Folklore Group and the Vozes de Almodôvar Choral and Ethnographic Group.

The performative and community dimension continues with the puppet show “The Legend of the Almond Trees in Blossom”, dance by ARUTLA from the Clube Recreativo Alturense and the exhibition «O olhar da nossa gente» (Our People’s Gaze) by the seniors of Alta Mora in partnership with the ¼ escuro Association, complemented by a dedicated children’s program.

The gastronomic component stands out with the giant almond roll, which in this edition will reach 44 meters, in collaboration with the Vila Real de Santo António Hotel and Tourism School, as well as the street market, the Artisan Village, bread and basketry workshops and almond tree planting workshops, involving over fifty artisans.

Admission is free for children up to 10 years old, costing 2.50 euros for ages 11 to 14 and 4 euros for adults, with tickets available at the venue and online at https://fafa.bol.pt/.

The Almond Blossom Festival is an initiative of ARCDAA, with the support of the Municipality of Castro Marim and the Odeleite Parish Council, and the collaboration of the Algarve Tourism Region. The 2026 edition also counts on financing from the “Cultura aos Montes” project, supported by European Funds, under the ALGARVE2030 Regional Program and the IEFP Arts and Crafts Promotion Program.

Information and Program at https://fafa.pt/