Loulé is ready for four days of music, culture and celebration as Cabo Verde takes centre stage
The historic heart of Loulé is all set up as the 21st edition of Festival MED kicked off this Thursday, June 26. With 90 hours of music, 54 concerts, and over 300 musicians from nearly 30 countries performing across 12 stages, the town is expecting thousands of visitors until Sunday.
This year’s special spotlight is on Cabo Verde, the festival’s 2025 guest country, bringing its rhythms, flavours and traditions to the streets of Loulé , from morna and funaná to grogue and cachupa. However, the event will feature artists from all corners of the world, from Japan and Argentina to Jamaica and Egypt.
“We worked for months to create a top-notch line-up,” says festival organiser Carlos Carmo. According to Carmo, the highlight performers will include Dino D’Santiago & Os Tubarões, representing the guest country Cape Verde, as well as Sílvia Pérez Cruz and Salvador Sobral, two of the Iberian Peninsula’s “most acclaimed voices”, and renowned Mali guitarist Vieux Farka Tourá.
Beyond music, Festival MED 2025 offers street art, film screenings, poetry, theatre, exhibitions, 100 craft stalls, food, and the MED Kids zone. There are even extra venues like MED Jazz, Café Calcinha, and the atmospheric “Pátio” dedicated to Cabo Verdean culture.
Tickets are on sale now and full programme details can be found on the festival’s official website.
