Portimão will once again march to the beat of its own drum as the town hosts Percussion Days (Dias da Percussão, or DPP’26), a percussion-themed festival returning to the town from February 13 to 15.
Organised by O Corvo e a Raposa Associação Cultural, under the artistic direction of Vasco Ramalho and Daniela Tomaz, the festival offers a diverse programme dedicated to the world of percussion, bringing together international and Portuguese talent.
This year’s line-up includes Polish percussionist Kasia Kadlubowska, selected as a European Festival Fund Emerging Artist 2026, alongside renowned Portuguese performers such as the iconic Drumming Grupo de Percussão, founded in 1999 by Miquel Bernat and known for promoting contemporary percussion repertoire. Also taking part are Tiago Manuel Soares, whose work bridges traditional Portuguese percussion and contemporary music, and the duo Hugo Ferreira and Gonçalo Ribeiro, curated by Porto-based Associação Porta Jazz.
Beyond concerts, the programme features a pre-event online talk introducing this year’s partner festivals under the European Festival Emerging Artist 2026 label, street parades, awareness-raising performances in public spaces and five percussion workshops for children and young people. Highlights include the participation of the historic Grupo de Bombos de Lavacolhos, one of Portugal’s oldest and most emblematic drum groups, with roots dating back to the early 19th century.
DPP’26 will spread across multiple venues in Portimão, including the municipal theatre TEMPO, the auditorium of the Portimão Museum and Casa Manuel Teixeira Gomes, as well as historic and outdoor spaces throughout the town centre, riverside area, Alvor and Mexilhoeira Grande.
The festival is supported by the Portuguese Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, the Directorate-General for the Arts, with the municipal council of Portimão as a strategic partner, alongside several local institutions and media partners.
Workshop registrations are open from January 22 to February 6, while tickets for performances will be available shortly through official ticket outlets. The full programme can be consulted at online.
