The Vilar de Mouros Festival returns today for five days of concerts, for the first time, with YUNGBLUD as the first day's lead and a program that includes musicians such as Ben Harper, Body Count, Dropkick Murphys and Kasabian.
© Lusa
18/08/2026
by
Lusa
O the oldest Portuguese festival begins an unprecedented five-day edition, precisely because the 29-year-old British singer YUNGBLUD could only act today, in Portugal, due to his concert schedule, and the organization added another day to the programming.
On the first day of this edition of the CA Vilar de Mouros Festival, the highlight of the festival director, Paulo Ventura, also goes to the President, an English band. “They have those masks of theirs. ... It is that ‘metal core’ that is now very appreciated and much heard by many people”.
The Cabaret Voltaires are highlighted and this will very possibly be the last time they come to Portugal, Paulo Ventura told Lusa.
On the second day, Wednesday, the Americans Dropkick Murphys, who came twice to Vilar de Mouros, return 12 years after their last presence and now as poster heads.
The presence of Fishbone, which created a musical current, also stands out in the second day programming, as well as the Swedish garage punk The Hives, the American Californian hard rock Ugly Kid Joe and the bands Less Than Jake and Grade 2.
Thursday, the program will be dedicated to the UK with the British rock band Kasabian, head of the third day poster of Vilar de Mouros.
The Kula Shaker, “who never came to Portugal”, the Kaiser Chiefs, “who never leave the stage in the same place”, and The Lathums complete the alignment of the third night of the Minhoto festival.
On the fourth day, Friday, the 25th anniversary of Ben Harper's first show at the festival is celebrated, returning to Vilar de Mouros with his "The Innocent Criminals". “It has been 25 years since he played here [in Vilar de Mouros]. It is obviously a celebration” and will happen at 10:00 p.m., warns Paulo Ventura.
The Icelandic Kaleo are fourth-day cardheads, also acting as the original American band War, Belgian Triggerfinger, American Sydney Ross Mitchell and Monster.
The last day of Vilar de Mouros will receive the Body Count, with the rapper and meanwhile also actor Ice-T, Rudeboy, Mark Ramone and Travo.
Still on the last day, acts the winner of the band contest António Barge, the founding physician of Vilar de Mouros in 1971.
Last year the festival received about 50,000 people, and the expectation is that, for this year, the number will be exceeded, assumes the organization of the event.
The entrance to the festival is free for children up to six years (including) and passes, both four and five days, give free access to the campsite, through the capacity of the space.
The musical event is organized by Surprise & Expectation, with the support of the Caminha Municipal Council and the Town Council of Vilar de Mouros.
The first major music festival in Portugal, created by doctor António Barge, enjoys the fame of the “Woodstock à português” and the first edition took place in 1971, with musicians such as Elton John, Manfred Mann and Quartet 1111. He returned in 1982 with bands such as U2, Durutti Column, Echo and Bunnymen, The Raincoats, A Certain Ratio, Jafumega, GNR, Carlos Paredes and Tom Robinson Band. It took on the annual editions in 1996, having suffered an eight-year interregnum, between 2006 and 2014.
The roots of the Vilar de Mouros Festival date back to 1965, with local characteristics, having gained projection in the following years with the expansion to areas of classical music, jazz and fado.
This year's edition of the festival ends on Saturday, August 22, and the concerts begin at 5 p.m. every day.