WhatsUpLisbon Alpha

In 1821, after more than a decade in Brazil, the Portuguese Court returns to Portugal, crossing the Atlantic along with people, stories and part of the Royal House's treasures — a journey that helps us understand one of the most striking moments in Portugal's history.

At the launch of issue #15 of the newspaper Coreia, edited and presented by João dos Santos Martins, the conference-performance Dance Becomes Her (2022) explores how dance and embodied knowledge are shared between bodies and archived within them over time. Free entry.

A tribute concert to Depeche Mode.

A themed walk that starts by crossing the Aqueduto das Águas Livres, built to carry larger volumes of water to Lisbon, then follows the Galeria de Campo de Ourique to the Amoreiras monumental complex designed by Carlos Mardel, ending at the Mãe d'Água das Amoreiras reservoir. 120 minutes; tickets 12 € via ticketline.pt.

A youth volunteering initiative to support the organisation and running of the Sintra Trail Cruz Alta.

Mariano Llinás's monumental 324-minute biography of Jorge Luis Borges draws on an exhaustive analysis of the documents, books and places of a writer who lived as a hidden, clandestine warrior whose cause was literature — its Portuguese premiere at Doclisboa.

A concert featuring Beethoven's Piano Trio Op. 11 'Gassenhauer' and Op. 70 No. 1 'Ghost Trio', performed by Trio Arkadia.

A family-friendly visit to the Xerazade exhibition: armed with a suitcase in hand and a special passport to fill in along the way, visitors embark on a journey through the world of the arts.

After a sold-out first release, AFRODISE Lisboa opens sign-ups for a second ticket release for its party with Aaron Sevilla.

A pop musical adaptation of The Wizard of Oz.

A double bill: in Jia Zhangke's Torino Shadow, a woman travels from China to Turin and is left alone after an unexpected departure, while in the debut feature I Plant My Hand in the Garden, Hoda, an Iranian refugee in Berlin, and Boris, a queer man from Serbia, decide to marry and raise a child together.

A therapeutic sound meditation session that also includes access to the exhibitions. Held in English, with entry at 20€.

A guided tour of '100 Years + Over 100 Documents', aimed at the general public.

The theatre show SUPERSTAR brings to the stage a reflection on fame and stardom.

In a single session, Pasi 'Sleeping' Myllymäki surveys the whole history of experimental and avant-garde cinema in Super 8mm, with breathtaking freedom and humour: surrealism, stop motion, cameraless films, music videos for his band Sleeping & The Beds and dark political warnings — its Portuguese premiere.

The Trio Amatis and Thomas Quasthoff present Humanity in War, a concert that blends music and letters from World War I in a reflection on humanity and peace.

Nha Balila, a 92-year-old living legend of Cape Verdean batuku, is invited to Portugal to celebrate International Women's Day, and her vitality and vibrant presence deeply move the Cape Verdean diaspora. The film has its world premiere at Doclisboa and is eligible for the non-competitive Portuguese Award.

Lukas, a peculiar teenager, comes of age just as a film crew arrives in his neighbourhood, after learning his father is a tikbalang and watching his body turn red; the story is told by his friend Lorena, fascinated by the strange boy. Portuguese premiere at Doclisboa.

Finnish bluegrass-rock outfit Steve 'n' Seagulls make their Portuguese debut at República da Música on 18 October 2026, turning rock and heavy metal anthems into banjo, mandolin and accordion-fuelled bluegrass versions.

Philosopher Slavoj Žižek guides us through landscapes of classic cinema, music, social media, archives and internet broadcasts, mapping the utopian illusions of our time through absurd juxtapositions and surprising perspectives. Portuguese premiere at Doclisboa.

Joe Jackson returns with his new album 'Hope and Fury', fusing Latin rhythms, jazz, funk, and rock in a vibrant live performance.

Du Nothin, the alter ego of Duarte Appleton, presents the debut album "Mundo do Pop" at the Coliseu Club, in a show blending alternative rock, 1980s aesthetics and themes of youth and creative freedom.

Exiled director Nikita Lavretski (played by Belarusian filmmaker Sergey Kolosovski) tries to cross European borders to reunite with his wife, wondering whether he is condemned to relive the past forever; a playful take on autofiction and a Proustian experience of recovered time. World premiere in the International Competition.