The first edition features the Algarve Surf Cup, live music, a local market, workshops and activities for all ages from October 30 to November 1
The first edition of Sagres Sessions will take place in Sagres from October 30 (Friday) to November 1 (Sunday), bringing three days of surfing, music, art and activities to Praia da Mareta and other locations around the town.
Organised by Algarve Surf Clube, the festival will feature the Algarve Surf Cup powered by Visit Algarve, alongside adaptive surfing, live music, a local market, exhibitions and workshops.
The event aims to strengthen the Algarve’s place on Portugal’s surfing calendar and attract an international audience.
“The Algarve region has been away from the national and international surfing stage in recent years,” said club president Sérgio Brandão. “It is time to bring major events back to the Algarve and show the unique potential of this coast for all wave sports.”
Brandão hopes Sagres Sessions will become “the leading surf event for the entire region”, with plans to expand internationally in the coming years, working alongside Vila do Bispo Council and Turismo do Algarve.
Festival programme
On Friday, October 30, from 10am to 2pm, Praia da Mareta will host an adaptive and solidarity surfing session, organised in partnership with FisioRider and the ParaSurfing section of Portimão Surf Club. The activity will give people with disabilities or those facing social difficulties the opportunity to experience surfing.
The local market, held at Rua Comandante Matoso, will bring together local producers, regional brands, food trucks and a bar. It will be open on Saturday from 10am to 6pm and Sunday from 10am to 5pm.
The Pavilhão Multiusos Clésio Ricardo will host photography and art exhibitions featuring local artists throughout the three days, from 10am to 10pm.
Visitors can also take part in free well-being and creative workshops on Saturday and Sunday, including yoga, Jiu Jitsu, sculpt classes, mobility, art and acroyoga.
The live music programme begins on Friday with Lana Gasparøtti at 7.30pm, followed by a DJ set from TobyONE at 8.30pm. On Saturday, School of Rock Portimão will perform at 6pm, followed by an ALMA jam session at 7.30pm and a DJ set from Luca Guichard at 9pm.
Also on Friday, at 6pm, the Pavilhão Multiusos Clésio Ricardo will host a performance of Uma História do Surf… do Havaí para Portugal (A History of Surfing… from Hawaii to Portugal). Created by Chiara Vighetto, the theatre production explores surfing’s Polynesian roots and its development in Portugal, with particular attention to the Algarve’s early surfing community.
Algarve Surf Cup
The Algarve Surf Cup powered by Visit Algarve will bring together federated surfers competing in an inter-club championship, with Under-12, Under-16 and Open categories for men and women.
The competition will take place on Saturday and Sunday, from 8am to 5pm, with surfers judged on their best two waves in each heat (15-25 minutes). Each wave is scored from 0 to 10, giving competitors a maximum possible score of 20 points.
Individual results will also contribute to each club’s overall ranking, with points awarded to the best-performing surfers in each of the categories. A special trophy will be awarded to the Algarve club with the highest combined score.
Participation in the Algarve Surf Cup costs €15 for surfers who are not members of Algarve Surf Clube.
Entry to Sagres Sessions is free, although some activities have limited places and require advance registration through the festival website.
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