From 17 to 24 June, Braga celebrates another edition of the centuries-old São João Festivities, a unique moment of collective expression. For eight days, the city offers more than 200 hours of programming, with around 365 organisations and 10,000 people involved.
This celebration, with medieval roots, is today one of the country’s biggest cultural events, distinguished by its longevity, authenticity and dynamism. In the words of the Mayor of Braga, Ricardo Rio, ‘it sounds like passion, ambition and it sounds like Braga’. ‘We have a programme that doesn’t stop at the festive night, it goes on for more than a week, with a remarkable cultural intensity, based on our roots, traditional music and community involvement,’ he said.
Deeply rooted in the city’s collective memory, Braga’s São João continues to be one of the most expressive testimonies of community expression, where light, colour and joy invade the streets of Braga for eight days. The programme combines timeless traditions and emblematic moments, such as the Car of Herbs, the Car of the Shepherds and the Dance of King David, with iconic figures such as gigantones and cabeçudos, zés p’reiras, cavaquinhos and concertinas, folklore groups, challenge songs and philharmonic bands.
This year’s musical line-up includes artists such as Tony Carreira, Diogo Piçarra, Ágata, Sons do Minho, Katia Guerreiro, Os Pêgas, Ana Lua Caiano and Bandua, as well as the groups from Braga, Canto D’aqui and “Origem” Tradicional.
In 2025, the Sanjoanina poster and decorations highlight the evocation of biblical paintings by the River Este, namely the Baptism of Christ and the imposing figure of St Christopher, visual elements from the late 19th century that continue to mark the imagination of Braga. The Sanjoanina Gala will be characterised by a unique spectacle that crosses musical sounds and traditions from all over the country, from Minho to the Azores.
The remarkable figure of Master José Veiga will also be honoured, on the centenary of his birth, reinforcing links between memory, culture and identity. In 2025, the Festas de São João de Braga are preparing to be recognised in the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage, which legitimises their unique relevance in the context of traditional pilgrimages.
The full programme can be found at saojoaobraga.pt