The schedule for the previously planned four concerts remains, with some adjustments. On the opening day, Thursday, September 25, performances by Carolina Deslandes and the Rui Veloso Trio are now scheduled. From Friday to Sunday, the lineup includes Bárbara Tinoco, Fernando Daniel, and Xutos & Pontapés, with one concert per night.
A debate on “Portugal and the Future,” featuring Manuela Ferreira Leite and António Barreto, moderated by Pedro Mexia, will also take place on the afternoon of Saturday, September 27.
The Book Festival at the Belém Palace, initially set for September 4-7, was canceled by the President of the Republic following a tragic elevator accident at Elevador da Glória in Lisbon, which resulted in 16 fatalities and several severe injuries, occurring just a day before the event was to start.
The festival has been rescheduled for September 25-28 and will maintain its four-day duration from Thursday to Saturday. The revised program was announced today on the official website of the Presidency of the Republic.
“With free entry, the event spans four days of readings, debates, a plethora of books, music, educational games, and presentations. A total of 70 publishers, representing 280 publishing brands, will participate with 122 stalls,” the note published today states.
The note also emphasizes that the Book Festival is an initiative by the President of the Republic to promote Portuguese literature and authors. This year’s edition once again involves the organization by the Associação Portuguesa de Editores e Livreiros (APEL) and partners with Lisbon’s municipal libraries.
The official opening ceremony is scheduled for 6:00 PM on Thursday, September 25. Entry to the Belém Palace will be via the Museum Shop of the Presidency of the Republic or the Tropical Botanical Garden.
This edition marks the eighth and final occurrence of the Book Festival in the gardens of the Belém Palace during Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s terms, who launched it in 2016, his first year in office, in collaboration with APEL to promote reading.
In addition to book stalls and autograph sessions in the palace gardens, the event features debates, cinema, music, and activities for children. The Book Festival did not take place in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
