Under the theme “Return Where We Are Happy,” the 2026 program features proposals in theater, dance, music, and illustration by various national creators, according to a statement from the theater.
Artistic director Susana Menezes stated, “Reviving a show is to affirm that there are works that withstand the test of time, continuing to make sense, to make us think, feel, and grow.”
It is also a confirmation of its relevance: “to recognize that artistic quality does not exhaust itself at the premiere but deepens with each reunion between artists and the audience.”
The season opens with “O Papel do Dinheiro,” by the mala voadora company, directed and performed by Jorge Andrade, with text by Miguel Rocha. This show turns money into protagonists, manipulated on a table and enlarged on an LED screen, exploring collections and archives fictionally, and will be on stage from January 9 to 25.
Following this, from February 4 to 12, “Uma partícula mais pequena do que um grão de pó,” by the duo Sofia Dias and Vítor Roriz, a dance performance interpreted by Francisca Pinto, Lucas Damiani, and Victor Lattaque, imagines the silence that follows the stopping of machines and complex systems.
From February 21 to March 1, “Peço a Palavra,” by Teresa Coutinho, returns. It is a play where teenagers stage a parliament to debate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The show aims to bring politics closer to young people, exploring issues of gender and identity, featuring performances by Alice Azevedo, Ana Valentim, Catarina Rôlo Salgueiro, Lúcia Pires, Mariana Guarda, Rafael Gomes, and Roberto Terra.
In the same month, between the 5th and 22nd, “Uma outra Bela Adormecida,” by Beatriz Brás, Francisco Lourenço, and Martim Sousa Tavares, revisits the classic by Agustina Bessa-Luís, combining theater, music, and images.
In April, “A Quinta dos Animais,” by Tonan Quito, with text by Inês Fonseca Santos, adapted from George Orwell’s work, will be on stage from April 11 to 24.
This performance targets children over 10 years old, exploring themes of power and dissatisfaction, inviting the young audience to engage with the narrative.
In May, LU.CA hosts the FIMFA Lx — International Festival of Puppetry and Animated Forms, presenting three international shows that combine puppetry, objects, dance, and new circus. The detailed program will only be announced in March 2026.
Between May 30 and June 1, the concert “Mais Alto!” will take the stage, featuring Francisca Cortesão, Afonso Cabral, Inês Sousa, Sérgio Nascimento, and Isabel Minhós Martins.
This is a musical show with commentary, aimed at children over 3 years old, celebrating democracy and the role of music in social and political changes.
Susana Menezes highlighted the concern with sustainability inherent in this program, with some shows already accounting for approximately 20 sessions.
“When creation often lives at the pace of novelty, choosing to return is to resist the logic of fast consumption. It is an act of cultural sustainability, countering the logic of incessant production,” reinforced the artistic director.
Besides the stage programming, LU.CA presents exhibitions by visual artists Mariana Mizarela (“Felicidade”) and André Ruivo (“AH!”), guided visits to the exhibitions with mediator Ana Ribeiro, cinema sessions in collaboration with the PLAY Festival, readings with Bru Junça and Cristina Taquelim, and the Carnival Ball with DJs Benjamim and Ana Markl.
Throughout the first semester, LU.CA will offer 21 accessible sessions, including interpretation in Portuguese Sign Language, audio description, and relaxed sessions.
The second part of the program, with shows returning to LU.CA in the latter half of 2026, will be announced in July. “Return Where We Are Happy” will extend until January 2027.
Open since 2018 and managed by Lisboa Cultura / EGEAC, LU.CA is the only Portuguese theater dedicated exclusively to children and young people, having presented dozens of shows from various artistic fields to thousands of spectators.
