What to do in Porto in October is a question with plenty of answers in 2026. With autumn well underway, the city swaps some of summer’s large outdoor events for a calendar centred more around theatres, concert halls, museums and festivals, without giving up its gardens, walks along the Douro or evenings out. 

From light installations at Serralves and puppet theatre to pop culture, major concerts and Halloween events, October is a good month to combine some of Porto’s classics with experiences that are only available at this time of year. 

If you are staying at Almada234 during the month, here are a few events worth keeping on your radar. 

See Serralves after dark 

Until 8 November | Serralves Foundation 

If you have not yet experienced Serralves em Luz, October is a good opportunity. 

The 2026 edition transforms Serralves Park into an evening route of around two kilometres, featuring 20 artistic light installations that combine multimedia, sound, interactivity and the landscape itself. This year’s concept is “Light vs Darkness”. 

In October, the route is open from Wednesday to Sunday. From 6 October, it opens at 7.30pm and runs until midnight, with extended opening until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays. Guided visits are also available on selected dates throughout the month. 

It is one of those experiences that makes Serralves worth seeing twice: once during the day and again after dark, completely transformed by light. 

Discover new ways of telling stories at FIMP 

8 to 17 October | various venues across Porto 

The Festival Internacional de Marionetas do Porto – FIMP returns from 8 to 17 October. 

And do not think only of traditional puppet theatre. The 2026 edition explores different possibilities within puppet and object theatre, with creations inspired by authors as varied as Cervantes, Gogol, Victor Hugo, Dostoevsky, Heiner Müller, José Luís Peixoto and Regina Guimarães. 

The programme takes place across different venues in the city, including Rivoli and Campo Alegre, with performances aimed at different audiences and age groups. 

For anyone interested in the performing arts, it is one of the cultural events worth following in Porto’s October calendar. 

Step into the world of anime and video games 

There are two dates to remember if you follow Japanese pop culture and gaming. At the beginning of the month, Casa da Música hosts the Press Start Festival, dedicated to video games, anime, music, independent publishing and digital culture. 

On 3 October, the Orquestra Sinfónica do Porto Casa da Música presents Retro Gaming Sinfónico, featuring soundtracks from games including Tetris, Mega Man, Sonic 2, Final Fantasy VIII, Tomb Raider and The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. 

The following weekend, on 10 and 11 October, IberAnime Porto 2026 returns to Exponor in Matosinhos. Even though it takes place outside Porto city centre, it is a good example of how Almada234 can be used as a base while easily adding a trip to Matosinhos to your stay. 

Choose a night of music 

October also brings a particularly busy calendar for concertgoers. At Super Bock Arena, Rui Veloso performs as a trio on 9 October. Roupa Nova follows on the 16th, the RFM show on the 17th, Titãs on the 23rd and Némanus on the 24th. 

At Casa da Música, the monthly programme adds further options for anyone who wants to combine a visit to Porto with an evening of live music. 

Meanwhile, Coliseu Porto Ageas hosts a wide variety of artists and performances throughout the month, including Portuguese and Brazilian music and, towards the end of October, opera. 

In other words, choosing a concert may be more difficult than finding one. 

Discover cinema beyond mainstream theatres 

From 13 to 17 October, Porto hosts the Family Film Project, a festival dedicated to cinema and representations of family, taking place across different venues in the city. 

Later, from 22 to 25 October, Batalha Centro de Cinema hosts a new edition of MICAR, dedicated to themes connected to anti-racism, resistance and Black culture. 

For anyone who already knows Porto’s best-known monuments and is looking for programming more closely connected to the city’s contemporary cultural life, these are two good reasons to keep an eye on the film calendar. 

Plan a Halloween activity in Gaia 

30 October to 1 November | WOW, Vila Nova de Gaia 

October inevitably ends with Halloween. In 2026, WOW, in Vila Nova de Gaia, once again prepares a Haunted Mansion, running from 30 October to 1 November. 

You can use the trip to spend part of the day in Gaia, visit the Port wine cellars, walk along the river and then return to Porto across the Douro. 

It is also an option worth considering if you are visiting the city with family during the final weekend of the month. 

Leave room in your plans to simply experience Porto in autumn 

Not every day needs a scheduled event. October is also a good time to alternate these events with some of the experiences that make sense on any visit to Porto. 

You can walk through Ribeira in the late afternoon, stroll through the Palácio de Cristal Gardens, step into a museum if it starts raining or use an unplanned morning to explore the streets of Baixa. 

And staying in the centre makes exactly that easier. At Almada234, on Rua do Almada near Aliados, you can combine many city-centre activities with Metro, bus or taxi journeys whenever you want to head to Serralves, Matosinhos or Vila Nova de Gaia. 

You do not need to fill every space in your schedule in advance. October in Porto can also mean choosing a concert for one evening, discovering an exhibition the next day and letting the rest of the city happen along the way. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

What is there to do in Porto in October 2026? 

October brings a varied programme including Serralves em Luz, the Festival Internacional de Marionetas do Porto, concerts, exhibitions, cinema, anime and gaming events, and Halloween activities. 

When does Serralves em Luz take place in October 2026? 

Serralves em Luz runs until 8 November 2026. In October, it is open from Wednesday to Sunday and, from 6 October, the route begins at 7.30pm. 

When does FIMP 2026 take place? 

The Festival Internacional de Marionetas do Porto runs from 8 to 17 October 2026, with performances across different cultural venues in the city. 

What concerts are happening in Porto in October 2026? 

The programme includes Rui Veloso, Roupa Nova, Titãs and Némanus at Super Bock Arena, as well as concerts and other performances at venues such as Casa da Música and Coliseu Porto Ageas. 

Where should you stay to explore these events in Porto? 

A central location makes it easier to combine events across different parts of the city. Almada234 is on Rua do Almada, close to Aliados, making it possible to walk to many central locations and use public transport to reach areas such as Boavista, Serralves, Matosinhos or Vila Nova de Gaia.