THE FESTIVAL

The Moreira Folkfest – Maia International Folklore Festival began in July 2007 and was first held at the Largo da Feira de Pedras Rubras, in Moreira da Maia. The festival was born from the initiative of a group of members of the Grupo Regional de Moreira da Maia (GRMM), who shared the dream of bringing to the lands of Maia an International Folklore Festival capable of promoting not only Portuguese popular culture and art, but also unity between cultures and popular artistic expressions from different countries.

Between 2007 and 2013, the event was known as the “International Folklore Festival of Moreira da Maia” and, from 2013 to 2023, adopted the name “Moreira Folkfest”, reflecting its growth as a cultural event with significant impact on the cultural programming of the Municipality of Maia. In 2024, the current designation “Moreira Folkfest – Maia International Folklore Festival” was adopted, symbolising the projection of the Municipality of Maia on the international stage and the promotion of reciprocal cultural exchange among participating countries.

The festival thus establishes itself as a true celebration of cultures, without barriers or prejudice regarding different nationalities, customs and artistic expressions. The word “Moreira” reflects the connection to its organiser, GRMM, “Folkfest” symbolises openness to the world, and “Maia International Folklore Festival” reinforces its link to its place of origin, the Municipality of Maia.

Currently, the Moreira Folkfest – Maia International Folklore Festival has already held 17 editions and welcomed more than 80 participating groups, national and international, from over 50 countries. This journey highlights remarkable growth in terms of organisation, cultural programming and audience numbers, which now exceed 1,000 spectators per day, as well as the increasing number of volunteers who collaborate annually in the festival’s organisation.

Until 2023, the Moreira Folkfest took place on the last Saturday of July. However, with its entry into the CIOFF Portugal certification process in 2024, the festival underwent a significant transformation, extending its duration to nine days of programming. This evolution allowed for the decentralisation of the event and strengthened its presence and impact in different areas of the Municipality of Maia and beyond.

The Moreira Folkfest – Maia International Folklore Festival thus opens its doors to everyone who wishes to attend and take part in this cultural exchange.