Portugal marks 116th Republic Day with ceremonies and open doors at state palaces

Official ceremonies in Lisbon

Portugal will mark the 116th anniversary of the founding of the Republic on Monday, 5 October 2026, through a series of commemorative events across Lisbon. The morning program will open at the Paços do Concelho, where the national flag will be raised from the balcony of the Salão Nobre to the sound of the national anthem. Official speeches will begin at 10:30 in Praça do Município, led by Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas, followed by the first Republic Day address delivered by President of the Republic António José Seguro since taking office. The solemn session in Largo do Município will bring together top state figures, including Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, Assembly of the Republic President José Pedro Aguiar-Branco, and representatives from different parliamentary political parties.

Belém Palace open doors

In parallel with the civic ceremonies, the Presidency of the Republic will open the Palácio Nacional de Belém and its cultural facilities to the general public. The Museu da Presidência will welcome visitors across two separate time windows, running from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 14:00 to 18:00. Members of the public can also tour the palace gardens between 15:00 and 18:00.

An official notice released on the presidential website outlined the access rules and entry points for Monday's visits:

Admission is free and access takes place through the museum shop in Praça Afonso de Albuquerque, with the last entry at 17:30.

Public access to the Portuguese parliament

The Assembly of the Republic will similarly invite citizens into the Palácio de São Bento and the Casa do Parlamento interpretive centre on Monday afternoon. Assembly President José Pedro Aguiar-Branco will symbolically open the main atrium doors at 14:30, maintaining a practice that the parliamentary leader also observes annually during the 25 April holiday. The open-doors initiative is designed to bring citizens closer to the institutions of sovereignty and illustrate the operation and history of parliament. Entry will remain completely free of charge between 14:30 and 19:00, with last admissions permitted at 18:30, constrained only by the physical capacity of the interior rooms.

Cultural program and exhibitions at São Bento

Activities inside São Bento will start at 14:30 in the Main Atrium with a piano recital titled "Clássico ao piano" performed by Gil Brito. At 16:00, the Salão Nobre will host the theatrical presentation "Antiprincesas: Carolina Beatriz Ângelo", which focuses on the physician who in 1911 became the first woman to cast a vote in Portugal. Musical performances will conclude in the Senate Chamber at 17:30 with a concert by singer Luís Trigacheiro. Children aged 6 to 12 can participate in an educational treasure hunt titled "Missão República! À Descoberta dos Valores da República" in the Interior Garden, with scheduled sessions at 15:30 and 17:00 allocated by wristband on a first-come basis. Additional activities throughout the palace will include face painting, balloon modeling, the creation of a commemorative medal, and historical characters interacting with families. Visitors can also view three distinct exhibitions: "A Palavra é o Lugar, a Constituição da(s) Comunidade(s)", "Tudo é Semente, entre mundos que esbatem fronteiras: o espólio artístico dos hospitais psiquiátricos de Lisboa", and "Artigos rejeitados da Constituição: as propostas que ficaram pelo caminho".