Al Mossassa Marvão 2026: new dates and practical guide

What is the Al Mossassa Festival?

Al Mossassa evokes the period of Ibn Marúan, a figure associated with the foundation of Marvão and Badajoz. During the festival, the town adopts a historical atmosphere designed to bring visitors closer to the region's Islamic and medieval heritage.

The municipality intends to retain the planned activities, from street entertainment to shows on the stages and at the Castle. The October cultural programme now confirms the Market of Three Cultures and “Marvão – Where History Touches the Sky”; times for the remaining activities are still being updated.

• Confirmed new dates: 9, 10 and 11 October 2026.
• The previous dates, 2–5 October, no longer apply.
• The postponement follows the bad-weather forecast for outdoor activities and prioritises the safety of visitors, exhibitors, craftspeople and event teams.
• The revised programme is partly confirmed; times for the remaining activities will be added when they are published.

Revised programme after the postponement

The official October cultural programme confirms the Market of Three Cultures hours on all three days. The official “Marvão – Where History Touches the Sky” event page confirms two performances, on 9 and 10 October from 21:30 to 22:30.

Local sources reporting the municipal presentation confirm the Grand Opening Procession, “Celebrating 800 Years”, at 18:00 on Friday, followed by the official opening at the Town Hall, and the closing procession at 18:00 on Sunday. The programme retains workshops, military camps, fencing, archery, medieval games and carousels, farm animals, snakes and birds of prey. The timetable for the remaining activities is still being updated; check the official agenda before visiting.

• Friday 9 October: Grand Opening Procession at 18:00, followed by the official opening at the Town Hall; Three Cultures Market 18:00–24:00; “Marvão – Where History Touches the Sky” 21:30–22:30.
• Saturday, 10 October: Market of Three Cultures from 10:00 to 24:00; “Marvão – Where History Touches the Sky” from 21:30 to 22:30.
• Sunday 11 October: Three Cultures Market 10:00–19:00; closing procession at 18:00; remaining times being updated.

How to plan your visit to Marvão

For the new dates, the municipality directs visitors to the Fonte da Pipa, Vale de Ródão and Portagem car parks. On 10 and 11 October, a free shuttle will run to Portas de Ródão when each car park fills up; follow the instructions from the authorities on site.

Advance sales until 8 October are exclusively for groups and must be requested from [email protected], stating the visit date and number of tickets. Admission costs €2 and is free for children aged 12 and under; group wristbands are collected at the Rua do Castelo ticket office on presentation of the invoice.

• Last buses back to the car parks: Saturday, 10 October, at 23:30; Sunday, 11 October, at 19:30.
• 8 October: restricted traffic and no parking between Igreja de Santiago, Largo de Camões, Largo de Santa Maria and Rua do Castelo.
• 9 and 10 October: vehicle access restricted from 09:00; the central route is pedestrian-only from 10:00 to 24:00.
• 11 October: access restricted from 09:00; the central route is pedestrian-only from 10:00 to 20:00.
• Calvário car park is reserved from 8 to 11 October for residents and hospitality and restaurant staff.

Visiting Al Mossassa from Castelo de Vide

Castelo de Vide works well as a base for a weekend between the two towns. Spend part of the day in the Jewish Quarter, at Fonte da Vila and the castle, then reserve several hours for the festival atmosphere in Marvão.

The drive is short, but parking inside the walled centre is limited. Use the Fonte da Pipa, Vale de Ródão or Portagem car parks and follow the free-shuttle signs on Saturday and Sunday; allow extra time for restricted access.

A weekend between Jewish and Islamic heritage

The combination is especially rewarding for heritage-focused visitors: Castelo de Vide preserves its Jewish Quarter and former Synagogue, while Al Mossassa highlights the Islamic memory associated with Marvão.

Casa da Rua Nova is in Castelo de Vide's Jewish Quarter, making it possible to explore the old town on foot and use the accommodation as a base for visiting Marvão.