Ribeira Brava is preparing to host the 5th edition of its Cultural Week, a nine-day event that will transform “Nova Praça” into a meeting point for music, literature, theatre, dance and community celebration from April 24 to May 2. While the programme includes a wide range of activities for all ages, this year’s edition stands out especially for its strong musical offering, with concerts and live performances running throughout the event.
The opening evening, on Friday, April 24, immediately sets the tone with “From Broadway to Madeira”, performed by Vozes da Ilha at 8 pm, following the official opening ceremony at 6.30 pm. It is the first of several musical moments designed to give the festival a lively and accessible atmosphere, bringing audiences into a programme that combines entertainment with cultural identity.
Music remains in the spotlight on Saturday, April 25, when the talk show featuring António Raminhos and Luís Filipe Borges is followed by the concert “Stories Told in Song”, presented by Associação Xarabanda. The event promises an evening in which humour, performance and music come together, adding to a day already filled with literary presentations, the opening of the book fair and the historical reenactment “Reviver a Cabotagem”.
One of the strongest musical evenings of the week is scheduled for Monday, April 27. The Ribeira Brava Bandolim Orchestra takes the stage at 7.30 pm, followed an hour later by a concert from Lux Aeterna. The pairing of these two performances gives the festival one of its richest nights for live music, bringing together different sounds and styles within the same setting.
The programme continues to underline community participation and younger performers. On Sunday, April 26, the Children and Youth Choir of Ribeira Brava joins the festivities, while on Friday, May 1, Rainbow Flowers will perform at 6 pm, followed by the Tuna Infanto-Juvenil da Ribeira Brava at 6.30 pm. These performances reinforce the festival’s local dimension, giving visibility to groups that help shape the municipality’s cultural life throughout the year.
The closing day, Saturday, May 2, once again places music at the centre of the celebration. The Grupo de Cordas da Casa do Povo da Ribeira Brava performs at 5 pm, paving the way for the final major concert of the festival: Anjos, who take the stage at 8 pm. Their appearance is expected to be one of the biggest highlights of the week and will bring this year’s edition to a high-profile close.
Alongside the concerts, the Cultural Week also includes literary presentations, creative workshops, theatre performances, children’s shows, live crafts and themed activities spread across the nine days. Even so, music clearly emerges as one of the main driving forces of the 2026 edition, giving Ribeira Brava a festive rhythm and turning Nova Praça into a central stage for both local talent and well-known names.
