Portugal remains the country that represents the greatest number of visitors in The Portugal News digital version. In 2025, The Portugal News had 13 million users and nearly 30 million views in 2025 according to Google Analytics. The biggest market being Portugal, which represented 26% of users and 40% of views registered.

However, international users have also been relevant in the digital version of the newspaper. For example, the USA accounts for 11% of the views and users that access The Portugal News website every year, but the UK is the most significant market looking for news at our website, representing 14% of the users and 12% of the registered views in 2025. German traffic represents 5% of users and 3% of the views on the digital version of The Portugal News.

The top 5, after Portugal, is rounded off with Canada and Ireland, which also represent a large number of views and users at The Portugal News, showing that many more people from around the world are keeping up to date about news in Portugal.

Immigration

In 2025, the right-wing parties approved the Chega measures concerning immigration. The Foreigners Law was approved, even after the Constitutional Court vetoed it following the first approval by Parliament. Concerning immigration issues, the Nationality Law is under preventive measures.

The Government also promised to make it easier to expel immigrants, when necessary, a measure that comes at a time when the number of immigrants in Portugal has officially doubled, in a period of three years. Currently, there are 1,5 million immigrants living in Portugal.

In 2025, the Polícia Judiciária (PJ) dismantled a criminal organisation that enslaved 500 foreign citizens in the Alentejo. In total, PJ detained 17 suspects, among them there were 11 people working for police forces.

Politics

2025 was marked by the anticipated national elections as well as the local elections.

In 2025, after 50 years, the two-party system was over, with Chega becoming the second political force in the country. Partido Socialista (PS) had one of the biggest losses ever recorded, being now the third party with most members elected in Parliament. PS was not the only party on the left wing to lose force in the Portuguese political panorama. Mariana Mortágua became the only elected member of Bloco de Esquerda (BE), the communists lost members in Parliament and PAN remained with a single member in Parliament. On the other hand, Livre was the only left-wing party that grew in Parliament, and a new party entered into Portuguese politics, Juntos Pelo Povo (JPP).

In the local elections, PSD celebrated victory, electing mayors in the five biggest Portuguese municipalities – Lisbon, Porto, Gaia, Sintra and Cascais. Unlike what happened in national elections, PS occupied second place on the podium, electing mayors in five district capitals – Coimbra, Faro, Viseu, Évora and Bragança. Chega did not maintain its place as one of the most relevant political forces, having elected three mayors, contrary to the forecasts of the party, who wanted to elect dozens of mayors.

The blackout

The 28 April, the blackout was one of the most talked about events in 2025. The blackout that saw in the Iberian Peninsula without electricity is already considered one of the major blackouts of the last decade in Europe.

The metro and trains stopped due to no electricity, the airports suspended their activities, and ATM services were interrupted. In some places, the electricity was out for almost 16 hours, telecommunications were not available and the traffic lights were also not working.

Radio was the only means for people to be aware of what was happening during the blackout. The demand to buy battery-powered radios in shops was massive, and most of the shops ran out due to the high demand.

“Apagão”, the Portuguese word for blackout, was picked as the word of 2025 in Portugal, according to Porto Editora, recalling the impact of the event on the Portuguese.

General strike

The new plans for labour laws by the Government led to one of the biggest strikes in Portugal on 11 December. The general strike affected all the sectors in Portugal, paralysing the country for a whole day. This was the first general strike since the Troika measures in Portugal.

The two biggest Portuguese unions, CGTP and UGT, united for the demonstration, and are planning to discuss the proposed measures and changes with the Government. Although the Government did not give major importance to the demonstration, the unions noted that it was one of the biggest strikes ever.

Extreme weather

2025 was also marked by extreme weather phenomena, such as the storms that caused destruction in the country, with a tornado being registered in the Algarve.

The fires also had a major impact on the country, namely in the Centre and North regions. For 25 days in a row, Portugal registered fires, with the fires in Piódão and Trancoso lasting for 11 and 8 days, respectively.

The fire that happened in Arganil was the biggest ever reported in Portugal, having burned 64 thousand hectares of forest area. In total, in 2025, 270,000 hectares of forest area were burned, as reported by Rádio Renascença.

Loss of important figures

2025 was also marked by the loss of important figures for the Portuguese.

Francisco Pinto Balsemão, founder of Expresso newspaper, passed away. The ex-prime minister, businessman and journalist was considered one of the most important voices of press freedom in Portugal.

Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa, the president of FC Porto football club, from 1982 until 2024, passed away in 2025. Respected by many, the death of Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa was one of the most commented-upon news stories in 2025.

The football player, Diogo Jota, also lost his life in 2025, after a car accident that also took the life of his brother. The tragedy is still part of people’s memories, with homages to the player being paid frequently.

Sports

The Portuguese football team won the League of Nations, and the U-17 football team won the European Championship. The Portuguese hockey team also won the European Championship.

Still in football, coach José Mourinho returned to Portugal to take charge of the Sport Lisboa e Benfica team, after 25 years.

Although not a victory, the Portuguese handball team finished in fourth place in the World Championship of the sport, the best position the team has ever achieved.

2025 was also a good year for tennis, with Francisco Cabral climbing up to the top 20 of the global ranking, making this the best position of a Portuguese player ever achieved.

Portugal also received a gold medal in the 1500m World Athletics Championship, due to the performance of Isaac Nader. Madalena Costa was also awarded as world figure skating champion, at only 17-years-old.

What to expect in 2026?

In 2026, Portugal will celebrate 40 years as part of the European Union, which represents the bond between Portugal and the other European Union countries.

The Presidential Elections are set to happen, and the Portuguese people will choose who will be the next President of the Republic. With candidates including Luís Marques Mendes, Admiral Henrique Gouveia e Melo and André Ventura, the chances of a second round in the elections are high.

In terms of culture, Portugal will once again host various festivals such as Rock in Rio Lisboa, NOS Alive and the return of Afro Nation, in the Algarve. Artists like Bad Bunny, Jamiroquai, Katy Perry, Linkin Park and Rosalía have already confirmed their presence in Portugal in 2026.