Organised by the Bairrada Carnival Association, with the support of the Mealhada City Council (Aveiro district) and various partners, the “A Cidade do Samba 2026” (City of Samba 2026) event will take place on September 12 and 13 at the City Park, with free admission.

“‘A Cidade do Samba’ is the result of collective effort and a passion that Mealhada knows well. We want two days of great celebration, but we also want to showcase what our samba schools do all year round,” highlighted ACB president Márcio Freixo.

Xandinho and Rodrigo Silveira are the headline acts in a program that brings together artists, eight samba schools, and “lots of energy.”

“We have artists, we have guest schools, we have the presentation of the 2027 Carnival, and, above all, we have a strong desire to fill the City Park once again,” he noted.

The festival kicks off at 3:00 pm on 12 September with the opening session, featuring a roda de samba (samba circle) led by Rodrigo Silveira and Central do Samba.

Starting at 9:00 pm, the guest samba schools will take the stage: A Rainha (from Figueira da Foz); Trepa Coqueiro and Vai Quem Quer (from Estarreja); and Charanguinha (from Ovar).

The day’s program also includes the official presentation of the Mealhada Carnival 2027 and performances by the municipality’s four samba schools, Sócios da Mangueira, Batuque, Real Imperatriz, and Amigos da Tijuca, followed by resident DJ Mr White.

The “Vila Mirim” initiative is scheduled for 13 September and will involve schools and private social solidarity institutions (IPSS) from the region.

According to the organisers, the event will bring together around 80 children, half of whom participated in the previous edition, some already involved in local samba schools, whether in the drum sections, as performers, or in creating costumes and props.

The festival is scheduled to conclude at 8:00 pm, following a “Sunset Samba” event featuring DJ Mr White, which begins at 5:00 pm.

António Jorge Franco, Mayor of Mealhada, stated that the festival exists thanks to the initiative of the municipality’s samba schools and the Bairrada Carnival Association, “reflecting the work they do throughout the year.”

“Carnival is an incredibly strong brand, and it is no longer just a national one; it takes Mealhada’s name beyond our borders by involving talent from Brazil and through the special bond that enables a Luso-Brazilian Carnival like ours,” he said.

Meanwhile, Filomena Pinheiro, Deputy Mayor of Mealhada, noted that the festival holds particular significance as it marks the “start of the municipality’s cultural season.”

“I would highlight Carnival as a driver of social engagement, involving thousands of people directly and indirectly throughout the year. It is also a strategic pillar of our culture that impacts the economy through tourism; since it takes place during the off-season, it helps effectively combat tourism seasonality,” she emphasised.