FAVA expects to attract thousands of visitors to Loulé and serve 5,000 plant-based meals

The seventh edition of FAVA – Algarve Environment and Vegan Fair – will take place at Parque Municipal de Loulé from 18–20 September. It will be three days dedicated to sustainability, plant-based food, conscious consumption and wellbeing.

The 2026 edition expects to welcome thousands of visitors from different regions of the country, who will be able to enjoy a diverse and completely free programme in an ecological venue spanning more than 14,000 square metres.

Launched in 2018, FAVA is a project that is part of the activities of Associação Benfazer and is supported by Loulé City Council. Social, environmental and animal wellbeing are at the heart of the event. For this reason, all initiatives are designed to promote care for body and mind, protect the environment and respect animal life.

Over the three days, visitors will have access to more than 100 exhibitors from 20 different sectors – from agriculture and food to crafts, gardening, books and clothing.

There will also be several food stalls and food trucks, where visitors can try different plant-based options, including francesinhas, burgers, pizzas and other hot dishes, as well as pastries, cakes, tarts and ice creams. Alongside the food, there will also be spice teas, smoothies, craft beers and other plant-based drinks. In total, there will be more than 30 food and drink stalls, with the organisers expecting to surpass the 4,125 meals served at last year’s edition.

More than 100 completely free activities

This year’s edition also continues its commitment to a diverse programme, bringing together sport, culture, gastronomy and entertainment for all ages. The programme includes 17 theatre, poetry, live music, dance and magic performances, in collaboration with different partner organisations and local artists.

In addition, personalities connected to veganism will take to the stage for showcookings and talks. Sessions are scheduled with Victoria Ye, a leading influencer in vegan Asian cuisine, the team behind Desafio Vegetariano PT and Inês Lapa, from Nutricionista Explica.

Pilates, yoga, capoeira, dance and Tai Chi classes are also part of the FAVA 2026 programme. For children, there will be activities with Casa da Primeira Infância, traditional games, chess and creative workshops.

“We have heard from tourists who travel to vegan events across Europe and say they have never seen anything like this. It is a very diverse event, with small stages spread throughout the venue and several activities and performances taking place simultaneously,” says Domingos Pereira, the fair’s coordinator.

There will also be a clothing, footwear, accessories and book swap market, aimed at promoting the reuse of second-hand items that are still in excellent condition. There will also be a Repair Café, where visitors can bring broken objects and, with the help of specialised volunteers, learn how to repair them instead of throwing them away.

A sustainable fair, inside and outside the plate

Despite the scale of the event, sustainability remains one of FAVA’s priorities. The organisation therefore focuses on reducing, reusing and recycling in order to minimise its environmental impact.

The fair does not use fuel-powered generators, as is common at events of this scale, and all tableware is compostable or reusable. There are no single-use plastic cups or bottles, and instead of plastic bags, visitors are given bags made from reused fabric.

“As part of our communications, we encourage visitors to bring their own cup to use at the stalls and we provide free water fountains throughout the venue. Our goal is to combat single-use plastic,” says Domingos Pereira.

In addition, all of FAVA’s food offering is 100% plant-based, helping to reduce the event’s environmental footprint. According to a study published in Nature Food, vegan diets result in around 75% lower greenhouse gas emissions and 75% lower land use than diets with high meat consumption.

At last year’s edition, the fair brought together 140 exhibitors and presented 135 activities and performances to the public, in collaboration with around 50 partner organisations. According to the organisation, during the preparation week and throughout the event, the fair involves a team of almost 50 people.

“From staff and volunteers to the electricity, sanitation, cleaning, audiovisual, security and logistics teams, organising this event requires tight resource management and rigorous planning,” adds Domingos Pereira, who concludes that the initiative’s goal “is to demonstrate that it is possible to organise a large-scale event, with the capacity to cater to thousands of visitors, while protecting animals and saving the planet.”

When: 18–20 September 2026
Opening hours:
18 September (Friday): 18:00–23:00
19 September (Saturday): 11:00–23:00
20 September (Sunday): 11:00–20:00

Where: Parque Municipal de Loulé
Admission: Free
Programme: https://fava.pt/en/programa/
Website: https://fava.pt/en/
Instagram: @feirafava