Spring/summer 2026 programme

Galeria Municipal do Porto (GMP) unveils its spring and summer programme comprising solo and group exhibitions alongside an ever-expanding public programme and educational initiatives.

Commissions highlighted in new exhibition series
The first exhibition cycle presents two solo exhibitions showcasing new productions: Sea Skin, by Luso-Mozambican multidisciplinary artist Eunice Pais, and Collapse by Silvestre Pestana, a seminal figure in Portuguese contemporary art and a pioneer of visual poetry. This round of projects also sees the launch of Commissions #1, a new initiative dedicated to supporting the production of newly commissioned works and mapping the vitality of the Portuguese art scene. Its inaugural edition brings together Mauro Cerqueira, Joana Escoval, Sara Graça, Catarina Miranda and Mariya Nesvyetaylo, whose practices span distinct formal and conceptual investigations.

From mid-May to mid-October, the outdoor courtyard of Galeria Municipal hosts a new work by Mexican artist Pia Camil, renown for large-scale works developed in collaboration with local communities. Created from second-hand clothing collected with Porto residents, this large-scale textile installation designs a place the public can observe and inhabit.

From July to October, the following exhibition moment includes Physical Culture: Porto edition, the first show in Portugal by Lithuanian artist Augustas Serapinas, developed in collaboration with Museu Nacional Soares dos Reis. Drawing from the Greek conception of gymnasium, Physical Culture transforms the gallery into a hybrid space between a gym and a learning center: training machines employ reproductions of neoclassical sculptures as weights while drawing boards set the stage for practice and theory-based classes. In so doing, the project transforms GMP into a relational forum, reconsidering the potentiality of exhibitions as moments of playful exchange with and between visitors.

Alongside Serapinas project, conceptual Algerian artist Lydia Ourahmane presents For voice, an installation and performance created in collaboration with her sister, the composer and musician Sarah Ourahmane. The work consists of a score based on the architecture and acoustics of GMP’s exhibition hall, performed by visually impaired singers.

Consolidating audiences and expanding public programmes
Audience development remains central to GMP’s programme, which features several new editions of established initiatives. Alongside its exhibitions and special events, GMP renews a strong focus on public engagement through guided tours for schools and general visitors, as well as courses, workshops, conferences and other activities developed in dialogue with participating artists and guest contributors. Special emphasis is placed on younger audiences, encouraging active discovery and participation.

The third edition of Abril Febril, on April 25, takes place at Jardins do Palácio de Cristal. It brings together a series of musical projects that embrace the Carnation Revolution’s imaginary and explore what it might mean today. The programme presents Carme López’s experimental take on Galician pipe and folk music; the reinterpretation of Celtic and Northeastern Portuguese music by emmy Curl; the rhythms of the African diaspora by Fidju Kitxora; and the Romani music culture of La Família Gitana.As a whole the evening sets to explore other possibilities of what is conceived as traditional music.

A new edition of Colectivos Pláka, a study programme focusing on contemporary society and culture, happens from May 6 to 9. This edition features Marco Martins, a filmmaker and theatre director whose work features community-oriented collaboration and engagement. Drawing on work developed by Arena Ensemble company over the last 20 years, Martins explores their community-based methodologies and shares some of its principles and working tools.

 The fourth edition of Fogo Fátuo—an event dedicated to art in motion and a meeting space for different languages, geographies, and traditions—takes place on July 4. In each edition, GMP offers a dynamic programme that encompasses intimate acoustic performances and immersive audiovisual experiences, showcasing the breadth and richness of performative,sound-based and other live artistic practices.

Also in July, from 17 to 19, GMP presents Circuitos’26, the third edition of a city-wide art itinerary with over 55 spaces. The initiative is designed to highlight the people and projects that shape Porto’s artistic fabric, fostering closer connections between audiences and contemporary artistic production in the city.

The monthly Gallery Talks continues throughout the year. These events host leading figures of contemporary thought for an evening of informal dialogue around the relationship between art and society.

Fonoteca Municipal do Porto will also continue its weekly “Rush Hour” programme, a thematic public listening sessions held every Wednesday. Meanwhile, the monthly Active Listening events, invite guests to select a record from the extensive vinyl collection and share it with audiences in an immersive listening experience. The Fonoteca’s activities operate in close dialogue with the Galeria’s programme, strengthening connections between projects, artists and audiences.