Experience April in Cascais 2026
It was 20 minutes past midnight on April 25, 1974, when “Grândola Vila Morena” began playing on Rádio Renascença. Zeca Afonso sang that “the people are the ones who give the orders,” and after 47 years of dictatorship, the regime fell.
It had been another 40 years of persecution and censorship, during which the freedom of the Portuguese people was constantly called into question. Freedom of expression was nothing more than a distant mirage.
Fifty-two years ago, in April 1974, the Carnation Revolution put an end to the dictatorship and oppression to which Portugal had been condemned for many years. The people took to the streets and made their voices heard through a military coup with a clear goal: democracy.
Since the day of the revolution, Portugal has been living in a new political reality—but not only that. The Portuguese live in freedom, with the opportunity to build a better future for themselves and their loved ones. Those born after April 1974 do not know what it is like to live under a dictatorship and the oppression of a regime. That is why we must remember, every year, the importance of April and this pivotal moment in our country’s history, so that Portugal’s dark past remains forever in the past.
This year, as Cascais serves as the European Capital of Democracy, the April 25 celebrations in the municipality offer unique moments that blend tradition with innovation.
Discover the schedule of April 25 celebrations in Cascais.
Discover our programme HERE
