FEBRUARY 23, 2026

🌎 IN THIS ISSUE

If you were here this week...

You'd smell chocolate in the air!

The Volta ao Algarve has wrapped up another thrilling edition, and now the region shifts gears to something equally sweet: the XVI Feira do Chocolate opens in Loulé this Friday, transforming the historic Cerca do Convento into a chocolate lover's paradise.

Spring is quietly announcing itself, almond trees are in full bloom across the Barrocal, and the days are noticeably longer. It's that magical in-between moment when the Algarve feels like it's waking up from winter.

Weather? Mild and pleasant. Expect 15-17°C during the day, perfect for exploring markets, sampling treats, and discovering new corners.

🎯 TOP 3 EVENTS OF THE WEEK

1. XVI Feira do Chocolate

Where: Cerca do Convento Espírito Santo, Loulé
When: February 27 – March 8

Why it's worth it: The 16th edition of the Algarve's sweetest festival! Artisan chocolatiers from across Portugal gather in the beautiful convent gardens to showcase their creations. From traditional bombons to innovative chocolate-and-carob combinations.

Beyond the chocolate stalls, expect live music, cooking demonstrations, activities for kids, and plenty of chances to sample before you buy.

💡 My take: Go on Friday for the opening day buzz, or Sunday morning for a more relaxed browse with fewer crowds.

👉 More Info

2. 1ª Festa da Chouriça

Where: Largo da Igreja de São João da Venda, Almancil
When: Sunday, March 1

Why it's worth it: A brand-new festival celebrating one of Portugal's most beloved ingredients: the humble chouriça! This first edition promises traditional charcoal-grilled sausages, local wines, and music from Tokisom.

Think of it as a proper village festa, the kind where locals gather, kids run around, and the smell of grilled meat fills the square.

💡 Perfect for: Foodies who want an authentic local experience beyond the tourist trail.

👉 More Info

3. Festival Entrelaçados: Arakê

Where: Centro Cultural de Lagos – Auditório Duval Pestana
When: Wednesday, February 25

Why it's worth it: Part of the Entrelaçados festival, Arakê brings a fusion of Brazilian rhythms and Portuguese soul to Lagos. Their sound weaves together MPB (Música Popular Brasileira) with contemporary arrangements.

💡 My take: The intimate auditorium setting makes this perfect for music lovers seeking something beyond mainstream.

👉 More Info

🗓️ WEEKEND GUIDE (Friday–Sunday)

Friday 27

FESTIVALS & FAIRS

• XVI Feira do Chocolate OPENS — Loulé, Cerca do Convento, 10:00-20:00 (FREE) — Opening day of the Algarve's sweetest festival, with artisan chocolatiers, live music, and tastings

MUSIC & PERFORMANCE

• Concerto Ecos de Paris — Albufeira, Auditório Municipal, 21:00 — An evening of French chanson classics
• Ei Toire Linde! — Faro, Teatro das Figuras, 21:30 (€10) — Contemporary dance performance.

Saturday 28

FESTIVALS & MARKETS

• Feira do Chocolate — Loulé, 10:00-20:00 (FREE) — Peak weekend vibes at the chocolate festival
• Mercado de Loulé — Loulé center, 07:00-14:00 — The famous Saturday market, combine with the chocolate fair!
• Albufeira European City of Sport — Opening Gala — Pavilhão Desportivo de Albufeira, 17:00 — Grand opening of the year-long sports celebration

CLASSICAL & MUSIC

• António Rosado & Orquestra Sinfónica da ESART — Portimão, TEMPO, 19:00 (€15-20) — Part of the X International Piano Festival of the Algarve. Tickets

DANCE

• Ei Toire Linde! — Faro, Teatro das Figuras, 21:30 (€10) — Second night of this contemporary dance show

Sunday 1 March

FOOD FESTIVALS

• 1ª Festa da Chouriça — Almancil, Largo da Igreja de São João da Venda, from 15:00 (FREE) — Brand new festival! Traditional grilled sausages, local wines, music by Tokisom
• Feira do Chocolate — Loulé, 10:00-20:00 (FREE) — Sunday is typically the most family-friendly day

MUSIC

• Jazz at Club Farense — Faro, Club Farense, 18:00 — Regular Sunday jazz session, tickets at the door

OUTDOOR

• Almond Blossom Season — Serra do Caldeirão — The hills are white and pink with almond blossoms. Perfect for a drive through the interior villages.

💎 HIDDEN GEM OF THE WEEK

Caldas de Monchique — The Secret Spa Village

Tucked away in a forested valley below Monchique, there's a thermal spa village that feels frozen in time. Caldas de Monchique has been attracting visitors since Roman times, drawn by its naturally warm, mineral-rich waters.

Today, the small cluster of white buildings houses a boutique spa hotel, a couple of cafés serving medronho (the local firewater), and walking trails through eucalyptus and cork oak forests. It's peaceful to the point of eerie—especially on a weekday.

📍 Caldas de Monchique (15 mins from Monchique town)
🚗 45 mins from Portimão
💡 What to do: Walk the woodland trails, try the thermal waters, or just sit with a bica and absorb the tranquility.

📖 A CULTURAL BITE

The Algarve's Sweet Secrets

When the Moors ruled the Algarve (711-1249 AD), they brought more than irrigation systems and whitewashed villages, they brought a passion for almonds, figs, and intricate sweets.

This heritage lives on in traditional Algarvian confections: the Dom Rodrigo (egg threads wrapped in foil), Morgado (almond and fig cakes shaped like fish or birds), and the famous Marzipan Fruits that look almost too beautiful to eat.

Interestingly, many of these recipes come from convents. The nuns perfected them over centuries, using egg yolks left over from wine clarification (whites were used to fine wine).

At this week's Chocolate Fair, you'll see modern chocolatiers blending these traditions with chocolate, creating Dom Rodrigo with cocoa, or almond pralines with local flor de sal.

✨ PREMIUM PICK OF THE WEEK

Pastel de Nata – Cooking Classes

When the Algarve light goes a little softer (or the wind decides to show up), this is the perfect cosy plan in Lagos. You spend two hours learning how to make pastéis de nata from scratch, right in town.

You’ll be guided through the whole process: mixing the creamy custard, working the puff pastry, putting it all together, and baking them until they’re golden. Best bit? You get to eat them freshly baked at the end, and they’ll email you a PDF recipe so you can recreate the magic at home.

💡 Why I recommend it: It’s hands-on, small-group (max 10), and genuinely satisfying, the kind of rainy-day Algarve treat that still feels very special.

👉 Book here

📢 SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK

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