In a press release, the Mayor, Vitor Aleixo, said that “Everything is ready for another edition of the MED festival. In 2025, Cape Verde is the guest country and we could not be happier about everything that also involves the strong local community. It is five days of celebration, where cultures from all over the world meet on and off stage in the Historic Centre of Loulé”.

The opening concert took place on 25 June and featured a free performance by Cape Verdean artist Ceuzany. On the first day of the festival, 26 June, the scheduled shows highlight the “Guest Country”, which this year will be Cape Verde. Ferro Gaita will perform on the Matriz Stage. The Cerca Stage will host the Portuguese band Stereossauro, who will be joined by Ana Lua Caiano and Pedro Jóia. Other international artists will also perform, such as Vieux Farka Touré from Mali and Systema Solar from Colombia. “From Japan (Mituse) to Argentina (El Sonidero Insurgente) on the Chafariz Stage. The Hammam Stage will host A Cantadeira (Portugal). Adam Bem Ezra (Portugal/Israel) and Barrut (France) will perform on the Castelo Stage, and the Flanders Recorder Duo (Belgium) will perform on the MED Classic Stage."

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On the second day, 27 June, “the Matriz Stage will host Cesária Évora Orchestra (Cape Verde), The Congos & The Gladiators (Jamaica) and Balqeis Live (Egypt). A Garota Não (Portugal), Léonie Pernet (France) and Fulu Miziki (Democratic Republic of Congo) will perform on the Cerca Stage. The Chafariz Stage will feature Justin Adams & Mauro Durante (United Kingdom/Italy), Valter Lobo (Portugal) and Sofiane Saidi (Algeria). O Gajo (Portugal) and Cerys Hafana (Wales) will make their debut on the Castelo Stage, Homem em Catarse (Portugal) on the Hammam Stage, and Gil Fesch and Nuno Pinto – Guitar Duo (Portugal) on the MED Classic Stage.

On 28 June, Alain Pérez y La Orquesta (Cuba), Dino D”Santiago & Os Tubarões (Cape Verde) and Shkoon (Syria/Germany) will take to the Matriz Stage. Portuguese singer Milhanas, Sílvia Pérez Cruz and Salvador Sobral will perform on the Cerca Stage, as will Angolan Paulo Flores. The Chafariz Stage will welcome Lá No Xepangara (Mozambique/Guinea-Bissau/Brazil/Portugal), Tarwa N-Tiniri (Morocco) and Queen Omega (Trinidad and Tobago). Cristina Clara (Portugal) and Grèn Sémé (Reunion Island) will take to the Castelo Stage, Filipe Sambado (Portugal) will perform on the Hammam Stage and on the Med Classic Stage, Protus Marimba Quartet (Spain).”

On Open Day, which takes place on the last day of the festival, there will be a concert in honour of Sara Tavares, with free admission. Also, on the Cerca Stage will be the Banda Filarmónica Artistas de Minerva, Shout and Maus Feito, who will bring “special guests”, as revealed in a press release.

The Festival also offers the Arco, Mercado, Café Calcinha and MED Jazz (located in Bicas Velhas), as well as street arts, crafts (100 stalls), exhibitions (located in the Espírito Santo Convent Art Gallery), poetry sessions, Cinema MED (located next to the Art Gallery) and, for the little ones, MED Kids (next to the Mother Church)."

The director of the MED Festival, Carlos Carmo, quoted in the press release, reveals that the organisation has worked "over the last few months to create a programme of excellence. I would highlight, first of all, the very happy meeting between Dino D’Santiago and the iconic Os Tubarões, two generations coming together to bring us the sounds of Cape Verde. Then there is another special concert at MED, which brings together two of the greatest Iberian voices of today: Sílvia Pérez Cruz and Salvador Sobral. It is also important to mention the presence of one of the great names in world music, Vieux Farka Touré, the Malian guitarist, heir to a unique musical legacy. These are some of the proposals in this edition that we believe will surprise visitors."

Information about the line-up and the festival will be available here. Tickets for the 21st edition of the MED Festival can be found here.