Hello there! Here’s the latest from our corner of Lisboa.
🔥 Top 5 news | | Santa Apolónia Closure Alert Santa Apolónia Metro Station will close for 14 months starting in November 2026 due to drainage tunnel construction. Alternative bus services will be implemented to manage passenger flow. |
| Cultura no Chiado Starts Soon From 12 to 18 October, Cultura no Chiado invites you to explore one of Lisbon's most iconic neighborhoods through a week of cultural activities, historical visits, and workshops. |
| FLIFA Book Fair: Oct 23-25 The FLIFA Book Fair returns to Mercado de Arroios from October 23 to 25, featuring over 120 publishers and exciting activities. Enjoy theater, discussions, and workshops for all ages. |
| Amadora BD Festival Highlights The Amadora BD 2026 festival runs from 15 to 25 October, featuring 14 exhibitions and over 20 international artists. Highlights include tributes to iconic characters and a significant increase in awards for Portuguese comic works. |
| Higher Deposit Rates Coming? Álvaro Santos Pereira, Governor of the Bank of Portugal, emphasizes the need for banks to increase deposit interest rates to stimulate savings and improve purchasing power. He indicates that changes are expected soon. |
|
🏙️ City & Daily Life | | 10.8 Million Minutes Lost This summer, European airports experienced 10.8 million minutes of delays, costing airlines around €1 billion. The director of Airlines for Europe highlighted ongoing issues with airspace and capacity as major contributors. |
| Lycée Closure for Security Reasons The Charles Lepierre French Lycée in Lisboa is closed on Thursday 8 October due to security concerns related to planned protests by students. The decision was made to ensure safety amid rising tensions in France. |
| El Niño Intensifies The World Meteorological Organization warns that the current El Niño could be one of the strongest on record, impacting global temperatures and precipitation patterns significantly. |
| Green Space Revamp at Cordoaria The green spaces near Cordoaria Nacional are undergoing revitalization, enhancing the area with new plantings. This project aims to harmonize the landscape with the architectural heritage of the building. |
| Housing Council Changes The Lisbon City Council approved changes to the Municipal Housing Council, allowing resident associations back into the fold. This decision is seen as a political setback for Mayor Carlos Moedas. |
| Toll Proposal for Marginal Road Cascais' mayor suggests tolls on the Marginal road to fund infrastructure improvements. Local residents would be exempt from these charges. |
| White Paper on Local Accommodation A new White Paper on Local Accommodation in Portugal will be coordinated by former Economy Minister Manuel Caldeira Cabral and aims for publication by May 2027. Contributions are being accepted until the end of 2026. |
| Hottest September Since 1931 September 2026 was recorded as the hottest month in Portugal since 1931, with temperatures significantly above normal. The month also saw below-average rainfall, marking it as one of the driest Septembers in recent years. |
|
💼 Money, Work & Economy | | Ventura's Talk on Europe André Ventura, leader of the Chega party, will speak to business leaders on October 22 at the Lisboa Sheraton & Spa hotel. His address will focus on the political changes in Europe and Portugal. |
| Workplace Stress Costs €13.3 Billion A new report reveals that workplace stress and psychological health issues cost Portuguese companies €13.3 billion annually in lost productivity. This figure has quadrupled in four years, highlighting the urgent need for mental health initiatives in the workplace. |
| 2027 Budget Proposal Insights The Portuguese government is set to unveil the 2027 budget, featuring a significant reduction in IRS. This proposal, which aims to ease financial burdens, is backed by the ruling party's abstention in Parliament. |
|
🎭 Culture, Events & Traditions | | 'Mil Vezes Revista' Premiere 'Mil Vezes Revista', a new show by Filipe La Féria, premieres on 8 October at Teatro Politeama. The production features stunning set designs by Joana Vasconcelos and runs until the end of December. |
|
🍽️ Food, Leisure & Sports | | Camila Rebelo Signs with Benfica Camila Rebelo, a prominent Portuguese swimmer, has joined Benfica's swimming team, aiming for the 2028 Olympics. The 23-year-old vice-champion in the 200m backstroke expressed her excitement about the new opportunity. |
|
🧠 Health, Science & Education | | Action Needed for Medicines The Portuguese association for generic and biosimilar medicines urges the government to take immediate action to prevent shortages of essential drugs. They propose a minimum 5% price increase for off-patent medicines in 2027. |
| €4,000 Scholarship Launch Universidade Nova SBE introduces a new €4,000 annual scholarship for economically disadvantaged students, stemming from a prestigious award given to former President Cavaco Silva 30 years ago. |
|
🌱 Environment & Energy | | Future of Water Insights The 10th Caminho da Água event on October 1 focused on the future of water management, emphasizing innovation and sustainability. Key speakers discussed the importance of collaboration and learning from failures to address water challenges. |
| Wild Boar Management Proposal Quercus advocates for a structured plan to manage wild boar populations in urban areas, criticizing the government's pilot project focused on culling. They emphasize the need for long-term solutions addressing the root causes of the issue. |
| Cascais Urbanization Controversy The Mayor of Cascais announced plans to seek financial accountability from those hindering urban development, sparking backlash from environmentalists who deem the threat undemocratic. |
| Biodiversity Report Insights A new WWF report reveals that 73% of global wildlife populations are declining, but highlights successful recovery cases. The report emphasizes the need for systemic changes to combat biodiversity loss. |
| Adopt a Small Garden in Arroios Arroios has launched a new initiative allowing residents to adopt small green spaces. This program aims to foster community involvement in urban gardening and enhance local green areas. |
|
🏛️ Politics, Law & Society | | Taiwan's National Day Insights On the occasion of Taiwan's National Day, Grace Ya-kuang Chang emphasized the strengthening ties between Taiwan and the U.S. under President Trump, despite challenges from China. |
| Rosa Sousa's UGT Candidacy Rosa Sousa has been nominated as the candidate for UGT president by the social-democratic faction, following a failed consensus on Francisco Pimentel. The election will take place at the UGT Congress on Friday 9 October. |
| New Phase in Migration Policy Portugal's Minister of the Presidency announced the completion of the first phase of migration policy changes, focusing on integration and combating illegal immigration. The new president of AIMA, César Teixeira, will lead these efforts. |
| Humanoid Robots Unveiled Humanoid robots were introduced in Lisboa on 6 October, showcasing their potential to assist in various tasks. The technology aims to enhance productivity without replacing human jobs, emphasizing the need for ethical integration. |
| EGEAC Workers Protest on Oct 22 EGEAC workers will protest on 22 October, demanding salary negotiations and a 15% pay increase. The union claims the administration has failed to respond to ongoing issues affecting workers. |
|
Hope today’s news made life here just a bit easier.
|