Super Bock Super Rock – Portugal 2026

Background & History

Super Bock Super Rock (SBSR), Portugal’s premier and longest-running music festival, was founded in 1995 by Música no Coração, a leading live entertainment promoter, in partnership with the Super Bock Group, whose eponymous beer brand (born 1927) anchors the event’s identity. Launched at Lisbon’s Gare Marítima de Alcântara with 12,000 attendees, the inaugural edition featured seminal acts like The Jesus and Mary Chain and The Young Gods, capitalizing on Portugal’s post-1994 Expo ’98 cultural renaissance. Initially a two-day urban rock fest, it expanded to three days by 1996 at Passeio Marítimo de Algés, blending indie, punk, and electronic vibes to reflect Lisbon’s burgeoning creative scene. By 1999, SBSR became a 10-day, multi-city spectacle across Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra, and even Vigo, Spain, showcasing Portugal’s EU-era openness and musical diversity.

The festival’s evolution saw bold experiments: 2002–2003 editions toured Évora and Madrid, while 2004 returned to Lisbon’s Parque Tejo for an open-air format emphasizing eco-conscious staging. In 2010, SBSR relocated to Herdade do Cabeço da Flauta in Meco, Sesimbra—a 50-hectare coastal estate 30 km south of Lisbon—introducing camping, beachfront access, and a weekend format that drew 45,000+ annually, evoking Portugal’s Age of Discoveries through its maritime setting. A 2016–2018 urban pivot to Parque das Nações prioritized accessibility, but Meco’s 2019 return cemented its “O Meco é para sempre” (Meco is forever) ethos, despite a 2020 COVID cancellation. The 2024 edition (July 18–20) featured Måneskin, Royal Blood, and Peggy Gou, reinforcing SBSR’s genre-spanning legacy—rock, hip-hop, electronic, and Portuguese fado-rock hybrids.

For 2026, the 32nd edition (post-2025 promoter transition) anticipates 60,000 attendees, injecting €6–8 million into Sesimbra’s economy via tourism, hospitality, and local vendors. Sustainability drives the vision: 2023’s zero-waste zones cut plastic use by 60%, and 2026 will expand solar-powered stages and beach cleanup initiatives, earning accolades like the 2024 AGF Greener Festival Award. Culturally, SBSR bridges Portugal’s 15th-century navigational heritage with modern multiculturalism, spotlighting Afro-Portuguese artists and Lisbon’s Carnation Revolution spirit. With 80+ acts, 1,500+ jobs created, and global partnerships (e.g., Primavera Sound), it remains a beacon of youth culture, coastal escape, and sonic innovation.

Event Highlights

• Main activities or performances: Over 80 performances across six stages, including the Super Bock Stage (40,000-capacity for headliners like past acts Arctic Monkeys, Kendrick Lamar), Palco EDP (emerging indie acts), and Somersby Stage (electronic DJs); 2026 projections include Portuguese stars like Dino D’Santiago blending kizomba with electronica, global icons like Tame Impala, and hip-hop acts like Stormzy; acoustic “Sunrise Sessions” at the Beach Stage (3,000-capacity) feature fado-jazz fusions, while nightly after-parties (until 06:00) host techno sets by artists like Amelie Lens.
• Special traditions or features: The “Sunset Ritual” on the main stage merges local fado with rock anthems under Meco’s pink skies, a tradition since 2010; the “Super Bock Awards” honor breakout artists via fan votes, with past winners like Idles gaining global traction; eco-village workshops craft upcycled art from ocean plastics, supporting 2024’s 2-ton beach cleanup; the “Meco Forever” parade, a Saturday dusk procession with stilt-walkers and drummers, celebrates Sesimbra’s fishing heritage.
• Unique attractions for visitors: Beachfront camping with 10,000 pitches and ocean views; AR-guided tours of Meco’s UNESCO Geopark dunes and Roman fishing ports; family zones with kid-friendly DJ workshops and sandcastle contests; pop-up markets for Algarve ceramics and Super Bock merch; surf lessons at Praia do Meco; and a “Chill Zone” with yoga, meditation, and acoustic buskers, creating a holistic festival escape.

Date & Duration

• Dates: July 17 – July 19, 2026
• Duration: 3 days (Friday–Sunday, gates 14:00–06:00 daily; pre-festival beach party July 16, 18:00–23:00, free with pass; recovery brunch July 20, 10:00–14:00; select DJ sets extend to 07:00)

Venue / Location

Herdade do Cabeço da Flauta, a 50-hectare estate in Meco, Sesimbra (30 km south of Lisbon), transforms into a coastal music haven amid pine forests, sand dunes, and Atlantic waves. Hosting 60,000+ attendees, key areas include the Super Bock Stage (main arena, 40,000 capacity), Palco EDP (intimate, 5,000), Somersby Stage (electronic, 10,000), and Beach Stage (sunrise sets). Camping zones span 20 hectares with eco-toilets, solar showers, and misting stations to counter July’s 30°C/86°F heat. Accessibility features ramps, tactile paths, and shuttles across the flat 2 km² site. Meco’s UNESCO Geopark status adds geological hikes to megalithic stones, while nearby Lagoa de Albufeira and Praia do Meco offer post-festival swims. Rooted in Sesimbra’s 12th-century fishing and Templar history, the venue’s non-urban serenity amplifies SBSR’s escapist, bohemian vibe.

• Google Maps Address: Herdade do Cabeço da Flauta, 2970-689 Meco, Sesimbra, Portugal (https://maps.google.com/?q=Herdade+do+Cabe%C3%A7o+da+Flauta,+2970-689+Meco,+Sesimbra,+Portugal)

Ticket Information

• How tickets are sold: Online at https://superbocksuperrock.pt (QR e-tickets, 15% early-bird discounts until March 2026); limited on-site sales at Meco gates (July 17–19, 12:00–22:00, cash/card/Apple Pay); group packages (10+) via info@musicanocoracao.pt; VIP lotteries for 200 backstage passes via @sbsr Instagram; accessible tickets through accessibility@musicanocoracao.pt.
• Whether admission is free or paid: Paid for core access (stages, camping add-on); free pre-party (July 16, capacity 5,000) and peripheral beach markets; under-6s free with adult.
• Ticket pricing in USD only: 3-Day Pass (18+): $81.00–$129.60 USD (€75–€120). Single-Day: $37.80–$54.00 USD (€35–€50). Camping Add-On: $27.00–$43.20 USD (€25–€40). VIP Pass (lounges, fast-track): $108.00–$162.00 USD (€100–€150). Youth (6–17): $37.80 USD (€35). Family (2 adults + 2–3 kids): $162.00–$216.00 USD (€150–€200). Accessible Pass: 1+1 free ($81.00 USD base). Minimum pricing: $0 USD (under-6/free events). Maximum pricing: $216.00 USD (family VIP with camping).
• Any special seating or VIP options: VIP tiers ($37.80–$64.80 USD add-on) offer fast-track entry, reserved stage viewing, private bars with craft Super Bock brews, artist meet-and-greets, and glamping pods; 25% discounts for students, seniors (65+), and Sesimbra residents (ID required); accessible 1+1 free for disabilities; eco-passes (train/bus proof) rebate $6.50 USD; corporate suites for 15+ at $1,080 USD with catering.

Contact Information

• Email: info@superbocksuperrock.pt (general, bookings); bilhetes@musicanocoracao.pt (tickets, refunds); press@musicanocoracao.pt (media, influencer collabs); accessibility@musicanocoracao.pt (special needs); volunteers@sbsr.pt (volunteer inquiries).
• Phone: +351 213 243 000 (Música no Coração, English/Portuguese/Spanish, 09:00–21:00); +351 212 977 000 (Sesimbra Tourism Office, visitor support); +351 213 243 999 (emergency line).
• Website: https://superbocksuperrock.pt (lineup, tickets, 360° venue tours); https://www.musicanocoracao.pt (organizer details); https://www.visitportugal.com/en/content/super-bock-super-rock (tourism guides).
• Social Media: @sbsr (Instagram/Facebook for artist drops, live reels); @SuperBockSuperRock (X for real-time crowd/parking updates); YouTube (@MusicaNoCoracao) for 2024 recaps; TikTok (@sbsr.pt) for youth content.
• Key Staff: Sílvia Braga (Head of Booking, curates lineup); João Carvalho (Operations Director, sustainability initiatives); Ana Silva (Community Manager, local partnerships); Miguel Santos (Production Lead, stage logistics).
• Press/Volunteers: Press via press@musicanocoracao.pt (accredited badges, embargoed interviews, drone footage); 1,000+ volunteer roles (ticketing, eco-monitoring, guiding) via volunteers@sbsr.pt, €60/day stipends for multilinguals, apply February 2026.
• Note: 24–36-hour email responses; live chat via festival app (iOS/Android); accessibility aids include braille programs, sign language interpreters, audio-described stages; lost-and-found at main gate; multilingual support in six languages.

Cultural Experience

Super Bock Super Rock channels Meco’s maritime soul—rooted in Phoenician trade, 12th-century Templar forts, and Sesimbra’s fishing legacy—into a vibrant celebration of Portugal’s globalized identity, blending rock rebellion with coastal bohemia. Set against Atlantic dunes, it evokes the Age of Discoveries through music and communal rituals.

The “Sunset Ritual” tradition merges fado’s melancholic saudade with indie anthems, as locals in fisherman’s caps share grilled sardines by bonfires, recounting tales of 16th-century navigators like Fernão Mendes Pinto. Nightly “Meco Sessions” spark impromptu jam circles, where attendees in tie-dye and cork necklaces dance vira alongside Brazilian samba, reflecting Portugal’s colonial ties to Africa and South America.

Costumes amplify the vibe: performers in surf-punk leather mix with locals in azulejo-inspired shawls, while eco-village workshops revive Alentejo cork-weaving and tile-painting, tying to Lisbon’s 18th-century artisanal guilds. The “Revolution Stage” hosts spoken-word sessions on the 1974 Carnation Revolution, reframing its protest songs through modern rap, fostering dialogue on freedom.

Family zones blend capoeira rodas with beach puppetry, honoring Afro-Portuguese roots, while communal paella feasts under dune lanterns feature Alentejo cante choirs singing of rural resilience. Accessibility shines with braille maps, sign-language stages, and tactile art exhibits, ensuring all join Meco’s inclusive, wave-crashing utopia of sound, heritage, and sustainability.

Food & Drinks

• Must-try specialties: Meco-caught grilled sardines with piri-piri ($8.65 USD); vegan cataplana with seaweed and chickpeas ($12.95 USD); Super Bock-battered cod fritters ($7.50 USD); 2026 exclusives like fado-inspired sushi rolls with sardine tempura ($10.80 USD).
• Savory-sweet pairings: Bifana pork sliders with Algarve fig jam ($6.50 USD); live demos of bacalhau à brás with caramelized orange ($9.75 USD); vegan avocado toast with cocoa nibs ($5.40 USD); gluten-free pastéis de nata with lavender custard ($4.30 USD).
• Signature drinks: Super Bock draft pints ($4.30 USD) and craft lagers ($5.40 USD); ginjinha shots in edible chocolate cups ($2.15 USD); non-alcoholic sea-salted watermelon spritz ($3.25 USD); Douro wine pairings with indie sets ($6.50 USD/glass).
• Baked goods and more: Broa cornbread with chorizo ($3.25 USD); vegan cork-oak nut brownies ($2.15 USD); kid-friendly mini-sardine kebabs ($1.08 USD); 30+ zero-waste stalls with local Alentejo olives and cheeses.

Getting There

• Nearest airports: Lisbon Humberto Delgado (LIS, 30 km, 30-min drive, €25–30 USD taxi); Cascais Aerodrome (CAT, 25 km, 25 min, private transfers); Faro (FAO, 220 km, 2-hour train).
• Public transport: Fertagus trains from Lisbon Oriente to Coina (€3.25 USD, 40 min), then TST bus 564 to Meco (€2.15 USD, 15 min); Rede Expressos coaches from Lisbon Sete Rios (€8.65 USD, 1 hour) to Sesimbra transfer; festival shuttles from LIS (€12.95 USD round-trip, book via superbocksuperrock.pt).
• By car: A2 south from Lisbon (Exit 3, 30 km, €5 USD tolls); A33 to Meco; 2,500 parking spots at Cabeço da Flauta (€12.95 USD/day, arrive by 12:00 for 60k crowds); 15 EV chargers with $6.50 USD ticket rebates; Waze/Google Maps for dune traffic.
• Other options: Uber/Bolt from Lisbon (€20–35 USD); Viator day tours (€43.20 USD with entry); e-bike rentals in Sesimbra (€10.80 USD/day); coastal hikes from Costa da Caparica (6 km, 1.5 hours); bike tours via Lisboa Possível (€32.40 USD).

Accommodation Options

• Luxury stays: Vila Galé Ericeira ($194–$378 USD/night, 40 km north), 5-star surf resort with infinity pools, spa, and SBSR shuttles; Martinhal Sagres ($216–$486 USD, 150 km south), clifftop villas with gourmet dining and kids’ clubs.
• Mid-range hotels and guesthouses: Hotel do Mar ($108–$216 USD, Sesimbra, 5 km), sea-view suites with rooftop cocktails; Casa Palmela ($97–$237 USD, 10 km), 17th-century manor with vineyard tours and festival packages; SANA Sesimbra ($119–$205 USD, 5 km), modern with beach access.
• Budget and family options: Meco Camping (festival add-on, $27.00 USD, 10,000 pitches); Sesimbra Hostel ($32–$75 USD, 5 km), dorms with surf lessons; Costa da Caparica apartments ($65–$119 USD, 10 km) with family kitchens; glamping pods on-site ($54–$97 USD).
• Additional tips: Airbnb beach cottages ($76–$194 USD) with BBQs and ocean views; book 10 months early via Booking.com for 20% festival discounts; pet-friendly villas via Vrbo; campervan sites (€27–$65 USD) with EV hookups via Park4Night; rural quintas save 30% with free shuttles.