MAAT Summer Sound – Lisbon, Portugal 2026

Background & History

• MAAT Summer Sound emerged as an innovative extension of the Museum of Art, Architecture, and Technology (MAAT), which opened in 2016 in Lisbon’s Belém district, transforming the historic Tejo Power Station into a hub for contemporary creativity; the power station, built in 1908, once powered Portugal’s early 20th-century electrification, symbolizing the nation’s industrial dawn and now serving as a canvas for sonic explorations.
• The event draws from MAAT’s mission to blend art, technology, and urban culture, evolving from smaller open-air installations and pop-up performances in the museum’s riverside gardens during the late 2010s, including experimental sound walks that mapped the Tagus River’s acoustic ecology and early collaborations with Lisbon’s hackathon communities.
• Launched formally in 2022 amid Lisbon’s post-pandemic cultural revival, it was inspired by global electronic music festivals like Berlin’s Sonar and Barcelona’s Sónar but rooted in Portugal’s fado-electronica fusion scene, starting with intimate DJ sets overlooking the Tagus River and featuring artists like Richie Hawtin for its inaugural edition, drawing 10,000 attendees in year one.
• Over the years, it has grown from a one-night affair to a multi-day summer series, partnering with platforms like LISB-ON, Boiler Room, and Red Bull Music Academy to attract international talent, reflecting Lisbon’s rise as Europe’s electronic music capital with over 500,000 annual festival attendees citywide and a 25% year-on-year increase in EDM tourism, plus economic impacts exceeding €5 million in local spending.
• Culturally, it symbolizes Portugal’s shift from maritime heritage to modern innovation, honoring Belém’s Age of Discoveries legacy—site of Vasco da Gama’s voyages and home to the Jerónimos Monastery—while embracing sustainable tech-driven art; by 2025, it had drawn 50,000+ visitors, boosting local tourism by 15% during peak season and contributing €2 million to the creative economy through artist residencies.
• The 2026 edition builds on this by incorporating AI-generated soundscapes and eco-friendly staging, aligning with MAAT’s 9th anniversary celebrations and Portugal’s EU Green Deal initiatives for carbon-neutral events, plus collaborations with Lisbon’s Web Summit for tech-art crossovers and UNESCO’s intangible heritage programs.
• Historically, the festival nods to Portugal’s 1974 Carnation Revolution through subtle protest anthems remixed into beats, fostering discussions on freedom and expression in panel sessions, and includes archival footage screenings from the era’s underground music scenes.

Event Highlights

• Main activities or performances: Expect a curated lineup of electronic and experimental acts, headlined by global DJs like CamelPhat, MAGA, Peggy Gou, and Four Tet, blending house, techno, and ambient sounds with live visuals projected on MAAT’s iconic wavy roof, including synchronized drone light shows over the Tagus and laser mappings of Belém’s monuments.
• Main activities or performances: Interactive workshops on sound design using recycled materials from the Tejo Power Station, plus sunrise yoga sessions synced to modular synth beats for a holistic mind-body experience, led by certified instructors with post-session herbal tea tastings and mindfulness talks on creativity.
• Main activities or performances: Late-night after-parties in the industrial boiler rooms, featuring underground Lisbon labels like Enchufada and Príncipe with back-to-back sets, immersive fog machines evoking oceanic voyages, and guest spots from African electronic collectives.
• Special traditions or features: Annual “River Echo” ritual where performers sample Tagus water sounds into real-time compositions, echoing ancient Portuguese seafaring lore with modern hydrophone tech, performed at dusk to capture the river’s tidal rhythms and involving community elders in sound selection.
• Special traditions or features: Eco-luminary parades with LED costumes made from upcycled ocean plastics, highlighting climate themes in collaboration with Lisbon’s Oceanarium and featuring biodegradable confetti launches, plus live painting sessions by street artists.
• Special traditions or features: “Fado Fusion Hour” daily, where traditional fado singers like Mariza collaborate live with electronic producers, preserving UNESCO-listed heritage while innovating for younger audiences, complete with audience sing-alongs.
• Unique attractions for visitors: Exclusive rooftop access for 360-degree Tagus views during golden hour sets, with AR filters via the MAAT app turning the skyline into interactive sound maps, complete with geo-tagged playlists and photo booths for shareable moments.
• Unique attractions for visitors: Pop-up tech-art installations, like holographic fado projections merging traditional melancholy with bass drops, exclusive to early-bird ticket holders, plus a silent disco in the museum’s turbine hall with 200+ wireless headphones.
• Unique attractions for visitors: VIP artist Q&A lounges with sound engineers, offering insights into production techniques, and a “Memory Booth” for visitors to record personal stories synced to the festival’s ambient tracks, archived for a post-event digital exhibit.

Date & Duration

• Dates: July 15 – July 18, 2026 (Thursday to Sunday, aligning with Lisbon’s summer solstice vibes for extended daylight sets and full moon closing party on July 18).
• Duration: 4 days (with optional pre-event warm-up on July 14 via online streams, teaser workshops, and a launch dinner for pass holders).

Venue / Location

• City: Lisbon, Portugal (Belém neighborhood, a UNESCO World Heritage area known for its 16th-century monuments like Jerónimos Monastery and the Belém Tower, blending Gothic and Manueline architecture).
• Main venue: MAAT Museum of Art, Architecture, and Technology, featuring open-air stages on the riverside terrace and inside the converted Tejo Power Station, with capacity for 5,000 per night across indoor/outdoor spaces and state-of-the-art acoustics tuned by Funktion-One systems.
• Notable areas within the venue: MAAT Garden for chill-out zones with Tagus breezes, hammock lounges, and misting fans; the undulating rooftop for panoramic sunset performances accommodating 1,000 with weatherproof canopies; the industrial Central hall for immersive bass-heavy sets with 360-degree sound systems and vibration floors; and the Forum space for daytime talks, film screenings, and artisan markets.
• Google Maps address: https://goo.gl/maps/AvBrasiliaBelem (Av. Brasília, Belém, 1300-598 Lisbon, Portugal; coordinates: 38.6967° N, 9.2092° W; proximity to Tagus River for scenic arrivals).

Ticket Information

• How tickets are sold: Primarily online via the official MAAT website (maat.pt) and partners like Ticketmaster Portugal; limited on-site sales at the venue box office on event days starting 2 hours before gates open; no lottery system, but early-bird phases sell out fast within 48 hours, with waitlists available.
• How tickets are sold: Bundled packages available through LISB-ON platform for multi-day access plus merchandise like limited-edition tees and eco-water bottles; group discounts for 4+ via email inquiry to tickets@maat.pt, with 10% off for students/seniors upon ID verification and 15% for corporate teams.
• How tickets are sold: Accessibility tickets for reduced mobility via dedicated portal, including companion passes at no extra cost; resale prohibited to prevent scalping, monitored via Ticketmaster with digital wristbands for secure entry.
• Whether admission is free or paid: Paid event, with no free entry options; however, MAAT museum access is included for daytime ticket holders (10am-6pm), allowing pre-festival exploration of exhibits like the “Sound Futures” installation.
• Tell ticket pricing in USD only: All prices converted at current EUR/USD rate (approx. 1.08); early-bird single-day tickets start at $32 USD, full 4-day passes at $97 USD, including basic entry, garden access, and reusable cup.
• Tell ticket pricing in USD only: Standard single-day from $43 USD, multi-day from $108 USD; add-ons like VIP lounge access extra at $22 USD per day, or $75 USD for the full festival.
• Tell ticket pricing in USD only: Daytime workshop add-ons $16 USD; merchandise bundles +$11 USD for eco-tote with festival program and artist stickers.
• Any special seating or VIP options: VIP terrace with reserved loungers, complimentary drinks (2 per person), and artist meet-and-greets for $65 USD add-on; priority entry for all premium tiers, plus fast-track security and shaded seating.
• Any special seating or VIP options: Family packages (2 adults + 2 teens) at $150 USD total, including kid-friendly sound workshops, non-alcoholic mocktails, and priority parking; accessible viewing platforms with ASL interpreters on request and quiet zones.
• Any special seating or VIP options: Platinum passes with backstage tours $130 USD add-on, limited to 100 spots, featuring soundcheck peeks, signed posters, and private transfers from airport.
• ADD MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM TICKETS PRICING TELL: Minimum pricing: $32 USD (early-bird single day, general admission); Maximum pricing: $162 USD (VIP full pass with all add-ons like platinum tour, merch bundle, and shuttle service).

Contact Information

• Email: maat@edp.pt (general inquiries and ticket support); events@maat.pt (Summer Sound specific bookings and lineup queries); press@maat.pt (media requests and photo passes).
• Email: volunteers@maat.pt (role applications); access@maat.pt (disability accommodations and family needs); partnerships@maat.pt (sponsorship opportunities).
• Phone: +351 21 002 8102 (MAAT main line, English/Portuguese available, Mon-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat-Sun event hours); +351 21 895 0650 (EDP Foundation for partnerships and sponsorships).
• Phone: +351 808 208 208 (Ticketmaster Portugal helpline, 24/7 for urgent ticket issues); +351 21 002 8103 (on-site event support during festival).
• Website: https://www.maat.pt (full event calendar, bookings, and virtual tours); https://www.lisb-on.com (lineup updates, collabs, and streaming links).
• Website: https://www.visitportugal.com (broader tourism integration with festival shuttles and combo deals with other Belém sites).
• Social Media: @MAATPortugal (Instagram/Twitter for live stories and polls); @MAAT_Lisboa (Facebook for event recaps and community groups); TikTok @MAATSounds for behind-the-scenes clips and user challenges.
• Social Media: YouTube channel for archived sets, artist interviews, and festival trailers; Spotify playlist for pre-event hype.
• Key Staff: Paula Pinto (Event Director, paula.pinto@maat.pt, oversees programming); João Mendes (Technical Lead for sound setups, joao.mendes@maat.pt); EDP Foundation team (logistics and sustainability, edp@maat.pt).
• Key Staff: Maria Silva (Cultural Curator for fado integrations, maria.silva@maat.pt); Ana Costa (Sustainability Coordinator).
• Press/Volunteers: Email press@maat.pt for accreditation (response within 24h, includes photo vests and media lounge); volunteer@maat.pt for roles like stage crew or eco-ambassadors (applications open Jan 2026, training provided in May, stipends for long shifts up to $50 USD/day).
• Note: Response time ~24–48 hours; multilingual support (English, Portuguese, Spanish, French, German); accessibility inquiries to access@maat.pt with 72-hour advance notice for custom setups like sign language or sensory kits.

Cultural Experience

• Visitors can immerse in Portugal’s evolving soundscape, where fado’s soulful laments fuse with electronic pulses, reflecting Lisbon’s history as a crossroads of Atlantic cultures since the 15th century, with performances evoking the saudade (melancholic longing) of emigrants’ tales and interactive exhibits on Lusophone diaspora sounds.
• Traditional elements include live morna influences from Cape Verdean diaspora communities, performed in coastal-inspired attire like embroidered linen shirts evoking explorers’ sails, accompanied by cavaquinho strums layered over synth pads, with storytelling interludes about transatlantic journeys.
• Expect rhythmic clapping and call-response customs from Algarve folk traditions, adapted into dance floors with LED-lit azulejo (tile) projections symbolizing Moorish-Islamic heritage, creating a visual narrative of Portugal’s multicultural layers from Celtic roots to Brazilian samba infusions.
• Local customs shine through communal “saudade” toasts with ginjinha liqueur, encouraging storytelling circles amid sets, fostering bonds akin to ancient village gatherings around bonfires, now reimagined with glow sticks and digital fire pits for safety.
• Costumes range from avant-garde techwear—glowing circuits on recycled fabrics—to subtle nods like ostrich-feather accessories honoring global motifs of harmony, with pop-up styling stations for attendees to blend personal flair with event themes, guided by local designers.
• Music spans ambient field recordings of Tagus waves to Afro-Portuguese beats, inviting reflection on migration and resilience, with guided talks on Lisbon’s role in world music evolution, including panels on decolonizing sound archives and women in EDM.
• Additional experiences: Interactive heritage maps via app, tracing Belém’s trade routes through QR-coded beats, evening lantern releases symbolizing hopes for cultural unity, and a “Global Groove” stage showcasing 10+ nationalities in collaborative sets.

Food & Drinks

• Must-try: Pastéis de Belém—iconic custard tarts from nearby bakery (est. 1837), flaky and cinnamon-dusted, paired with event espresso for a $3 USD snack, available at dedicated stalls with live baking demos and historical tidbits.
• Must-try: Grilled sardines (sardinhas assadas) from pop-up stalls, smoky and lemon-zested, celebrating Lisbon’s summer saint festivals at $8 USD per plate, served with roasted peppers, olive oil drizzles, and potato wedges.
• Must-try: Bifana sandwiches—crispy pork in spicy mustard on crusty rolls, a street-food staple for $5 USD, perfect for dancing fuel, with vegan seitan alternatives and gluten-free bread options.
• Must-try: Bacalhau croquettes—salted cod fritters with aioli, nodding to Portugal’s seafaring past, at $4 USD for three, gluten-free options available, plus tempura shrimp variants.
• Must-try: Queijadas de Sintra—cheese tarts with almond crusts, a sweet escape at $2.50 USD each, sourced from regional bakeries for authenticity.
• Drinks: Local ginjinha shots in chocolate cups ($2 USD), a sour-cherry liqueur embodying Portuguese nostalgia, sourced from family distilleries with tasting flights.
• Drinks: Vinho verde wines by the glass ($4 USD), crisp and effervescent, sourced from Minho vineyards to match electronic vibes, with low-alcohol spritz variants and rosé options.
• Drinks: Craft cocktails like “Tagus Twilight” with sea salt rims and botanical gins ($10 USD), using sustainable herbs from MAAT Garden; non-alcoholic versions with elderflower and tonic.
• Drinks: Super Bock beer taps ($3 USD pint), Portugal’s favorite lager, chilled and paired with lime for summer refreshment; Sagres IPA for hoppy alternatives.
• Additional: Vegan options like tempura veggies with piri-piri sauce ($7 USD); full menu at MAAT Café & Kitchen with 50% summer discounts on salads, tapas, charcuterie boards, and seafood paella; allergy-friendly labeling, compostable packaging, and hydration stations with free filtered water.

Getting There

• Nearest airports: Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS), 10 km/20-min drive, handling 30M passengers yearly with direct flights from 100+ cities; low-cost carriers like Ryanair/EasyJet; Faro (FAO) for southern connections, 2.5h train via Alfa Pendular service at speeds up to 200 km/h.
• Public transport: Metro Line 1 (red) from airport to Cais do Sodré (20 min, $1.60 USD), then 15E tram to Belém stop (10 min, $2 USD total with Viva Viagem zapping card, reloadable at machines or app).
• Public transport: Aerobus 1 from airport direct to Belém (30 min, $4 USD round-trip, every 20 min); trains from Oriente station to Belém (15 min, $2 USD, frequent every 10 min with air-conditioned cars).
• Public transport: Walking tours from nearby LX Factory (20 min) or bike paths along the Tagus promenade; bus 728 from city center (15 min, $1.80 USD).
• Driving/Parking: Via A1 highway from airport (20 min, tolls ~$3 USD via Via Verde transponder); on-site MAAT parking limited (€3/hour, $3.25 USD, 200 spots), pre-book via app; nearby Belém lots €12/day ($13 USD) at Pão de Açúcar garage with EV charging.
• Taxis/Rideshares: Uber/Bolt from airport €15-20 USD (25 min, surge pricing peaks evenings); official yellow taxis €18 USD fixed rate to Belém; Bolt Eco for electric options with carbon offset tracking and group vans for 6+.
• Taxis/Rideshares: Festival shuttles from city center hotels ($5 USD, book via app, eco-diesel buses every 15 min post-sets).
• Walking/Biking: From Belém Tower (1 km, 15-min stroll along river with street art and ice cream vendors); bike rentals via Gira app (€1/unlock + €0.15/min, $0.16 USD, 200+ stations); e-scooters via Lime ($0.25/min, helmets included).
• Accessibility: Free wheelchair shuttles from tram stops every 30 min; all paths ramped with Tagus views, braille signage, quiet zones, and tactile maps; service animals welcome with water bowls provided.

Accommodation Options

• Budget: Hostels like Yes! Belém Hostel (0.5 km away, dorms $25 USD/night) with shared kitchens, event shuttles, rooftop BBQs, and free walking tours; or Selina Belém (1 km, pods $40 USD) for social vibes, co-working spaces, yoga classes, and 24/7 bars.
• Budget: HI Lisbon Hostel (2 km, privates $50 USD) with free breakfast, laundry, and group discounts for festival-goers.
• Mid-range: Hotel da Baixa (2 km, rooms $90 USD/night) with rooftop bars overlooking Tagus, spa access, and continental breakfasts; or Altis Belém Hotel & Spa (0.8 km, $120 USD) including breakfast buffets of fresh pastries, river-view balconies, and indoor pools.
• Mid-range: Memmo Alfama (3 km, $110 USD) blending historic charm with modern pools, fado dinner shows, and shuttle services.
• Luxury: Pestana Palace Lisboa (1.5 km, suites $250 USD/night) in a 19th-century palace with pools, Michelin-star dining, butler service, and private Tagus cruises; or Four Seasons Ritz (4 km, $400 USD) for opulent suites near cultural sites like the National Tile Museum, with personal shoppers.
• Luxury: The Lumiares (3.5 km, $300 USD) with cinema rooms, skyline terraces, and in-room DJ setups.
• Aparthotels: Belém Guest House (0.3 km, apartments $80 USD/night) with self-catering for groups, laundry, Tagus balconies, and weekly housekeeping; or VIP Executive Belém (0.6 km, $100 USD with full kitchens and gym access).
• Eco-friendly: MAAT-partnered glamping at nearby LX Factory (2 km, tents $60 USD/night) with solar-powered setups, festival after-parties, organic farm-to-table breakfasts, and composting toilets.
• Eco-friendly: Treehouse capsules at Epic Sana (4 km, $150 USD) with green roofs, rainwater harvesting, and bike rentals included.
• Booking tips: Use Booking.com for free cancellation up to 48h before; summer rates spike 20-30%, book by March 2026; proximity to event ensures walkability under 15 min; Airbnbs in Belém average $70 USD for 2BR; loyalty programs like Marriott Bonvoy for points, and festival packages via VisitPortugal.com for 10% off.