The Modernist Weekend 2026: Faro, Tavira and Olhão

The Modernist Weekend returns to the Algarve from 6 to 8 November 2026. Founded in 2022 by Angélique and Christophe De Oliveira of The Modernist Faro, the independent festival celebrates the mid century architecture of Faro, and this year it travels beyond the city for the first time, to Tavira and Olhão. Over three days it offers guided tours, private open houses, a book launch and a tile workshop.

One architectural story, three cities

The organisers present the 2026 edition as a single story told across three places. In Faro, whole neighbourhoods were shaped by one architect, whose very first project, a grain silo in the Tavira area designed as a graduation thesis, now houses a digital art museum. In Olhão, a cubist vernacular town built by generations of fishermen later received buildings by modernist architects, creating a dialogue between two traditions. All proceeds go back into the event and into raising awareness of the region’s modernist heritage.

Programme

• Friday 6 November, Faro: a morning tour of Faro’s modernist architecture, the From Bauhaus to Beach House tour on Faro Island led by Richard Walker, a choice between a tile painting workshop with ceramicist Marisa Murtinha and a guided open house at Casa Gago, then welcome drinks at the GAMA RAMA gallery.
• Saturday 7 November, Tavira area and Faro: a private architectural and digital art visit to Museu Zer0 with limited places, a guided tour and open house on the heritage of architect Manuel Gomes da Costa with Victor Hugo Faustino, an open house and architecture exhibition at the award winning Casa 1923, and free evening drinks at Café Aliança.
• Sunday 8 November, Olhão: the Cubism and Beyond guided tour with Richard Walker, followed by the Boomcubist exhibition at A Fábrica de Olhão.

The weekend also marks the launch of the book Faro Modernism by British artist and writer Richard Walker. The events are aimed at architects, designers, writers, photographers and anyone interested in modernist buildings.

Tickets

Each tour, visit and workshop is booked separately through the festival’s Eventbrite collection. The tile workshop costs 45 EUR, the two evening drinks are free, and places for the Museu Zer0 visit are limited. Programme details and booking links are on the Modernist Weekend website.