Praça do Comércio hosts Lisbon's New Year's Eve party every year, free to enter, with concerts and fireworks over the Tagus at midnight. At the end of November the city's Christmas tree is switched on there. In October, the Lisbon Marathon finishes on the square.
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Every year, on the night of 31 December, the square hosts Lisbon's New Year's Eve party, free to enter, with concerts and fireworks over the Tagus at midnight. It is organised by EGEAC, Lisbon City Council's culture company.
Each year's performers and times come out in December, in the programme of the City Council and EGEAC. The night tends to run in the same order, from the square closing in the afternoon to the fireworks.
The stage and the fireworks face the river. To watch the fireworks away from the crowd, there is the Doca da Marinha, by the river to the east of the square, or the far bank at Cacilhas.
For dinner, some restaurants in the arcades have a set menu that night.
Afternoon
Road closures begin in the Baixa and along the river, and Terreiro do Paço metro station closes.
Early evening
The square closes to pedestrians and traffic for the security sweep.
Evening
The entrances open, all with bag searches, and the music starts on the stage.
Midnight
Fireworks over the Tagus.
On New Year's Eve the only way into the square is through controlled entrances, all with searches. Weapons, glass bottles and umbrellas stay outside.
From the Baixa streets that lead down to the square, such as Rua Augusta and Rua do Ouro, and from both sides along the river, Rua do Arsenal and Avenida Infante D. Henrique.
Weapons, knives and other dangerous objects, glass bottles, sparkling wine bottles included, and umbrellas.
The City Council asks people to arrive early and by public transport. Carrying little makes the search quicker.
Anyone who gets lost, children above all, should look for a police officer or go to the PSP police station of the Baixa Pombalina (2.ª Esquadra).
Every year, on a weekend at the end of November, Lisbon switches on the city's main Christmas tree and its Christmas lights on the square, at a free party.
The mayor leads the countdown on stage, and there is live music. Each year's date and performers come out in November.
The lights stay on until 6 January, on the square, on Rua Augusta and in the streets of the Baixa.
From the square, go through the Rua Augusta Arch and up the lit Rua Augusta to Rossio, 11 min on foot. Rossio has a Christmas market from mid-November to just before Christmas, free to enter.
In June, the Festas de Lisboa have brought several free concerts to the square. In October, the Lisbon Marathon finishes here, and during the 2026 World Cup the square was the city's fan zone.
In June, EGEAC runs the Festas de Lisboa, Lisbon's city festival, with street parties (arraiais), neighbourhood parades (marchas populares) and free concerts. In several years the opening or the closing concert was on the square. Each year's programme says where the concerts are.
The marchas do not come through here. They parade down Avenida da Liberdade on the night of 12 June.
The Lisbon Marathon starts in Carcavelos and runs along the sea and the river to the finish on Praça do Comércio. The half marathon of the same weekend, which starts on the Vasco da Gama Bridge, also finishes on the square.
During the 2026 World Cup, the square hosted the Lisboa Football Arena, the city's fan zone, with a giant screen and free entry. On one Portugal match day, the metro closed its exits to the square half an hour before kick-off.
On the nights of big events the square closes hours ahead for searches, and you can only get in through controlled entrances. The metro closes Terreiro do Paço station or its exits to the square, and roads in the Baixa close to traffic.
On New Year's Eve, Terreiro do Paço station closes in the afternoon. The nearest stations to arrive and leave by are Baixa-Chiado and Cais do Sodré, the ones the Metro names as alternatives.
Carris, CP and Transtejo run extra services that night and announce the times in December. The City Council asks people to arrive early and by public transport.
Ferries from Barreiro arrive at the river terminal beside the square. To sleep close by and not depend on transport that night, there are hotels a few minutes on foot.
Yes. The New Year's Eve party on Praça do Comércio is free to enter, with no ticket. You get in through controlled entrances, all with searches, which open in the evening after the square has closed for the security sweep. Each year's performers and times come out in December, in the programme of Lisbon City Council and EGEAC.
At midnight, over the Tagus, in front of Praça do Comércio. The music on the stage starts hours earlier, in the evening. To watch the fireworks without entering the square, there is the Doca da Marinha, by the river to the east, and the far bank at Cacilhas.
The police search everyone at the entrances and do not let in weapons, knives or other dangerous objects, glass bottles, sparkling wine bottles included, or umbrellas. Bring little, so the search is quick, and arrive early, as the City Council asks.
On a weekend at the end of November, at a party on Praça do Comércio where the city's main Christmas tree is lit, with live music and free entry. Each year's date comes out in November. The lights stay on until 6 January.
In Parque Eduardo VII, at the top of Avenida da Liberdade, not on Praça do Comércio. On Praça do Comércio, Christmas means the city's main tree and the party that switches on the lights, on a weekend at the end of November.
Only in part. The Festas de Lisboa, in June, spread across the city, and in several years they had a free concert on the square, the opening or the closing one. The marchas populares parade down Avenida da Liberdade on the night of 12 June.
On Praça do Comércio. The marathon, in October, starts in Carcavelos and runs along the sea and the Tagus to the square. The half marathon of the same weekend starts on the Vasco da Gama Bridge and also finishes here.