Regional Arts Week

For one inspiring week, the heart of Funchal transforms into an open-air stage and gallery as thousands of young artists take over the city.

More than 4,000 students from across Madeira bring the streets, squares, and cultural venues to life with an explosion of creativity — from dance, theatre, and drama to live music performances, including instrumental ensembles and traditional chordophone concerts.

Every corner of the city becomes part of the experience: exhibitions of visual art, mixed media, collage, recycled-material creations, and impressionist-inspired works turn Funchal into a vibrant cultural showcase. Across the week, around 30 live performances fill the programme, building towards a highly competitive and much-anticipated art contest.

And the best part is how effortless it is to experience it: you simply step out into the city centre and wander through the streets, taking it all in as Funchal turns into a living, breathing exhibition of colour, sound, and movement.