history
The Grand Festival in honour of Our Lady of Candeias takes place in Mourão, from 24 January to 3 February 2026. It begins with the preparatory novena, every evening at 9pm, with the arrival of the banner accompanied by the Banda Municipal de Mourão. On 31 January, the centenary of the Núcleo dos Combatentes de Mourão is celebrated and there is a bullfighting festival. On 1 February there is a dawn celebration with mortar salvos, a street parade, the inauguration of the handicraft exhibition by Horácio Guerra and a pyromusical show in the Jardim Municipal. The 2nd, Our Lady of Candeias' day, features a solemn mass with the blessing of candles and the grand and centuries-old procession through the streets of the town, ending with a fireworks display. The festival closes on 3 February with the auction of offerings. All musical performances take place at the Pavilhão Gimnodesportivo.
