In a statement, the municipality reported that the initiative will offer free admission and focus primarily on the significance of convents and monasteries, both within the urban landscape and in cultural dissemination. For the first time, the program has been expanded to include the cities of Évora and Porto, thereby “broadening the perspective on Portuguese conventional heritage and fostering dialogue among different geographies, institutions, and audiences.”
“More than merely spaces for prayer and contemplation, these buildings served as true hubs for territorial organisation, social assistance, spirituality, and cultural influence. Their presence continues to profoundly shape the urban landscape and collective memory to this day, revealing historical layers that engage in dialogue with contemporary uses and new meanings,” the municipality noted.
The opening session of Open Conventos will take place in Lisbon on 28 May at 6pm. It will feature a conference held at the Gabinete de Estudos Olisiponenses, a documentation centre housed within the Beau-Séjour Palace that compiles diverse information about the city, dedicated to the theme “Interconnections and Connections in Religious Heritage: Risks, New Uses, and Synergies.”
On 29 and 30 May, guided tours led by specialists in History, Art History, and Heritage will take place, offering the public in-depth insights into these sites—exploring their history, their memory, and the layers of conventional heritage that remain inscribed in the buildings standing today.
The municipal authority explained that “the program also highlights the importance of partnerships among academic, cultural, ecclesiastical, and municipal entities, making visible the collaborative network that lies at the heart of the project’s identity.”
The organisers of Open Conventos 2026, a group comprising the Lisbon City Council, the Santa Casa da Misericórdia, the NOVA University Lisbon, and other institutions, announced that the event will conclude on 30 May at 7pm with a concert at the Convent of São Pedro de Alcântara, featuring performances of works by Russian pianist Dmitri Shostakovich.
All Open Conventos events require advance registration, except for the closing concert, for which tickets may be purchased on-site starting 1 hour prior to the performance.