Meet new writers at Sintra’s first free literary festival this November
by 
Babylon Radio
Listen nowA new literary festival offers a reason to spend a November afternoon in Sintra with books, conversation and music. The first Festival Literário Internacional de Sintra, or FLIS, runs from 13 to 22 November 2026, with free entry and the MU.SA museum as its main meeting place.
The municipality’s announcement sets out a programme of 25 author conversations, poetry and concerts. It is a chance for residents around Lisbon to discover writers and take part in local cultural life without buying a festival pass.
Find a writer, then plan your visit
The line-up brings together Portuguese and international authors. Hélia Correia, Ana Paula Tavares, Dulce Maria Cardoso, Valter Hugo Mãe, Gonçalo M. Tavares and José Eduardo Agualusa are among those announced. Pedro Mexia and Raquel Marinho curate the festival.
Comunidade Cultura e Arte’s programme report places Dulce Maria Cardoso on 13 November, Karina Sainz Borgo on 15 November and American novelist Julia May Jonas on 22 November. Those dates give readers a starting point for choosing a day; check the organiser’s programme for the individual session time and venue.
Literature beyond the museum
Poetry will also appear in public spaces and on transport, with sound installations and work by local pupils. The musical programme includes Mário Laginha and the Orquestra Sinfónica Portuguesa, alongside conversations with musicians. This is not only a series of seated talks: the festival is designed to take words into everyday places around the municipality.
For newcomers learning Portuguese, the line-up offers names to explore before attending. “International” does not establish that a session is in English or has interpretation. The council’s announcement does not give session-by-session language arrangements, so check these before choosing a talk.
Use the official cultural agenda as your starting point. The council directs visitors to Festivais Sintrenses for the full programme. Confirm the session’s timing, location and any admission arrangements there before setting out.