Portugal Day

Portugal Day History

Portugal Day celebrates the death of Portugal’s national literary icon, Luís de Camões. De Camões is considered to be the greatest poet and writer in Portugal and of the Portuguese language. He has been compared to William Shakespeare in his mastery of the language while his literary masterpiece, Os Lusiadas (The Lusiads), has become a famed Portuguese poem and an icon of Portuguese literature.

Portugal Day is celebrated on 10 June. The day marks the passing of Luís de Camões in 1580. Since 1641, Portugal Day has been celebrated annually to commemorate the life and works of Portugal’s literary hero.

Top 10 Facts for 2026 Portugal Day in the EU

• The official name of the holiday is Dia de Portugal, de Camões e das Comunidades Portuguesas, which reflects its three core pillars: the nation of Portugal, the poet Luís de Camões, and the millions of Portuguese citizens and descendants living in the global diaspora.
• For the upcoming 2026 observance, the President of the Republic has selected Terceira Island in the Azores and the country of Luxembourg to host the official state commemorations.
• The selection of Terceira Island for the 2026 festivities serves to honor the 50th anniversary of the regional autonomy of the Azores and Madeira, highlighting their constitutional importance within the nation.
• Portugal Day commemorates the death of Luís de Camões on June 10, 1580, as his exact birth date remains unknown, though he is revered as a national icon similar to William Shakespeare in the English-speaking world.
• Legend states that during a shipwreck at the mouth of the Mekong River, the poet saved his manuscript of the epic work Os Lusíadas by swimming with one arm while holding the parchment above the water with the other.
• While the holiday was once celebrated under the Estado Novo regime as the Dia da Raça to promote nationalism, it was transformed after the 1974 Carnation Revolution into a more inclusive celebration of democracy and international Portuguese communities.
• The influence of the masterpiece Os Lusíadas is so significant that the Portuguese language itself is frequently referred to as the "language of Camões" by speakers around the world.
• In the United States, one of the largest celebrations takes place in the Ironbound district of Newark, New Jersey, featuring a multi-day festival and a traditional street party known as an arraial.
• Official ceremonies often feature military parades and the bestowing of honorary orders upon distinguished citizens, including students who recite excerpts from 16th-century classical poetry.
• Culinary traditions are a central part of the festivities, with many families and street vendors preparing sardinhas assadas and the classic salt cod dish bacalhau to mark the occasion.

In the News and Trending in the EU for Portugal Day

Portugal Day Top Events and Things to Do

• Read the Os Lusiadas, an epic poem written by Luís de Camões. It is considered one of the most important works in Portuguese literature and an example of Luís de Camões finest writing. The poem depicts Portugal’s world explorations and its golden era in the 16th century.
• Spread awareness on social media by using the hashtags #PortugalDay, #DeCamoes, #OsLusiadas and #DiadePortugal.
• Watch a movie about Luís de Camões and Portugal. Some of our favourites are Luís Vaz de Camões (2007) and Camões (1946).
• Visit the statue of Luís de Camões in the town of Constância. It is considered a possible birthplace for the late poet but it is also a popular tourist attraction and place to celebrate Portugal Day.
• Read a book about Portugal’s long history of exploration, the topic behind the Os Lusiadas poem. Some of our favourites are: Portugal: A Companion History, The History of Portugal, and The Portuguese Empire 1415-1808: A World on the Move.