Forum Jazz Fest

Conimbriga Forum Jazz Fest: A New Agora for European Heritage

The Conimbriga Forum Jazz Fest is a visionary project that intertwines archaeological preservation with contemporary artistic innovation. By transforming the Conimbriga National Museum—one of Europe's most significant Roman sites—into a vibrant, sensory stage, the festival fosters a profound dialogue between ancient history and the avant-garde.

The Concept: Reclaiming the "Forum" as a Living Space

The choice of the name "Forum" is a deliberate conceptual manifesto. In Roman Antiquity, the Forum was the heartbeat of civic and social life—a space where every citizen belonged. Our festival seeks to catalyze the birth of a "New Forum": a modern Agora where the static archaeological site is reimagined as a dynamic platform for active European citizenship. By placing Jazz and contemporary thought at its core, we ensure that Conimbriga remains a living space for community and shared creativity.

Democratizing Culture: The "Two-in-One" Experience

The festival serves as a strategic bridge for audience development. By integrating live music into the heart of the ruins, we foster a prolonged stay at the archaeological site, encouraging visitors to inhabit the space beyond a traditional museum visit. This "two-in-one" model—access to a Millennial Heritage site followed by a world-class performance—acts as a powerful tool for cultural inclusion. It allows those who do not regularly attend jazz or formal concerts to experience high-level artistic creation in a welcoming, familiar, and awe-inspiring environment, breaking down the invisible barriers of elitism.

2026 Programming: A Tapestry of European Jazz Excellence

The 2026 edition reflects the festival’s commitment to high-level artistic dialogue, featuring a curated selection of Portugal’s finest musicians alongside international masters.

• Opening Dialogues (Thursday, June 11): The festival begins with the experimental synergy of Max Moon inviting Bruno Pernadas, followed by the Rumo Trio (Delgado, Cascais, Bandeira), setting a tone of technical mastery and improvisational depth.

• New Horizons (Friday, June 12): Highlighting the vitality of the new generation with the Maria Carvalho Quintet, followed by the sophisticated ensemble «As folhas novas mudam de cor», featuring established names like Miguel Meirinhos and Mário Barreiros.

• The Heritage Peak (Saturday, June 13): A day dedicated to the intersection of arts. From the multidisciplinary “D’Arte São” to a powerful reinterpretation of «A Love Supreme» by the Ricardo Toscano Quintet. The evening culminates with the world-class Lan Trio, bringing together the legendary Mário Laginha (Portugal), Julian Arguelles (UK), and Helge Norbbaken (Norway)—a true testament to European artistic cooperation.

• Community and Future (Sunday, June 14): The festival closes with a focus on education and local talent, featuring “Medos & Espantos, Lda” for children, and the Funky Remedy Five, a showcase of the region's rising stars.

Artistic Excellence and European Dialogue

The festival’s quality is anchored in a program that values improvisation and experimentation as tools for reinterpreting the territory. The programming is designed to dialogue with the materiality of the ruins, proving that Jazz, in its free and evolving nature, is the ideal tool to give voice to the millennial stones of Conimbriga.

Mediation, Innovation, and Social Impact

Aligned with European cultural goals, the festival integrates a strong educational pillar:

• Intergenerational Engagement: Multidisciplinary activities like music-theater for children ensure democratic access to culture for all ages.

• Cultural Decentralization: By investing in a decentralized heritage site, we promote high-quality sustainable tourism, ensuring that the cultural pulse of the Roman Forum echoes with renewed relevance.

The Conimbriga Forum Jazz Fest is an invitation to hear history and feel Jazz, uniting scientific rigor with artistic daring to ensure the heritage of the past remains a source of inspiration for the European citizens of the future.