PELES - International Drum Fest 2027

PELES - International Drum Fest is an international festival dedicated to contemporary percussion, artistic experimentation and interdisciplinary creation, held annually in Guimarães and Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal. 

Founded in 2016 and produced by CAISA - Cooperativa de Artes, Intervenção Social e Animação, through CLAV - Centre and Artistic Laboratory of Vermil, PELES has established itself as a distinctive platform for contemporary music and performing arts, bringing together national and international artists, emerging talents and diverse audiences. With percussion at its creative core, the festival explores the intersections between rhythm, music, dance, theatre, cinema, digital arts and experimental performance. Its programme combines concerts, original productions, artistic residencies, workshops, educational activities and community-based artistic projects, encouraging new forms of expression and collaboration. More than a music festival, PELES is a space for artistic research, cultural dialogue and social transformation. Deeply connected to its territory, the festival promotes cultural decentralisation, bringing innovative artistic experiences to rural and peri-urban communities and challenging conventional boundaries between artists and audiences.

Community engagement, accessibility and inclusion are central to its identity. Through participatory activities involving children, young people, older adults and vulnerable communities, PELES uses rhythm and artistic creation as tools for connection, learning and collective expression. The festival also embraces environmental sustainability, cultural heritage and contemporary social challenges, supporting artistic projects that explore the relationship between people, nature and society. Celebrating its 11th edition in 2026, PELES continues to foster international artistic exchange, support emerging creators and develop innovative approaches to cultural programming. PELES believes in the power of rhythm to connect people, disciplines and cultures - transforming percussion into a universal language of creativity, dialogue and belonging.