Vilar de Mouros, Portugal, Augo Castelo, Aug. 17, 2026 (Lusa) - British singer Yungblud headlines the first day of Vilar de Mouros (Viana do Castelo), Portugal's oldest festival, which kicks off on Tuesday, 18 June, and, for the first time, will run for five days.
In an interview with the Lusa news agency, Paulo Ventura, the festival's director, highlighted the length of Vilar de Mouros, which will span five days of concerts, mainly due to the busy schedule of the 29-year-old British artist Yungblud, who was available to perform only on Tuesday, 18 June.
«We really wanted to have Yungblud, and he was only available on Tuesday, because afterwards he has other festivals across Europe (…). We spoke here with our partners, the mayor, the chair of the [parish] council, and Crédito Agrícola (…), and we agreed that, given the calibre of the artists – and obviously, above all, Yungblud and what that could mean in terms of attracting a larger audience and adding more dynamism to the festival – exceptionally, this year, we could organise this fifth day thanks to everyone's efforts, but also with the joy of knowing that we'll have an artist who can make a difference and who is making a difference», Paulo Ventura, the festival's director, explained to Lusa.
Vilar de Mouros, despite featuring many bands and artists who «made history» and who «are part of history», is also a festival that looks to the future, Paulo Ventura told Lusa.
«We're firmly focused on the present and future. There's a specific time frame, yet the festival celebrates a broad spectrum of artists, not solely those who gained prominence in the 1980s and 1990s. We like to have a wide range of artists and, in fact, looking at this line-up, that's very clear. They range from the artists who made history to those who have understood that history, who have allowed themselves to be influenced by it, but who are of the present day, and to the artists who are just starting out and creating their own history. So, Yungblud fits right in the middle of that. It's aimed at a different audience from the one that usually comes to Vilar de Mouros – a younger crowd – but it also appeals to an older audience.» The decision to book the British artist Yungblud «is making a difference to ticket sales», as he is an «arena-filling, festival headliner with a very broad audience across the age spectrum», explains the festival director.
«In terms of marketing, it significantly broadens the audience we reach. In terms of ticket sales, it significantly increases ticket sales (…). We've definitely noticed the difference compared to other years, precisely because we have an artist like this. What's more, Yungblud is an artist who is, in fact, making a ‘crossover'», that is to say, «he's an artist who comes from a more ‘teen' and ‘pop' background and who, as he's grown, has moved closer to rock and an older audience, while retaining that element of novelty», he added.
On the first day of Vilar de Mouros, Paulo Ventura's highlight is also President, a «British band that few people know about».
«They've got those masks of theirs. (…) It's that ‘metalcore' sound that's very popular right now and listened to by lots of people. And for us, it was very important to be able to create that dynamic too».
Cabaret Voltaire is another highlight the director listed, as this may well be their last visit to Portugal.
On the second day, 19 August, the line-up features the American band Dropkick Murphys, who have played at Vilar de Mouros twice before and are returning 12 years later, this time as headliners, as well as Fishbone, a band that pioneered a musical movement, has a rich history, and has passed that legacy on to those who follow them, said Paulo Ventura.
The Swedish garage-punk band The Hives, formed in 1994; the American hard-rock band Ugly Kid Joe from California; and the bands Less Than Jake and Grade 2 are among the other acts scheduled for 19 August.
The 20th is dedicated to the UK, featuring the British rock band Kasabian, formed in 1997, who are headlining the third day.
Kula Shaker, «who are coming to Portugal for the first time», the Kaiser Chiefs, «who always leave the stage in a different spot», and The Lathums complete the line-up for the third night of the Minho festival.
On the fourth day, 21 August, Ben Harper takes centre stage. The festival is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the musician's first gig in Vilar de Mouros. «It's been 25 years since he played here [in Vilar de Mouros]. It's obviously a celebration», and the performance will take place at around 10.00 p.m.
Icelandic band Kaleo are also among the headliners on the festival's fourth day, alongside the American band War, the Belgian band Triggerfinger, the American singer Sydney Ross Mitchell and Monstro.
On the final day, 22 August, Body Count featuring Ice-T will take to the stage, and the lineup also includes Rudeboy, Mark Ramone, Travo, and the winner of the band competition, António Barge, who founded Vilar de Mouros in 1971.
The festival attracted around 50,000 people in 2025, and the organisers expect that figure to be exceeded this year.
«Looking at the line-up, we've got almost five festivals within one festival,» the director told Lusa.
«The first day features artists who are very much of the moment, apart from Cabaret Voltaire. The second day is more about punk and garage, so it will probably attract an audience that is a little older.» The day featuring Kasabian and the Kaiser Chiefs «will be a slightly more wide-ranging day», he added.
As for the fourth day, featuring Ben Harper, «it will be our more mature day, or the one with a more experienced audience», and the final day will be «heavier», concluded Ventura.
Doors open at 3.00 p.m. next Tuesday and the concerts kick off around 5.00 p.m.
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Lusa
