Lisbon, Sept. 18, 2026 (Lusa) - Repairing bicycles, learning to create a vegetable garden, swapping clothes or attending debates on sustainability are all options for the coming weekend in Lisbon, as part of «Cidade do Zero» – a city aiming to eliminate waste and emissions.
Considered one of the country's largest sustainability initiatives, «Cidade do Zero» brings together more than 100 activities over two days at Parque Eduardo VII, in the centre of the capital, with three zones dedicated to workshops, four themed areas (children, food, upcycling and swaps) and over a hundred brands.
Now in its fourth edition, «Cidade do Zero» will feature four stages (main, mobility, home and waste), each hosting talks and discussions on sustainability.
«What's new this year is that all activities, workshops and talks require no registration, have no capacity limits, and we'll have seating for everyone,» João Barreiros, from the organising team, told the Lusa news agency.
Compared with previous editions, «Cidade do Zero», linked to the concept of zero waste and zero emissions, will also feature, for the first time, stages in the centre of the venue, alongside the other initiatives, and an expanded catering area, according to the organiser.
The «Cidade do Zero» concept launched in 2022 at the Pavilhão do Conhecimento in Lisbon, attracted 10,000 visitors, and the following year it moved to the Belém Cultural Centre, doubling the number of visitors. The previous edition, in 2024 at Tapada da Ajuda, attracted 25,000 people, a figure that João Barreiros would like to at least match this coming weekend.
João Barreiros highlighted the ease of access and expressed hope for improved conditions for people with reduced mobility. He said he was pleased with support from Lisbon City Council, which provided the venue, and with collaboration on transport issues as part of European Mobility Week, which takes place annually from 16 to 22 September.
The organiser also highlighted, among the new features, a permaculture farm set up in the middle of the park, featuring an orchard, aromatic herbs, cabbages, chickens and eggs. «We're going to show people that it's possible to do this within a city, on balconies, in very small spaces,» he explained.
«Cidade do Zero» will also encourage people to discover and try out solutions for living more sustainably, bringing together businesses and projects, organisations and citizens.
On the four stages, topics such as eco-design, climate change and the energy transition, mobility and the transformation of urban spaces, ways to make homes more sustainable, and the reuse, repair and recovery of resources will be discussed.
A swap market (for clothes, plants or books), a repair zone (for items such as clothes or small electrical appliances) and a mobile library will also be on site.
Visitors can learn how to make biscuits for dogs and cats, repair a bicycle puncture, restore broken pottery or reduce kitchen waste by making kombucha and water kefir at home.
People can bring items and products to the «city» to reuse or donate, and may receive a «voucher» in return. These can include fabrics, footwear, home textiles, small pieces of furniture, picture frames and lamps, tents or sleeping bags, amongst other items that can either be restored or given a new lease of life.
João Barreiros also gave other examples of what can be learnt in the «city», such as making candles, turning plastic into objects or riding a scooter or a bicycle.
FP/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
