Have you ever walked around town and thought, “You know what would make this place even better?” Well, in Portimão, our young people aren’t just thinking about it—they’re doing it! Thanks to a fantastic new initiative, the Portimão Youth Participatory Budget (OPJ), the bright ideas of our youth are coming to life, and the first major project is set to kick off next month.
Get Ready for Suprime: A Festival of Flavour and Culture!
Mark your calendars for October 2, 3, and 4 for the Suprime – Feira Cultural e Gastronómica!. This vibrant cultural and gastronomic fair is the very first project from the OPJ to be rolled out, and it’s all happening in the area next to the Escola Secundária Manuel Teixeira Gomes and the Jardim Gonçalo Ribeiro Telles.
Dreamed up and brought to life by students Gil Andrade and Júlio César, along with a team of eight other young people, Suprime is an event created by youth for the entire community. Its main goal is to promote food education, culture, and sustainability, all while strengthening the active role our young people play in building our community.
Here’s a taste of what to expect:
- Live Music & Entertainment: The stage will be buzzing with talent! The program includes performances by the IsmaTUNA, talents from the School of Rock Portimão, and fadista Luana Velasquez. There will also be sets from DJ Martin and DJ Cantelli, dance performances, and a stage reserved for young talents.
- Delicious Food & Drink: A dedicated “comes e bebes” (food and drink) area will feature local favourites like “Pinseria La Romana” and “Bentos Best Food”.
- “Chef Jovem de Portimão” Competition: Inspired by “MasterChef,” this cooking contest is for aspiring chefs aged 16 to 20. It takes place on Friday, October 3rd, and inscriptions are free! You can sign up before September 28 to participate.
The fair is open from 5 pm to 9 pm on October 2nd and 3rd, and from 4 pm to 9 pm on October 4th.
The Power of an Idea: What is the Youth Participatory Budget?
The Suprime fair is the most-voted project from the first-ever Portimão Youth Participatory Budget 2024-25, a groundbreaking initiative that gives young people a real voice in their community. Here’s how it works: the municipality set aside €100,000 to fund four winning projects, with each receiving up to €25,000. Young people submitted their ideas, and then the youth population voted for the projects they believed would most improve community life.
This is democracy in action, proving that the city is listening to its youth and is committed to implementing their choices. The winners were announced during the Março Jovem 2025 celebrations.
More Exciting Projects on the Way!
Suprime is just the beginning! The other three winning projects are also in the works and will be appearing around Portimão soon. They include:
- Portimão Parkour Park: An initiative to install safe modules for practising parkour in an area next to the Lugar do Rio.
- “Famílias em Movimento” (Families in Motion): A plan to hold fun and accessible sports events twice a month, with activities adapted for all physical abilities to promote inclusion.
- New Drinking Fountains: The installation of ten modern drinking fountains in local parks and squares. These clever designs will be accessible to people with reduced mobility, allow for filling bottles, and even have a system to provide water for pets!.
It’s Your Turn! Shape the Portimão of Tomorrow
Feeling inspired? The great news is that the second edition of the OPJ is about to begin! Starting October 1st, the OPJ Portimão 2025-26 will open for new proposals.
Once again, €100,000 is available to fund the four most-voted ideas. If you are between 12 and 30 years old, this is your chance to make a difference. Proposals can cover a wide range of areas, including culture, sports, housing, health, education, and employment.
As Portimão’s Mayor, Álvaro Bila, says, this initiative is a “significant step in encouraging and strengthening the involvement of young people in building a better future for the community”. The “dynamism, creativity, and innovative spirit” of our youth are powerful assets for improving everyone’s quality of life.
Key Dates for the OPJ 2025-26:
- Submit Your Idea: October 1 – November 7.
- Youth Voting Period: March 1 – 22, 2026.
- Winners Announced: March 31, 2026.
Proposals can be submitted electronically on the MyPolis platform. For more information or assistance with your application, please contact the Municipality of Portimão’s Division of Sport and Youth at juventude@cm-portimao.pt or by phone at 282 470 797 or 282 248 519.
