Braga and Madrid prepare for upcoming Christmas festivities

Municipalities in Portugal and Spain are preparing for the upcoming holiday season with various Christmas festivities and infrastructure projects.

In Braga, Portugal, the city has announced the dates for its Christmas Market as part of the ‘Braga é Natal’ program. Scheduled to run from December 1, 2026, to January 6, 2027, the market will be located on Avenida Central. The event is expected to feature 50 stalls offering local crafts, food, sweets, and traditional beverages to attract visitors from the region.

Meanwhile, in Madrid, Spain, the City Council has begun installing ornamental Christmas lighting. The budget for the 2026 lighting project is estimated at 7 million euros, representing a 15% increase from the previous year. This increase is attributed to rising costs for labor, materials, and energy, as well as public demand to expand lighting to more areas. The city plans to use energy-efficient LED technology to promote sustainability and reduce light pollution.