St Martin's Day and the magusto in the Douro: chestnuts, new wine and where to celebrate in 2026

In the Douro, St Martin's Day is the festival of new wine and chestnuts. By 11 November the vines have lost their leaves, the harvest is over and the cellars hold what was must a few weeks earlier. That is when fires are lit, chestnuts are roasted and the first glass is poured. This guide gathers what the sources we consulted say about the tradition and what has been announced for 2026 in the Douro.

When is St Martin's Day and why do people eat chestnuts?

St Martin's Day falls on 11 November, the date on which Martin of Tours was buried. The legend says that on a cold, rainy day the soldier Martin cut his cloak in two to cover a beggar, and the weather turned warm. That is the origin of the verão de São Martinho, St Martin's summer: the belief that on the eve and on the day itself the sun shows up, even in deep autumn. A popular saying sums up the spirit of the date: on St Martin's Day, you eat chestnuts and drink wine.

The chestnut belongs to the festival because it is the fruit of the season: in autumn the spiny burr opens and the nut falls to be gathered. The three traditions mentioned most often are drinking the new wine kept after the harvest, lighting the St Martin's bonfires and organising magustos. In some parts of the country sweet potato is added too and, in earlier times, the pig slaughter.

What do people eat and drink at a magusto?

Besides roasted chestnuts, a magusto calls for its own drinks. Água-pé is obtained by pouring water over grape pomace, recovering the little must left in it; it is a light drink that can be taken while still fermenting. Jeropiga is made from must to which grape spirit is added to stop fermentation, making it sweeter and more alcoholic than wine. Others prefer ginjinha, the cherry liqueur, or simply the region's new wine.

Singing around the fire is part of the ritual. A well-known verse says that without sun and chestnuts there is no St Martin. The bonfire, the chestnut and the glass of new wine make up the heart of the festival.

Where is St Martin's Day celebrated in the Douro in 2026?

The most concrete programme we found is in Alijó. On 11 November 2026 the town celebrates its Municipal Day with the traditional Feira de São Martinho. According to the published information, the Feira Franca opens at 07:00 in the town centre and at 08:00 a parade led by the Zés Pereiras drummers of the municipality's parishes sets off. During the day there is a food exhibition by the parishes, a traditional magusto, tasting of porca bísara pork and new wine, and tripe for everyone. The programme is free and is organised by Alijó town hall with the parish councils.

As with any fair, times may be adjusted on the day. Before you go, check the programme on the Alijó town hall pages. If you want to stay nearby, the Pinhão guide, a village in the Alijó municipality, helps you see what is around.

Are there alternatives a few days after St Martin's Day?

Yes, though in a different format. On 15 November 2026 the Casa de Mateus Foundation in Vila Real hosts Cogumelos, Castanhas e Poemas (Mushrooms, Chestnuts and Poems). In the morning there is a guided mushroom-identification and foraging walk in the woods beside the house, led by mycologist Miguel Soares, followed by a lunch using the mushrooms gathered, paired with regional wines. In the afternoon the artist Jiôn Kim's exhibition opens at UmbigoLab@Mateus and the ensemble Borealis gives a concert. Registration is compulsory, through cultura@casademateus.pt.

It is not a bonfire-and-square magusto, so do not confuse it with the 11 November festival: it is a cultural and culinary day built around autumn. If you go, read our page on Casa de Mateus and the itinerary Vila Real in a day.

What about a magusto on board a river cruise?

In earlier years, cruise operators on the Douro ran St Martin's programmes leaving from Porto or Vila Nova de Gaia and sailing to the Crestuma-Lever dam, with roasted chestnuts, jeropiga, kale soup and live music. We found no confirmed 2026 dates. If it interests you, see our page on Douro cruises and confirm directly with the operator.

How should you plan a November visit?

November is no longer harvest time, so the new wine you taste comes from the September and October picking. To understand how it gets there, read our guide to the Douro harvest. A few simple rules help:

• Always confirm dates and times on the organisers' pages, because fair programmes change.
• Bring warm clothes: the legend promises sun, but the valley can be cold in the morning and at dusk.
• If you will taste new wine, jeropiga or água-pé, agree beforehand who drives.
• For compulsory registrations, such as Casa de Mateus, get in touch early, since places are often limited.

St Martin's Day in the Douro is not a single event but a tradition each municipality celebrates in its own way. In 2026, the 11th falls midweek, so it is worth checking whether anything is planned for the nearest weekend.