The best things to do in Cascais in January

The Casa das Histórias Paula Rego is presenting two exhibitions that promise to reveal new facets of the artist, who passed away in 2022. The CHPR Collection in Dialogue with the Artist’s Collection, in rooms 1 to 7, brings works from the museum into conversation with pieces from Paula Rego’s personal collection. Meanwhile, Costumes and Pictures: Clothing in Paula Rego’s Work, in room 0, explores her art through the lens of fashion and attire, highlighting how clothing became a central element in her compositions. Curated by Catarina Alfaro, both exhibitions run until 15 March 2026 and feature iconic works such as Day and Night (1953), Meeting with Adélia (2013), The Fisherman (2005), and Mother Wearing the Wolf’s Skin (2003) from the Little Red Riding Hood series.

Read about the new Paula Rego exhibitions at Casa das Histórias and feel like visiting the iconic building designed by architect Eduardo Souto de Moura? Curious to explore the different venues of Cascais’ Museum Quarter? We have good news. Until 8 January, all museums in the municipality are free to visit. This initiative gives people of all ages the chance to discover the very best of Cascais’ cultural spaces – from the Centro Cultural de Cascais, where The Displacement of the Gaze exhibition runs until 18 January, to the Museu do Mar – offering a unique opportunity to enjoy the Christmas holidays with the family without breaking the bank.

January 2026 marks the 25th anniversary of the Cascais Municipal Library – Casa da Horta da Quinta de Santa Clara, celebrating a quarter-century dedicated to reading, culture and democratic access to knowledge. Highlights of the programme include A Sung Christmas Tale (8 January), Fernando Pessoa(s) (15 January), the Tango Abrazo performance, and visual arts workshops with Livro Acordeão (24 January), as well as performances and storytelling sessions on the big day itself, 25 January. All activities are free and aim to reinforce the Library’s role as a space for community, learning and creativity.

The Carlos Botelho Atelier kicks off the 2026 season with the Inventing Reality project, combining art, knowledge and reflection to imagine more sustainable futures. Throughout January, CASA – the Creative Laboratory – offers classes and workshops for all ages, including music, singing, ceramics, drawing, yoga and free play. Registration is online, and the programme integrates goals around education, equality, sustainability and climate action, fostering creative, intergenerational experiences.

This comedy, playing at the Academia de Artes do Estoril, follows Pedro Boto, an editor who hosts dinners where each guest must bring an “idiot” – without them knowing they’ve been invited, because they’re a proper fool. When Pedro is sidelined by an injury, the unsuspecting Abílio Pinhão and a host of other unexpected characters spark a series of hilarious misunderstandings and chaos. Directed by Paulo Sousa Costa, with a cast including Ângelo Rodrigues, Liliana Santos, João Didelet, Núria Madruga and Rui Porto Nunes, the play explores absurdity and humour in delightfully improbable situations.

The course History with Bodies at Casa das Histórias Paula Rego offers a meeting point between art and movement, inspired by female imagery and the artist’s work. Open to women aged 18 to 99, the workshop includes choreographic journeys and participatory sessions, exploring themes such as power, vulnerability and memory, and culminating in a collective performance during the CHPR Collection exhibition. Sessions run from January through March.