The celebrations for Guarda's 827th anniversary take place from November 13 to December 2, with a program aiming to celebrate the city's identity, collective memory, and history. The event will recall the granting of the charter by King D. Sancho I in 1199, with initiatives that prepare the future by valuing the past.
Program highlights include the blessing ceremony of the Cathedral's Pipe Organ, the presentation of the Bid for Portuguese Culture Capital 2028, the World Congress of Inland Tourism, the presentation of the book “A Saúde na Guarda”, and a concert by Ana Moura. Additionally, 26 housing units will be delivered and various works inaugurated in the municipality and city.
The Municipal Holiday on November 27 will feature the traditional dawn salute, Homage to the Founding King, Flag Raising with participation from various entities, and the presentation of the theatrical recreation “Encontro”. This will be followed by the Commemorative Solemn Session in the António de Almeida Santos Hall, at the Paços do Concelho.
In the afternoon, in Vila Franca do Deão, there will be a Homage to Carlos Dâmaso, a former mayor who died in August 2025 while fighting a forest fire. Later, at 5:30 PM, the blessing ceremony of the Cathedral's Pipe Organ will take place, with an inaugural concert by organist Carlos Julián Fernández Bollo.
The new Cathedral organ, built by Frenchman Frédéric Desmottes, stands about eight meters high and has over 2,600 pipes. Its installation is a project by the Municipality and the Diocese of Guarda, with support from the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR).
The City Day concludes with a concert by Ana Moura at the Guarda Municipal Theater (TMG) at 9:00 PM. The program also includes sports activities, cultural initiatives, unveiling of street names, and a tribute to the municipality's entrepreneurs.
The program begins on November 13 with the presentation of the work “A Saúde na Guarda – Antes e Depois de Abril”. On November 18 and 19, Guarda will host the II World Congress of Inland Tourism.
On November 19, 26 housing units will be inaugurated on Rua de São Pedro, the result of a PRR application in partnership with IHRU. On the 21st, works on accessibility, mobility, and water and sanitation networks will be inaugurated in various locations.
November 22 features the XIV Encounter of Traditional Singing Groups and the 20th-anniversary celebrations of the Famalicão da Serra Volunteer Firefighters. On November 25, National Entrepreneur Day is marked with a tribute to the municipality's entrepreneurs.
On November 28 and 29, guided tours of the new Cathedral Pipe Organ, guided visits, and the mythical Winter BTT event will take place. Public space interventions in various parishes will also be inaugurated.
November 29 includes a concert by organist Hermann Mathis and cellist Nelson Ferreira at Guarda Cathedral. On December 1, Guarda, A Cidade Natal (Guarda, The Christmas City) opens.
On December 2, the Guarda Municipal Theater hosts the presentation of the Bid for Guarda to be Portuguese Culture Capital 2028, a strategic project for territorial development.
