The initiative, which involves the collaboration of the four Minho municipalities, aims to provide visibility and tools for independent artists, bridging creation, territory, and heritage. Following its debut in 2025, the second edition promises to strengthen inter-territorial cooperation.
Guimarães, Famalicão, and Viana do Castelo will host Square by Day, featuring five concerts per municipality between 4:00 PM and 10:00 PM. Viana do Castelo kicks off the festival on January 27th, followed by Guimarães on the 28th and Famalicão on the 29th. Braga, the festival's epicenter, will host evening concerts and the full program on the final day, January 30th.
The festival's conference, dedicated to the continuity of projects and independent music ecosystems, will take place in Braga from January 27th to 29th. Among the confirmed artists are Anna Vis (Brazil), Carme López (Spain), iD-sus (Senegal), Land Whales (Cuba), Letus (Angola), Miguel Pedro & Serge Fritz (Portugal), Nico Espinoza (Chile), Sgo (United Kingdom), and TRAVO (Portugal).
The festival is a legacy project of Braga 25 Portuguese Capital of Culture and reinforces cooperation among the municipalities of the Urban Pentagon, a region with an "unusually active artistic fabric".
Nuno Gouveia, executive administrator of Faz Cultura, highlighted that "Square is a concrete example of what we want to build from the legacy of Braga 25". "A cultural policy that goes beyond municipal borders, based on cooperation and international ambition," he added, emphasizing the ability of Braga, Guimarães, Famalicão, and Viana do Castelo to "work together".
Before the festival, Square is organizing open assemblies for musicians and artistic communities. The first will be held on November 16th in Braga, followed by Guimarães on the 17th, Viana do Castelo on the 23rd, and Vila Nova de Famalicão on the 24th. These sessions will address the challenges of the music industry and the conditions for creation and sustainability.
Participation in the assemblies is free, with recommended registration at https://form.jotform.com/262925225383056.
