The Braga Brief, Week of 30 October 2026: Braga Opens a 500,000 Euro Fund for Warmer Homes, Esposende's Tourist Tax Starts, and Famalicão Knock Braga Out of the League Cup

Good morning from the Minho. Braga is paying for warmer homes again, Esposende's tourist tax is about to start, and Famalicão reached a first League Cup final four at Braga's expense. Here is your roundup for 24 to 30 October.

Braga opens a 500,000 euro fund for warmer homes

Braga's programme against energy poverty returns for a fourth year with 500,000 euros. Households on the social tariff for electricity or gas, owners or tenants, can get a non-repayable grant of up to 2,500 euros for insulated windows and doors, wall and ceiling insulation, efficient heating or solar panels. Apply from 1 November to 31 December on the Balcão Digital of BragaHabit, the council's housing company. Earlier rounds helped 488 families.

Esposende's tourist tax starts, and Barcelos asks for comments

Esposende will charge guests aged 16 and over 2 euros a night from April to September and 1.50 euros from October to March, for up to five nights, campsites included, from late November. Barcelos, whose 2 euro tax we reported on 2 October, opened a 30-day public consultation on Thursday; written comments go to the mayor by post, email or at the council's Balcão Único.

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Marcello Valle and Billy Nash at Cervejaria Ramiro

Billy Nash, host of the property and travel series Passport Properties, sits down at Lisbon's Cervejaria Ramiro with Braga-based buyer's agent Marcello Valle. They talk about why people move to Portugal for a way of life as much as for a…

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Around the district

Fleas close a school. The Escola Básica de Ribeirão in Famalicão shut on Thursday and Friday after an infestation spread beyond its library. Classes resume on Monday.

Graffiti in Guimarães. "Aqui morreu Portugal" ("Portugal died here") was sprayed in red on the Torre da Alfândega wall, the monument that carries "Aqui nasceu Portugal", on Thursday morning.

Sports

Famalicão won 3-1 on penalties at Braga on Thursday after a 2-2 draw and meet Sporting in the League Cup final four in Leiria in January. Sp. Braga, beaten 1-0 at Nacional on Sunday, are ninth and four league games without a win; Gil Vicente lost 4-1 at Benfica in the cup. The Taça de Portugal draw sends Braga to Vitória SC for a Minho derby on 21 or 22 November.

What's On in Braga

Events in and around Braga over the next 14 days, from our What's On calendar.

• ABSOLUTO: Fri 30 Oct, 21:30; Theatro Circo, Braga; €4.50 to €9. ABSOLUTO is a show at Theatro Circo, Braga's historic main theatre. The organiser has published very little about it so far. Before you book, check the venue's own page for what kind of performance it is, what language it is in and whether there is an age rating.
• travo: Fri 30 Oct, 21:30; gnration, Braga; €12. A performance billed as travo at gnration, the Braga venue known for live music and digital arts. The organiser has published few details so far, so check the venue's own page for the programme before you go. Suits residents curious about what's on at one of Braga's main cultural spaces.
• FENDA ACADEMY 2026: Sat 31 Oct; Conservatório de Música Calouste Gulbenkian, Braga. A series of hands-on Saturday morning sessions for secondary school students. Participants help compose and produce the soundtrack for a video game being developed this year, learning music production, sound recording and sound manipulation. Students sign up through their own teacher, so it suits teenagers already enrolled in a local school.
• Pink October Charity Concert: Sat 31 Oct; Conservatório de Música Calouste Gulbenkian, Braga. The conservatoire's wind orchestra, made up of students from year 9 and secondary level and led by conductor Marcelo Marques, plays a benefit concert for breast cancer awareness month. It supports the Braga branch of the Portuguese League Against Cancer. Seats are limited, and you book in person at the league's Braga office.
• Guided tours of the exhibitions: Sat 31 Oct, 11:00; gnration, Braga; Free. A guided walk through the exhibitions currently on show at gnration, the Braga arts centre known for work that combines art and technology. A good choice for residents who want some background on the works rather than browsing alone. The tour is likely to be in Portuguese.
• Comic-Con Kids Guimarães 2026: Special Halloween Edition: Sat 31 Oct, 11:00; Multiusos de Guimarães, Guimarães; €20. A children's version of the Comic Con pop culture convention, this time with a Halloween theme, at the Multiusos de Guimarães arena. It suits families with young fans of comics, cartoons and games, and it's an easy day out for children who enjoy dressing up.
• A FILA J É A MELHOR (Row J Is the Best): Sat 31 Oct, 21:30; Theatro Circo, Braga; €5. A show at Theatro Circo, Braga's historic theatre. The organiser has not yet published details of the programme, so check the venue's own listing before booking to see what kind of performance it is and whether understanding Portuguese is needed.
• ex-easter island head: Sun 1 Nov, 18:00; gnration, Braga; €9. ex-easter island head perform live at gnration, the Braga arts centre known for its programme of experimental and contemporary music. The show suits residents who enjoy adventurous live sound and want to catch an international act in the city. See the venue's own page for the full details.
• NAZA: Mon 2 Nov, 21:30; Theatro Circo, Braga; €4. A show billed as NAZA at Theatro Circo, Braga's restored early twentieth century theatre on Avenida da Liberdade. The organiser has shared few details so far, so check the venue's own listing for the format and line-up before you book.
• Charity Concert with Sofia Escobar and Orquestra do Norte: Wed 4 Nov; Theatro Circo, Braga. A charity concert at Braga's historic Theatro Circo, with Sofia Escobar performing alongside the Orquestra do Norte, the region's orchestra. It is a good choice for residents who enjoy orchestral music and would like their evening out to support a good cause.

That's the Minho this week. See you next Friday.