The Feast of Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres returns to the city of Ponta Delgada from May 8 to May 14, 2026, with the main procession scheduled for Sunday, May 10, the fifth Sunday after Easter.
Considered the largest religious celebration in the Azores and among the most significant Catholic festivities in Portugal, the celebrations center on the revered image housed at the Convent and Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora da Esperança in Ponta Delgada.
Established nearly 400 years ago, the devotion to Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres dates back to the 17th century, following a devastating series of earthquakes across the Azorean archipelago.
The sacred image, a Renaissance-style representation of the “Ecce Homo,” depicting Jesus Christ following His flagellation, holds profound spiritual significance for the Azorean people.
Today, it remains the largest religious festival in the Azores and is widely regarded as the second-largest religious event in Portugal, after the pilgrimages to the Sanctuary of Fátima.
Each year, thousands of pilgrims travel to São Miguel from across the Azores and from Azorean communities abroad, particularly from the United States, Canada, and Bermuda.
In addition to the religious observances, the 2026 edition will feature a broad secular and cultural program, including concerts, art exhibitions, bazaars, auctions, and popular festivities centered around Campo de São Francisco. The continuation of the secular festivities is expected to extend through May, with traditional community events helping transform Ponta Delgada into the spiritual and cultural heart of the Azores during the celebration period.
Religious Program
According to the provisional religious program released for the 2026 festivities, the Preparatory Triduum on May 5, 6, and 7 will be preached by Father Paulo Duarte, S.J., the Jesuit priest invited to lead the spiritual reflections and devotional conferences preceding the main feast days.
The principal liturgical celebrations — including the solemn outdoor Mass at Campo de São Francisco and the grand Sunday procession — are expected to be presided over by senior clergy from the Diocese of Angra, traditionally led by Bishop D. Armando Esteves Domingues, the current Bishop of Angra, together with invited clergy from mainland Portugal and the Portuguese diaspora.
Main Program Schedule
Friday, May 8
Official opening of the festivities, Eucharistic celebrations, and the arrival of pilgrim groups from across the Azores and the diaspora communities abroad.
Saturday, May 9
Traditional “Mudança da Imagem” ceremonies and evening celebrations throughout Campo de São Francisco.
Sunday, May 10 — Main Feast Day
Solemn Pontifical Mass at Campo de São Francisco followed by the traditional Procession of Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres through the decorated streets of Ponta Delgada, accompanied by clergy, religious brotherhoods, philharmonic bands, and thousands of faithful.
The Feast of Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres remains one of the most enduring symbols of Azorean faith and identity, annually reuniting emigrant communities from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, California, Canada, and Bermuda with their ancestral homeland in the Azores.
For those unable to attend in person, the festival will be streamed live, allowing international viewers to participate virtually. Coverage will be provided by RTP/Açores and other online platforms, such as the YouTube channel. Additionally, continuous livestreams from the Capela do Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres are available via CamStreamer.
PAJ/Staff
For more information, visit the full calendar of celebrations, which includes the religious ceremonies and the traditional secular festivities. Follow the festivities on Facebook, More @ Wikipedia
The Azores (population 250,000) is a region of Portugal composed of nine islands. The archipelago, discovered by Portuguese explorers in the 15th century, became an Autonomous Region of Portugal in 1976. The government of the Autonomous Region of the Azores includes the Legislative Assembly, composed of 57 elected deputies, elected by universal suffrage for a four-year term; the Regional Government and Presidency, with parliamentary legitimacy, composed of a President, a Vice-President and seven Regional Secretaries responsible for the Regional Government’s executive operations. The Autonomous Region of the Azores is represented in the Council of Ministers of the Central Government by a representative appointed by the President of Portugal. According to the latest US census, over 1.3 million individuals of Portuguese descent live in the United States, the majority with roots in the Azores. It is estimated that over 20,000 US citizens live in Portugal.
