The 39th International Folklore Festival of the Azores (Folk Azores) is underway from August 10 to 17, 2025, transforming Terceira Island into a living stage of global cultural heritage.
Recognized as Portugal’s largest international folklore festival, Folk Azores fosters cross-cultural dialogue while celebrating the living traditions of the Azores.
Organized by COFIT (Comité Organizador de Festivais Internacionais da Ilha Terceira) with support from the Regional Government of the Azores and local municipalities, the festival gathers over 20 folklore groups from 11 countries, mainland Portugal, Madeira, and all nine islands of the Azores for a week of dance, music, and tradition.
This year’s United States representative, the American Folk Ensemble from Orem, Utah, brings the distinctive rhythms of bluegrass, clogging, and American regional folk dance to Azorean audiences. The group, with over three decades of international touring experience, arrived on Terceira on August 8 and has already performed in parades, theatre galas, and open-air events, delighting audiences with their dynamic style and vibrant costumes.
The festival’s international delegations include groups from Argentina, Bulgaria, Chile, Slovakia, Spain, France, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Peru, Poland, Romania, Austria, Colombia,
Ecuador, Spain, the United States, the Philippines, Greece, Latvia, Mexico, and Serbia, among others. Each ensemble presents its own authentic music, dance, and traditional costumes, offering spectators a window into the cultural soul of their homelands.
From mainland Portugal, the festival welcomes Rancho Folclórico de Vila Verde (Minho), Grupo Etnográfico de Coimbra (Beira Litoral), Rancho Folclórico da Nazaré (Oeste), and Grupo Folclórico de Évora (Alentejo). These groups bring the diverse folk traditions of the Portuguese mainland to the Azorean stage, highlighting regional dances, songs, and attire.
The Azores are proudly represented by folklore groups from all nine islands: Grupo Folclórico da Ribeirinha (Terceira), Grupo Folclórico de São Jorge (São Jorge), Grupo Folclórico de Santa Maria (Santa Maria), Grupo Folclórico da Ladeira Grande (Graciosa), Grupo Folclórico de Nossa Senhora das Neves (Flores), Grupo Folclórico de São Miguel (São Miguel), Grupo Folclórico de Vila do Corvo (Corvo), Grupo Folclórico da Casa do Povo da Calheta (Pico), and Grupo Folclórico das Lajes (Faial). Their participation reinforces the festival’s role in preserving and sharing Azorean cultural heritage.
Highlights of the 2025 edition include gala performances at the historic Angrense Theatre, open-air shows and parades in Angra do Heroísmo and Praia da Vitória, and the Crafts & Traditional Flavors Fair, where visitors can sample Azorean gastronomy and explore artisanal crafts.
The week-long celebration will conclude on August 17 with a grand closing ceremony at the Municipal Sports Pavilion, featuring the Folk Azores Orchestra, which unites musicians from all participating countries in a collaborative finale.
Folk Azores @ Facebook
PAJ/Staff
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.
