Portugal National Day at Expo 2025 Osaka will be celebrated on 5 May, with a programme highlighting music, art, and architecture.
Coinciding with the celebration of the World Portuguese Language Day, the event will feature the presentation of the winner of a competition organised by the Mundu Nobu Association, founded by Dino d’Santiago and Liliana Valpaços. Over two months, young people from different communities have worked on creative pieces reflecting on the Portuguese language and its cultural identity. The winning work—whether a poem, song, or text—will be presented at Expo Osaka, reinforcing the importance of Portuguese as a global language, particularly within the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP). The ceremony will culminate in a performance by Dino d’Santiago, a Cape Verdean-born artist who has become a key figure in contemporary Portuguese music.
A Tribute to Amália Rodrigues
Music will take centre stage at this event with the concert "No Tempo das Cerejas", paying homage to Amália Rodrigues. Supported by Lisbon City Council, this tribute will bring together some of fado’s most celebrated voices: Ana Moura, Camané, and Ricardo Ribeiro, accompanied by a fado trio featuring José Manuel Neto (Portuguese guitar), Pedro Soares (fado viola), and Daniel Pinto (bass guitar). Amália Rodrigues is regarded as one of Portugal’s greatest musical ambassadors and the most iconic voice of fado, expressing the deepest emotions of the Portuguese soul—saudade, love, and melancholy. She was also present at Expo Osaka in 1970.
Sustainability and creativity will also be in the spotlight with a performance throughout the day by Crash Recycled, an innovative group raising awareness of the importance of recycling. Their interactive performances, aimed at both children—given that 5 May is Children's Day in Japan—and the general public, feature instruments made from recycled materials, particularly plastic and other waste. This initiative, in partnership with the Camões Institute, offers a playful yet educational reflection on environmental sustainability and the future of our planet.
Finally, the day will also mark the opening of the Siza Exhibition, showcasing the work of Álvaro Siza Vieira, the internationally acclaimed Portuguese architect, known for his innovative and impactful contributions to contemporary architecture.
