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Light Festivals in Portugal: nightlife, tourism and culture

Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (Portugal) & Manuel Garcia‑Ruiz

Pasos. Journal of Tourism and Cultural Heritage2026https://doi.org/10.25145/j.pasos.2026.24.009article
AJG 1ABDC C
Weight
0.50

What the paper says

Light festivals have become key instruments in cultural and economic urban development, especially at the municipal level. This paper explores the evolution of light festivals in Portugal, through ethnographic research conducted from 2015 to 2023, focusing on festivals in Lisbon, Cascais, Lousada, Loulé and Aveiro. The study examines their roles in urban regeneration, tourism and cultural identity. Using participant observation, interviews and digital archival research, the research identifies the key phases in the growth of these festivals and contextualises their local impact. Findings highlight how these events contribute to the local economies, while fostering community engagement and influencing city branding. The discussion addresses the challenges of sustainability, commodification and political instrumentalisation of light festivals as tools for urban transformation.

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https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.25145/j.pasos.2026.24.009

Or copy a formatted citation

@article{instituto2026,
  title        = {{Light Festivals in Portugal: nightlife, tourism and culture}},
  author       = {Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (Portugal) & Manuel Garcia‑Ruiz},
  journal      = {Pasos. Journal of Tourism and Cultural Heritage},
  year         = {2026},
  doi          = {https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.25145/j.pasos.2026.24.009},
}

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Light Festivals in Portugal: nightlife, tourism and culture

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Evidence weight

0.50

Balanced mode · F 0.40 / M 0.15 / V 0.05 / R 0.40

F · citation impact0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20
M · momentum0.50 × 0.15 = 0.07
V · venue signal0.50 × 0.05 = 0.03
R · text relevance †0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20

† Text relevance is estimated at 0.50 on the detail page — for your query’s actual relevance score, open this paper from a search result.