SHORT STORY FESTIVAL

Stories told live, without distractions

For a few days each year, Montemor-o-Novo stops to listen.

There is no raised stage or big productions. There are people, stories, and time—enough for the spoken word to do the rest.

The Festival of Short Stories celebrates the art of oral storytelling in all its forms: traditional tales, contemporary stories, creations for adults and children, intimate moments, and unexpected encounters. Everything happens live. Everything happens there.

A festival made of voice, silence, and attention

The shows are spread across different venues in the city: small halls, libraries, courtyards, streets, and unlikely places.

Some happen at night. Others during the day. None of them are rushed.

You don't come here to "see a show."

Come and listen to stories told without filters, without technology, without shortcuts.

It's simple—and precisely for that reason, rare.

Why it's worth the trip from Lisbon

The Short Story Festival is not a mass event.

And don't try to be.

It attracts those seeking cultural experiences that are close, human, and difficult to replicate. People who like to listen. To be. To not do everything at once.

For those who live in Lisbon, it is an opportunity to:

• get away from the noise

• see culture on a human scale

• spend a few days at a slower pace, without sacrificing content

It's the kind of festival that isn't advertised with big campaigns — but those who know it, come back.

Staying at Gandum during the Festival of Short Stories

During the Festival of Short Stories, Gandum is a natural place to stay.

Close enough to follow the schedule, far enough to truly relax.

After a night of stories, the silence of the countryside is part of the experience.

In the morning, there is no rush. There is time.

Many guests choose Gandum precisely for this reason:

to experience the festival — and everything that happens between one story and the next.

When it happens

The Short Story Festival is usually held in the spring, typically in May.

The dates vary each year and are announced by the organization well in advance.

It is a small festival. Some sessions have limited seating.

When the dates are announced, it is advisable to decide early.

An experience that cannot be recorded

There are no complete records.

There are no replays.

The stories exist in that moment—and then they continue their journey, from person to person.

That's how stories have always worked.