Light Festivals in Portugal: nightlife, tourism and culture

Manuel Garcia-Ruiz

doi:10.25145/j.pasos.2026.24.009

Autores/as

Manuel Garcia-Ruiz Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (ISCTE-IUL), Centro de Investigação e Estudos de Sociologia, Lisboa, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2141-2525

DOI:

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

Palabras clave:

Festivales de luces, Desarrollo municipal, Eventificación, Políticas públicas, Portugal

Resumen

Los festivales de luces se han convertido en instrumentos clave para el desarrollo urbano, cultural y económico, especialmente a nivel municipal. Este artículo explora la evolución de los festivales de luces en Portugal a través de una investigación etnográfica realizada entre 2015 y 2023, centrándose en los festivales de Lisboa, Cascais, Lousada, Loulé y Aveiro. El estudio examina su papel en la regeneración urbana, el turismo y la formación de la identidad cultural. Mediante la observación participante, entrevistas e investigación de archivos digitales, la investigación identifica las fases clave en el crecimiento de estos festivales y contextualiza su impacto local. Los resultados destacan cómo estos eventos contribuyen a las economías locales, fomentan la participación de la comunidad e influyen en la imagen de marca de la ciudad. El debate aborda los retos de la sostenibilidad, la mercantilización y la instrumentalización política de los festivales de luces como herramientas para la transformación urbana.

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16%

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No

32%

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N/D

11%

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54%

33%

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603

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Editor y equipo editorial: Perfiles
Sociedad académica: PASOS. Revista de Turismo y Patrimonio Cultural
Editorial: Instituto Universitario de Investigación Social y Turismo. Universidad de La Laguna (España) - Instituto Universitario da Maia ISMAI (Portugal)

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