Crato, Portugal · 16-21 JUN 2027
Waking Life
A six-day music and arts festival at a lake reservoir in Crato, Alentejo, run since 2017 with house, techno, ambient and experimental programming alongside film, workshops and a land regeneration project. Tickets are sold through a raffle.
History
Waking Life was announced in January 2017 as a new festival near the medieval town of Crato in Portugal's Alentejo, billed as a joint project of Giegling, the Weimar collective, and Return, the party arm of the Solid AM booking agency. The first edition ran August 17 to 20 across three stages, with Giegling's DJ Dustin and Konstantin on the bill alongside Sebastian Mullaert (live), DeWalta, Nthng and Robag Wruhme. It was small, remote and openly about more than the dancefloor: the organisers said they wanted to minimise the event's footprint and raise awareness of the site's ecology.
It did not stay a small techno weekend. The second edition in August 2018 announced Abdulla Rashim, Deadbeat, DJRUM, Maayan Nidam and Willow, and the 2019 edition added Roman Flügel, Terrence Dixon, Rhadoo and Hailu Mergia. By 2023 it had moved from August to June and grown into a six-day arts gathering, with James Holden, William Basinski, Kassem Mosse, Skee Mask, Objekt and Daphni on the programme, plus screenings, installations and workshops. Resident Advisor counted the 2025 edition, which ran June 19 to 24, as the seventh.
The site
Everything happens around the Barragem das Nascentes, a reservoir on the edge of Crato, in the Portalegre district of the Alentejo. Waking Life is run by a non-profit, Associação Waking Life, and the site is not just a rented field: a November 2021 notice from the Crato municipality said it had recently renewed its loan agreement for the Barragem das Nascentes space with the association for another ten years. The same notice described a regeneration project for the dam and its surrounding land, with workshops on permaculture and a volunteer programme to plant the first 4,000 trees. Ouvert Magazine describes the site as 35 hectares of natural land.
Music and everything else
The booking is deliberately wide. Recent editions have put house and techno from Theo Parrish and Kalabrese (both on the 2025 bill) next to ambient and avant-garde sets from Fennesz, Laraaji and claire rousay. Eric Cloutier was among the DJs on the 2023 programme. Around the stages sit film partners such as Curtas Vila do Conde and a workshop programme in a bamboo temple.
festival facts
- Founded: 2017, first edition August 17 to 20
- Organizers: announced as a joint project of Giegling and Return (Solid AM); run today by Associação Waking Life
- Venue: Barragem das Nascentes, Crato, Alentejo, Portugal
- Format: six-day music and arts festival with film, workshops and installations; ran in August until 2022 and in June since 2023
- 2027 edition: June 16 to 21, 2027, per the festival's official site
- Tickets: by raffle, sliding scale of 300 to 540 euro plus a 10 euro waste deposit
Getting there and practical info
The festival's official site is currently a holding page without a travel section, and the lakeside site has no published street address. Most international visitors arrive via Lisbon. A third-party travel guide (GoToo) puts the drive from Lisbon at about 200 km and roughly 2 hours 20 to 30 minutes, a Rede Expressos coach from Lisbon's Sete Rios at around 3 hours 15 minutes, and the train as more than 4 hours with a change at Entroncamento.
- Tickets are personalised, one per person, and names are checked at entry
- Ticket vendor: Paylogic, via the festival's raffle platform at raffle.wakinglife.pt
FAQ
When is Waking Life 2027?
The festival's official site announces June 16 to 21, 2027.
Where is Waking Life held?
At the Barragem das Nascentes, a reservoir at Crato in the Alentejo region of Portugal.
How do I get Waking Life tickets?
Through a raffle on the festival's own platform. For 2027 the first sign-up window ran September 21 to October 10, with winners announced October 14. New entries for a second raffle open November 5 to 24.
How much does Waking Life cost?
For 2027 the festival lists a sliding scale from 300 to 540 euro plus a 10 euro waste deposit. Buyers choose where they sit on the scale.
How do I get to Waking Life from Lisbon?
A third-party travel guide puts it at about 200 km by car (roughly 2 hours 20 to 30 minutes) or around 3 hours 15 minutes by Rede Expressos coach from Sete Rios.
Who founded Waking Life?
It was announced in 2017 as a joint project of the Weimar collective Giegling and Return, the party arm of the Solid AM agency. It is now run by Associação Waking Life.
Who has played Waking Life?
Past editions have included Roman Flügel, James Holden, Theo Parrish, Kalabrese, Eric Cloutier, DJ Koze and Fennesz.
Can I resell my ticket?
Yes, but the festival says the only legitimate channel is TicketSwap.
RTS.FM artists connected to this festival
Only sourced appearances at past editions or on announced lineups are listed.
More: 2027 festival calendar