Capital of the Minho Province and home to over 182,000 inhabitants, Braga is a city where ancient roots and digital futures converge. Often called the “Portuguese Rome” for its rich religious heritage, Braga has evolved into one of Northern Portugal’s most vibrant technology and creative hubs—where media arts are not only a driver of innovation, but a lens through which the city reimagines itself.
In the late 20th century, a new generation of artists and entrepreneurs began transforming Braga’s cultural ecosystem by fusing art, technology, and civic engagement. Today, media arts represent half of the sector’s employment and 40% of its enterprises, positioning Braga as a beacon of creative economy in the Iberian Peninsula. International tech companies, digital creators, and cultural institutions now share space with baroque churches and Roman ruins, creating a cityscape where past and future speak in harmony.
Tourists are invited to experience this dynamic fusion firsthand. At the multidisciplinary GNRation Centre, interactive workshops and exhibitions reveal the artistic potential of digital technologies, while the Braga Semibreve Festival offers an immersive journey through audiovisual performances and experimental electronic music. This internationally acclaimed event draws avant-garde artists from around the world and showcases works by students from the engageLab at Minho University—an institution renowned for its ICT-based research.
Braga’s cultural calendar is rich and inclusive, with media arts serving as a bridge between generations, communities, and disciplines. Visitors can explore the city’s historic core while engaging with cutting-edge installations, attend artist residencies and pop-up exhibitions, or participate in public dialogues that connect art, science, and social innovation.
Guided by a forward-thinking strategy and its designation as a UNESCO Creative City of Media Arts, Braga is investing in new platforms for creation and exchange. Plans include the establishment of a Media Arts Centre, an International Media Arts Festival, and a Researcher Exchange Programme to foster transnational collaboration. The city also supports emerging talent through a start-up hub and regular international roadshows, ensuring that creativity remains a cornerstone of its urban development.
In Braga, media arts are more than a sector—they are a spirit. A way of seeing, shaping, and sharing the city. This is not just a destination—it is an invitation to co-create, to connect, and to discover a place where heritage is illuminated by innovation, and every visitor becomes part of the story.
Creative experiences
