An entrepreneurial effort to revitalize the interior of Portugal using music, arts, and education as a medium to bring culture, local pride, and economic growth back into rural areas.

About the Festival

Set in the scenic mountain region of central Portugal, the annual Bendada International Music Festival (Bendada, Portugal) is a classical music festival that empowers young artists to fulfill their musical talent.

Founded by Dr. Inês Andrade and Dr. Edoardo Carpenedo in 2016, the BIMF started as a five-day summer music festival. Since then, it has grown into a year-round project, attracting students, artists, and audiences worldwide. The festival concerts and cultural activities take place in the Beiras, the interior region of Portugal, as well as curated events in Portugal’s main cities of Lisbon and Porto, and the United States.

At its core, the BIMF is a community where young musicians can learn from sought-after pedagogues and artists, collaborate and meet people from all over the world driven by the same goals, and showcase their artistry on stage in professional concerts.