imd in Portugal
(Luso) Microbial Connections’26 - Microbiology Shaping the Future
When: 17 September
Time: 12:00- 15:00
Where: Portugal, University of Coimbra - online
On 17 September 2026, the University of Coimbra, representing SPM, hosts Portugal’s International Microorganisms Day celebration. Under the theme “(Luso)Microbial Connections’26 - Microbiology Shaping the Future”, highlighting microbiology’s impact, including biotechnology, researchers are invited, with IHMT-NOVA, to submit 5‑minute videos presenting published articles, projects, or key findings.
On 17 September 2026, the University of Coimbra, on behalf of the Portuguese Society of Microbiology(SPM) and in partnership with the Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine(IHMT), NOVA University Lisbon, will organise the flagship event celebrating International Microorganisms Day in Portugal. The theme of this year’s edition is “(Luso)Microbial Connections’26-Microbiology Shaping the Future”.
Building on the success of previous editions since 2024, this initiative aims to celebrate microbiology while promoting the dissemination of research conducted in Portuguese and strengthening connections within the Portuguese-speaking scientific community (Macau, Cabo Verde, Mozambique, Angola, Brazil, and Portugal).
The event will take place fully online via streaming on the SPM YouTube channel. It will feature pre-recorded participant videos, organised by country in a “follow-the-sun” sequence, creating a continuous global showcase of Lusophone microbiology. The event is open to both scientific community and general Portuguese-speaking public.
As in previous editions, professors, researchers, and students affiliated with institutions of the Lusophone Microbiology Network and the Portuguese Society of Microbiology(SPM) will be invited to participate. Participation will be limited to two representatives per institution. Each participant will submit a video of approximately five minutes (“Five-Minutes of Fame”), presenting a published article, a scientific project, or significant research findings.
International Microorganism Day 2026: Microbes & Us
When: 17 September
Time: 09:00- 18:00
Where: Escola Superior de Saúde do Instituto Politécnico do Porto / Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 400 4200 - 072, Porto, Portugal
Fungi Detectives: Meet the Hidden Fungi Around Us
Escape Room: The Microbe Quest
Microbes on Our Plates
Microbes in our Bodies: friends and foes
This interactive science event invites participants to explore the fascinating invisible world of fungi and microbes that surround us every day. Designed for curious minds, the event combines hands-on activities, microscopy, challenges, and interactive learning experiences to reveal the hidden roles of microorganisms in our environment, food, and bodies.
Participants will become “Fungi Detectives”, observing fungi under the microscope and discovering the diverse fungal communities that live around us. Through “The Microbe Quest” escape room, visitors will solve puzzles and complete scientific missions to uncover the secrets of the microbial world.
The event will also explore the role of microbes in food, from fermentation and bread yeast to the microorganisms associated with everyday foods. In “Microbes in Our Bodies: Friends and Foes,” participants will learn about the complex relationships between humans and microbes, including beneficial microorganisms and those that can cause disease. Students will gain an understanding of the urgent need for new antibacterial agents and the aseptic practices they can adopt to prevent bacterial contamination.
Aimed at Middle school students, the event combines learning and fun in an informal environment. Participants will be guided by scientists and science communicators who will help uncover the surprising world of microbes.
Programme of the day:
Fungi Detectives: Meet the Hidden Fungi Around Us
Escape Room: The Microbe Quest
Microbes on Our Plates
Microbes in our Bodies: friends and foes
International Microorganism Day 2026 at the Academy of Sciences of Lisbon — Portuguese Microbiologists of the Diaspora
When: 17 September
Time: 14:30- 17:30
Where: Academia das Ciências de Lisboa, Rua da Academia das Ciências (https://www.acad-ciencias.pt/) and online
This year's celebration at ACL honours Portuguese microbiologists who have built distinguished international careers abroad. Each guest will present their institution and field, followed by a discussion on the opportunities, challenges, and motivations of working abroad, with advice for young researchers. Hybrid format, recorded on the Academy's YouTube channel.
This session follows the fifth IMD celebration at Academy of Sciences of Lisbon(ACL), held in 2025 under the theme Stories of Microbiology at the Academy of Sciences of Lisbon: from the Vaccine Institution to the first Pasteurians. Through roundtable(Tertúlia), exhibition https://mcusercontent.com/9822d84a8a98b91d532438897/files/a2ba9c62-031e-3aaf-549a-b333391ed487/cata_logo_digital_final.02.pdf and monograph https://www.acad-ciencias.pt/books/historias-da-microbiologia-na-academia-das-ciencias-de-lisboa-da-instituicao-vacinica-aos-primeiros-pasteurianos/, the Academy unveiled early days of microbiology in Portugal—celebration of those who explored invisible world and translated that into benefits for society. Tribute was paid to the first Pasteurians, including Louis Pasteur himself.
This year's theme is Portuguese Microbiologists of the Diaspora. Distinguished Portuguese microbiologists, based in Europe and the USA, will present their backgrounds, institutions, and research. An open discussion will address opportunities and challenges of scientific careers abroad, leaving Portugal, and advice for young researchers.
This theme aligns with IMD, since microorganisms and scientists studying them know no borders. Microbiology thrives on international collaboration, mobility, and idea exchange. Celebrating Portuguese microbiologists overseas celebrates microbiology itself: openness, connection, and shared pursuit of understanding life at the smallest scale. It recognises the Portuguese scientific diaspora’s contributions to global knowledge while inspiring new generations to pursue science without borders.
The event will be held in person at Academy, via videoconference, and recorded for Academy's YouTube channel.
Find out more https://www.acad-ciencias.pt/
GIMM Festival 2026 – Questions of The Future - Microbes
When: 17-19 September
Time: 09:00- 19:00
Where: Pavilhão de Portugal / Portugal, Lisboa
The GIMM Festival is an annual event in Lisbon that connects science and society through dialogue, discovery and engagement. In 2026, under the theme Microbes, it will bring together scientists, thinkers and the public to explore the most important unanswered questions shaping biomedical research, society and the future.
The GIMM Festival is an annual event in Lisbon, Portugal, emboding the spirit of exploration and innovation at the Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine(GIMM). Bridging science and society, the festival creates a dynamic platform for dialogue, discovery, and engagement. Each year, it focuses on a transformative theme reflecting global challenges, aligning with GIMM’s purpose of advancing science to improve lives. For 2026, the theme will be Microbes.
More than another meeting amongst researchers, the GIMM Festival is intended as a collective reflection on a scientific area with deep societal implications.
Our central goal is to identify critical unanswered questions–that can guide discovery, collaboration, and real-world impact in the future.
For this, we gather influential minds in fundamental and applied biomedical sciences, as well as leaders from diverse complementary fields such as social sciences, arts, engineering, and public health.
Over three days, we explore critical questions of the future–two days targeting scientists, leading to one day for general public.
By shifting its focus annually, the GIMM Festival ensures a continued connection to the evolving frontiers of knowledge, fostering public awareness, and inspiring action. From immersive experiences to thought-provoking discussions, it’s a celebration of curiosity and a catalyst for change.
View the programme: https://fest.gimm.pt/program/
Register via: https://fest.gimm.pt/
Microbe Quest: Explore the Hidden World That Shapes Our Lives
When: 17 September
Time: 10:00- 17:00
Where: University Institute of Health Sciences, IUCS-CESPU, Gandra, Portugal
Celebrate World Microorganism Day through an interactive Microbe Quest Fair featuring themed stations on food, health, environment, microscopy, agar art, antimicrobial resistance, microbial biotechnology, and hands-on games. Visitors will discover how microbes shape our world while engaging in inspiring activities designed to spark curiosity, scientific thinking, and One Health awareness.
Organizing Committee:
Ana R. Freitas. UCIBIO, University Institute of Health Sciences, CESPU; Associate Laboratory i4HB-Institute for Health and Bioeconomy; Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
Carla Miranda. UCIBIO, University Institute of Health Sciences, CESPU; Associated Laboratory for Green Chemistry (LAQV-REQUIMTE), NOVA University of Lisbon, Caparica, Portugal.
Sandra Quinteira. UCIBIO, University Institute of Health Sciences, CESPU; BIOPOLIS/CIBIO-InBIO; Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
This Fair will be open to the CESPU community and society. Dozens of students from different courses (Biomedical Sciences, Nutrition Sciences, Forensic Sciences, Dental Medicine and Veterinary Medicine), as well as teachers and technicians are expected to circulate curiously among different experiments showing the essential role that microorganisms play in our lives, while also addressing the critical issue of the global public health threat of antimicrobial resistance.
The objective is to raise awareness about the huge importance of microorganisms in our daily lives, using real examples from various areas, which we will divide into several sections: Nutrition, Microscopy, Culture media, Agar Art, Environment, Forensics, Health & Disease; a Quiz station, and a Photo booth for memories and a bulletin board where participants could leave messages.
Drawing the Invisible: Humour Meets Microbiology
When: 17 September
Time: 10:30- 18:30
Where: Universidade Católica Portuguesa - Faculty of Dental Medicine, Estrada da Circunvalação 3504-505 Viseu, Portugal
Drawing the Invisible is a hands-on science communication event where participants discover the microbial world, explore humour and visual storytelling, and create original cartoons inspired by microbiology. The event brings together scientists, illustrators and the public to celebrate microorganisms through creativity, learning and engagement.
Drawing the Invisible: Humour Meets Microbiology is a science communication event organised by the Faculty of Dental Medicine of Universidade Católica Portuguesa as part of International Microorganism Day 2026.
Microorganisms are essential to life, yet they remain invisible to most people and are often associated only with disease. This event explores how humour, illustration and visual storytelling can make microbiology more engaging, accessible and memorable.
Open to students, educators, researchers, healthcare professionals, artists and anyone interested in science, the event requires no previous artistic experience. Participants are encouraged to explore ideas, collaborate and communicate rather than focus on technical drawing skills.
The programme follows a progressive learning journey. Participants first discover the microbial world through a session led by microbiologists, then explore humour and visual storytelling as tools for communicating science, before taking part in a hands-on illustration workshop to create an original microbiology-inspired cartoon.
Participants' cartoons will be showcased in an online gallery, where the public will vote for a People's Choice Award, extending engagement beyond International Microorganism Day.
As its inaugural edition, Drawing the Invisible aims to demonstrate how creativity can strengthen science communication and inspire a more informed understanding of the microbial world participants could leave messages.
Programme of the Day
10:30 – Welcome - Introduction to International Microorganism Day and the objectives of the event.
10:45 – Discovering the Invisible World - An engaging session led by microbiologists exploring the diversity of microorganisms and their essential roles in health, food, biotechnology, the environment and everyday life.
11:30 – Communicating Science Through Humour - An interactive workshop introducing humour, visual storytelling and the principles of communicating microbiology to different audiences through cartoons and illustration.
12:30 – Lunch Break
14:00 – Drawing the Invisible - A practical illustration workshop where participants work alongside microbiologists and illustrators to create an original cartoon communicating a microbiology concept of their choice.
16:00 – Closing Session - Presentation of the cartoons, group discussion and launch of the online gallery, where the public will be invited to vote for the People's Choice Award.
Find out more: https://forms.gle/LSmsPtfYVJ5dtuhM7
International Microrganism Day Oeiras 2026
When: 17 September
Time: 16:00- 19:00
Where: Marina de Oeiras
Microorganisms are taking over Oeiras Marina for an afternoon of science, discovery and fun. Meet ITQB NOVA researchers, explore the fascinating world of microbes and learn about cutting-edge research. Enjoy hands-on experiments, games, drawing and interactive science activities by the sea.
Microorganisms will take over Oeiras Marina for an afternoon of science and discovery!
Meet ITQB NOVA researchers and explore the fascinating world of the smallest inhabitants of our planet. Discover the cutting-edge research taking place at ITQB NOVA and learn how microorganisms shape our lives in surprising ways.
Younger visitors can unleash their creativity through hands-on experiments, drawing, games and fun science activities.
Join us for an afternoon of science by the sea, organized by ITQB NOVA with the support of the Municipality of Oeiras.
1st International Microorganism Day at FCNAUP – Microbiology in Action: Science, Education and Society
When: 17 September
Time: 16:30- 19:00
Where: Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Porto (FCNAUP), Auditorium 0.103, Porto, Portugal (in person and online via Microsoft Teams)
Celebrate International Microorganism Day by exploring how microbiology contributes to food safety, education and global health through expert lectures, an international student dialogue and the launch of the 2026/2027 MicroMundo@UPorto project. Join us in person or online.
The 1st International Microorganism Day at FCNAUP explores how microbiology contributes to food safety, education and global health through expert lectures, an international student dialogue and the launch of the 2026/2027 MicroMundo@UPorto project. The event aims to bring microbiology closer to students and society while promoting microbiology literacy and raising awareness of the essential role of microorganisms in our daily lives.
The programme includes a keynote lecture by Jorge Pinto Ferreira (FAO) on food safety and antimicrobial resistance, a lecture by Raquel Branquinho (ARMA-Sci/UCIBIO-FFUP) on microbiology education, an international student dialogue involving participants from FCNAUP, the University of Lúrio (Mozambique) and the University of São Tomé and Príncipe, and the official launch of the 2026/2027 edition of the MicroMundo@UPorto project at FCNAUP.
The event is intended for students, academic staff, researchers and other members of the academic community, as well as anyone with an interest in microbiology. By bringing together invited speakers, students and the wider academic community, the event promotes dialogue, collaboration and public engagement with microbiology. Participation is available both in person and online, upon registration.
Organising Committee
Patrícia Antunes, FCNAUP, UCIBIO-FFUP
Lúcia Nova, FCNAUP, UCIBIO-FFUP
Programme of the day:
16:30 – Session 1 | Microbiology and Global Challenges
Keynote lecture: From Farm to Fork: The Role of Food Safety in the Fight Against Antimicrobial Resistance
Jorge Pinto Ferreira
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
International student dialogue with participants from:
Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Porto (FCNAUP), Porto, Portugal
Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Lúrio, Nampula, Mozambique
University of São Tomé and Príncipe, São Tomé, São Tomé and Príncipe
17:15 – Session 2 | Inspiring the Next Generation
Lecture: Microbiology: Much More Than Microorganisms!
Raquel Branquinho
ARMA-Sci – Associação de Promoção do Capital Científico de Armamar
UCIBIO – Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto
18:00 – Session 3 | MicroMundo@UPorto
Patrícia Antunes and Lúcia Nova
with the participation of MicroMundo@UPorto students
Official launch of the MicroMundo@UPorto 2026/2027 project at FCNAUP
Student experiences
Certificate presentation
18:30 – Networking Reception | "Flavours of Microbiology"
Find out more: https://forms.gle/m1sWUjhoP14PvVc2A
Microorganism Science Fair
When: 22 September
Time: 09:30- 17:30
Where: Universidade Católica Portuguesa - Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Porto, Portugal, Rua Diogo de Botelho, 1327, 4169-005 Porto, Portugal
An open-air, science fair-like event where our visitors could find more than 30 different activities, covering several fields of microbiology and microorganisms.
Several researchers from our research center (CBQF - Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina) as well as some company sponsors will dynamize the activities throughout the day, including games, quizzes, demonstrations, hands-on stands, or even artistic installations. The main areas include food safety and production, soil and water microbiomes, antibiotic resistance, probiotics, human health, and the role of microorganisms in industrial processes, among others. The main idea is to engage our visitors as much as possible and show that science – particularly the microbial one – can be fun.
Programme of the day:
1The event will run from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for middle school students and in the afternoon from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. for high school students (we’ve already received more than 1,500 registrations for the big day!). At the end of each session, the luckiest ones can win prizes, such as didactic quizzes, sweatshirts, paper microscopes, and others.
Find out more: https://esb.ucp.pt/pt-pt/about/community/dia-internacional-do-microrganismo
The Invisible World: Microbiology Circuits at FFUP
When: 17 September
Time: 10:00- 17:00
Where: Microbiology Laboratory. UCIBIO - Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, FFUP. Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, n.º 228. 3rd building, 5th floor. https://maps.app.goo.gl/44vqCzVTTNXzNthB9
On International Microorganism Day, FFUP invites you to explore the fascinating world of microbes through an interactive hands-on circuit. Discover how microorganisms shape our health, everyday life, and planet through engaging laboratory activities designed to bring scientific research closer to the community.
Did you know that the vast majority of microorganisms are essential for life, health, and the sustainability of our planet? On the occasion of International Microorganism Day, the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Porto (FFUP) opens its doors for an immersive and interactive experience that demystifies the universe of microbiology and brings society closer to scientific research. Through a hands-on circuit featuring several hands-on activities, participants are invited to get hands-on with science:
• Test and Understand: Discover how antibiotics work and how to address the global challenge of antimicrobial resistance.
• Explore with the Senses: Feel, smell, and visualize the surprising and beneficial side of microorganisms in biotechnology and everyday life.
• Be a Lab Detective: Perform simple identification tests and figure out "who's who" in the microbial world.
• Express Screening: The Fingerprint of Light: Use infrared spectroscopy to obtain bacterial fingerprints.
• Taxonomist for a Day: Discover the work of the Porto Culture Collection and take part in the contest to name a new bacterial species.
Organizing Committee
Ângela Novais: UCIBIO-i4HB. FFUP. Porto, Portugal.
Filipa Grosso: UCIBIO-i4HB. FFUP. Porto, Portugal.
Raquel Branquinho: UCIBIO-i4HB. FFUP. Porto, Portugal. Arma-Sci (Armamar Science Capital Promotion Network), Armamar, Portugal.
Programme of the day:
• September 17 | Session tailored for Senior Universities
• September 18 | Welcome Session for 1st-year MICF students
Come and discover the invisible world of microbes
When: 17 September
Time: 14:00- 18:00
Where: Jardim de Química, Instituto Superior Técnico - Jardim de Química
At Instituto Superior Técnico we are celebrating the International Microorganism Day with hand-on exhibitions and experiments, a Microbiology Trail where participants collect answers for a quizz with with funny prizes.
Join us for an educational and interactive event highlighting the essential role of Microbiology in our daily lives and on our planet. From human health and climate change adaptation to sustainable agriculture and aquaculture, Microbiology is at the heart of scientific progress and continues to drive innovation across multiple fields.
Organising Committee
Patrícia Antunes, FCNAUP, UCIBIO-FFUP
Lúcia Nova, FCNAUP, UCIBIO-FFUP
Programme of the day:
We are excited to announce that International Microorganism Day 2026 will once again be celebrated at Instituto Superior Técnico on 17 September, from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m., in the Jardim de Química.
Join us for an educational and interactive event highlighting the essential role of Microbiology in our daily lives and on our planet. From human health and climate change adaptation to sustainable agriculture and aquaculture, Microbiology is at the heart of scientific progress and continues to drive innovation across multiple fields.
One of the highlights of the event is the Microbiology Trail, an interactive experience designed for children, teenagers, families, and curious minds of all ages. Participants will explore a series of engaging stations featuring games, experiments, and demonstrations that reveal the fascinating world of microorganisms. As they complete the trail, they will collect answers for a quiz, with fun prizes awaiting the winners!
The programme will also feature a live broadcast from the Portuguese Academy of Sciences of the session "Microbiology Without Borders: The Portuguese Scientific Diaspora", in which four Instituto Superior Técnico alumni with internationally recognised careers in Microbiology will discuss current topics in the field.
Live stream:
• Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/93778940853
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@academialx/streams
The event aims to raise public awareness of the impact of Microbiology on society while inspiring curiosity about the microbial world through education, science communication, and hands-on exploration.
We look forward to welcoming you for an afternoon of discovery, learning, and appreciation of the invisible microbial world that surrounds and sustains us!
Find out more: https://tecnico.ulisboa.pt/pt/eventos/dia-internacional-do-microrganismo-2026/
Microorganisms at FMV: from Clinic to Environment, a One Health Journey
When: 17 September
Time: TBC
Where: Microorganisms at FMV: from Clinic to Environment, a One Health Journey
As part of International Microorganism Day 2026, the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Lisbon proposes a guided tour of its facilities, aimed at young students and/or the academic community, to showcase the presence, diversity, and importance of microorganisms in different areas of Veterinary Medicine.
The activity will take place in small groups, always accompanied by FMV‑ULisboa lecturers, researchers, or students. Along the route, thematic stops will be made in key spaces of the Faculty, such as the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, stables, isolation units, laboratories, food‑related areas, and common spaces. In each location, a microbiological topic will be presented in an accessible and interactive way, including microorganisms associated with animals, microbiota, hygiene and biosafety, laboratory diagnosis, antimicrobial resistance, food safety, and the relevance of the One Health approach.
The visit aims to stimulate scientific curiosity and show how microorganisms are present in the daily practice of Veterinary Medicine, influencing animal health, human health, the environment, and food safety. At the end, a short interactive activity using digital platforms will help consolidate the main messages and gather participants’ perceptions about the role of microorganisms in everyday life.
The activity is limited to 20 participants, free of charge, but requires registration via imd2026_fmv@fmv.ulisboa.pt.
Organisation: Department of Animal Health and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, with the support of FMV‑ULisboa staff and students.
Microorganisms that Spin Fibres and Dye Fabrics
When: 17 September
Time: 14:30- 17:00
Where: Online – Microsoft Teams
This online symposium explores microorganisms that produce cellulose nanofibres, forming nanofabrics that, once functionalised, are used to develop innovative biomedical implants. It will also address microorganisms that produce biopigments, investigated as sustainable alternatives for dyeing and printing textiles.
Institution: Centre for Textile Science and Technology (2C2T), University of Minho
Organisation: Jorge Padrão and Helena Felgueiras.
Celebrating the Invisible
When: 14-18 September
Time: 10:00- 17:00
Where: Azores
To celebrate International Microorganisms Day, the Azores Microbial Observatory will be promoting the initiative ‘Celebrating the Invisible’ between 14 and 18 September 2026.
Combining microbiology and technology, the activities invites participantes to explore the invisible world of microorganisms through immersive experiences, interactive content, and accessible and inclusive resources.
To celebrate International Microorganisms Day, the Azores Microbial Observatory will be promoting the initiative ‘Celebrating the Invisible’ between 14 and 18 September 2026.
This initiative aims to raise awareness of the microbial diversity found in various habitats and includes:
A visit to the exhibition on display at the Centre, exploring the microbial diversity of the Azores, linked to thermal springs, lakes and volcanic caves. In addition, visitors to the Centre will have the opportunity to learn about different types of lichens through a creative approach that combines art and science. Admission will be free on 17 September.
Also with the aim of stimulating scientific curiosity, promoting microbiology literacy and bringing science closer to the educational community – particularly young people aged between 12 and 15 – OMIC will be presenting the travelling exhibition ‘A Look at the Invisible’ at Antero de Quental Secondary School during this week. This exhibition, which combines microbiology and technology, invites students to explore the invisible world of microorganisms through immersive experiences, interactive content and accessible, inclusive resources. It offers an opportunity to learn, explore and spark an interest in science in an engaging and accessible way.
