Pavilhão Julião Sarmento

Pavilhão Julião Sarmento is a contemporary art centre in Lisbon's Belém district, open to the public since 4 June 2025. It houses the private collection of Portuguese artist Julião Sarmento (1948–2021) and is one of the city's newest museums. Address: Avenida da Índia 172.

What is the Pavilhão Julião Sarmento?

It is an exhibition space created to preserve, study, explore and share the works Sarmento gathered over decades. The building belongs to the City of Lisbon, and the cultural programme is run by the municipal company EGEAC. It is not a classic single-artist museum: it shows above all what the artist collected, and so reflects his tastes, friendships and influences.

Who was Julião Sarmento?

Julião Sarmento (1948–2021) was one of Portugal's leading contemporary artists, working in painting, drawing, film and installation. After his death, the collection he built up over many years found a permanent home in Lisbon.

The building: from warehouse to gallery

The pavilion occupies a former food warehouse known as the Pavilhão Azul (Blue Pavilion) on Avenida da Índia in Belém. The city-owned building was remodelled by architect João Luís Carrilho da Graça. Turning an industrial structure into a contemporary art centre is one reason the architecture itself deserves attention.

What can you see?

The collection comprises around 1,500 works: paintings, drawings, sculptures, videos and installations. The inaugural exhibition is titled "Take 1". It presents a selection from Sarmento's collection and uses a cinematic metaphor, the first take, to open a longer story about the collection. The programme also goes beyond exhibitions, bringing together visual arts, cinema, literature, music and fashion, in keeping with the interdisciplinary spirit of the artist's work.

Practical visiting information

• Opening hours: as of 2025, Tuesday to Sunday, 11:00–19:00.
• Tickets: bought on site. General admission was 4 euros, 2 euros for young people aged 13–25, and 3 euros for visitors over 65.
• Check before you go: prices and hours may change, so consult pavilhaojuliaosarmento.pt or the EGEAC website first.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Pavilhão Julião Sarmento? In Lisbon's Belém district, at Avenida da Índia 172. This is a different area from Parque das Nações, although both lie along the Tagus.

When did it open? To the public on 4 June 2025.

How many works are in the collection? Around 1,500, including paintings, drawings, sculptures, videos and installations. The opening exhibition shows a selection.

Who designed the conversion? Architect João Luís Carrilho da Graça, who adapted the former food warehouse.

Do I need to book tickets in advance? According to available information, tickets were sold on site, but it is worth checking current rules on the official website.

Who is it for?

The pavilion suits visitors interested in contemporary art and in the adaptive reuse of industrial buildings, and anyone in Belém who wants something beyond the classic monuments. Given the scale of the space, it works well as a shorter visit combined with a walk around the neighbourhood.