Three evenings in Lisbon. Three different perspectives. A shared purpose.
What happens when contemporary art becomes the starting point for an evening together
This November, Sovereign Art Foundation introduces First Editions à mesa, a series of intimate dinners, each shaped by the art, from the venue and table setting to the dress code.
Bringing together works by finalists of the 2026 Sovereign Portuguese Art Prize, the series invites guests to discover contemporary art through food, conversation and connection. Thanks to the generosity of our partners, all proceeds from the dinners support SAF’s expressive arts programmes for children in Portugal.
Each dinner begins with a selection of artworks and the ideas that connect them. Those ideas shape the evening, creating a setting in which guests can spend time with the works, hear their stories and share their own perspectives.
You don’t need to be a collector or know the language of contemporary art. Come with curiosity, bring a friend and see where the conversation takes you.
With different artists, settings and themes, each dinner offers its own experience. Join us for one, or discover how the conversation changes across the series.
Friday 6 November · DAM, Marvila
An immersive evening exploring the body, appetite, memory and desire. At DAM, one long table becomes the setting for rich colours, candlelight and unexpected encounters between art, food and conversation.
Maria Bizri of Pomegranate Kitchen will create the evening’s menu, while guests are invited to dress in jewel tones, velvet, satin and touches of gold.
Monday 16 November · Cícero, Chiado
An elegant evening exploring voice, identity, memory and resilience. Generously hosted by Cícero, Beautiful Resistance brings together four finalist works that ask us to consider the many ways resistance can take shape.
The restaurant’s distinctive, art-filled setting and a menu created by Cícero provide the backdrop for a meeting of perspectives. Guests are invited to wear terracotta, ochre, olive, deep blue or warm cream.
Friday 20 November · Central Lisbon
An evening of reflection and shifting perspectives, framed by Lisbon’s skyline. Contrasts of black, silver and deep petrol tones set the scene for artworks that invite us to look beyond what first meets the eye.
With a menu by Maria Bizri of Pomegranate Kitchen, mirrored details and a dress code of slick black and silver, Surface Tension offers another interpretation of what an evening shaped by art can be.
Wine across the dinner series is generously sponsored by Howard’s Folly. Maria Bizri of Pomegranate Kitchen brings her creativity to the menus for Forbidden Feast and Surface Tension, while DAM and Cícero generously welcome us into their distinctive spaces, with Cícero also providing the evening’s food.
First Editions à mesa is made possible by the generosity of our venues, chefs and partners. Their support helps keep event costs low, allowing all proceeds from the dinners to support Sovereign Art Foundation’s expressive arts programmes for children in Portugal. Every ticket booked helps make this work possible.
Every booking helps extend the impact of the evening beyond the table.
All proceeds support Sovereign Art Foundation’s expressive arts programmes for children in Portugal. Through art therapy and creative workshops, these programmes give children space to express their emotions, build confidence and connect with others.
The featured artworks are also available to purchase, with sales supporting both the artists and SAF’s charitable work. Joining a dinner or collecting a work offers another way to take part.
The 2026 Sovereign Portuguese Art Prize celebrates contemporary artists working in Portugal and across the Portuguese diaspora, while raising funds for SAF’s programmes.
Public voting is now open. Explore the finalist works online, learn about the artists and vote for your favourite.
The finalist exhibition will be open to the public at Sociedade Nacional de Belas Artes in Lisbon from 25 November to 12 December 2026, offering another opportunity to discover the works in person.
