September marks the kick-off of Porto's new cultural season. So, in this edition, we listened to those who think and plan the city's programme: we spoke to artistic directors and programme managers from six of Porto's largest cultural venues – Casa da Música, Cinema Batalha, Coliseu Porto AGEAS, Serralves, Teatro Municipal do Porto and Teatro Nacional São João – who revealed what's coming up, what drives them and what they expect from this new cycle. Because the rentrée is more than a new beginning: it is a turning point.

In Unzip Code, we visited a school that is not exactly an educational institution: Escola Normal is a house that is, in fact, a cultural space where weekly events are held, ranging from music – notably jam sessions – to poetry, as well as “long table dinners”.

The guest on Porto is in the eye of the beholder is João Gesta, the programme coordinator for the Porto Book Fair 2025, which runs in the Jardins do Palácio de Cristal until 7 September. A lover and promoter of poetry, Gesta told us about his addiction to Porto.

And it is with the sense of hearing that we combine Porto this month in Porto Syntax. We went to Mr. Bean's Music Club to meet Miguel Pinto, Edu Mundo and Pancho, who run this club where playing is inseparable from listening.

In the Out and about section, we highlight the last two guided tours of the XV Cultural Cycle of Porto's Cemeteries. This is a programme of themed visits to the city's two municipal cemeteries – Agramonte and Prado do Repouso – led by Professor Francisco Queiroz, with whom Agenda Porto spoke.

On these tours, which are becoming increasingly popular, we are invited to learn about the history and stories of the personalities buried there, to appreciate monuments and sculptures by renowned artists, but also to decipher the symbolism inscribed in the decorations of the tombs.

And because sepulchral tourism is really in vogue, at Portography, we also went to discover notable tombs and statuary at the Lapa Cemetery – stone portraits of those who left their mark on the city. These and many other suggestions can be found in this edition.