The forecast refers to the 30th and 31st of December and is the result of research carried out by the Regional Secretariat, supervised by Eduardo Jesus, together with tourism operators.

“The results of the surveys confirm that Madeira remains one of the preferred destinations for Christmas and the New Year, not only in Portugal but also internationally”, says the official, in a statement, adding that the rate of hotel occupation is “a reflection of the continuous effort to promote the region”, which combines “tradition, innovation and an excellent tourist offer”.

The New Year's Eve fireworks show in Funchal is one of the highlights of the festivities, this year under the theme “Madeira Tiles”.

Lasting eight minutes and with 59 firing points (27 in the Funchal amphitheater, 25 on the city's seafront and five at sea and two on the island of Porto Santo), the show will combine pyrotechnics with innovative multimedia technologies, including lasers, lights and music.

In addition to the thousands of Madeirans and tourists who watch the spectacle on land every year, this year there will be 11 cruise ships, a large sailboat and a mega yacht in the port and bay of Funchal, transporting a total of 27 thousand people, approximately 19 thousand passengers and eight thousand crew.

“Compared to 2023, both during the Christmas period and at the end of the year, hotel occupancy rates register consistent increases, reflecting the consolidation of the tourism sector”, says the statement from the Secretariat of Economy, Tourism and Culture, which also highlights the “programming rich in culture, entertainment and shows” at that time.

Madeira's Christmas and New Year's Eve party program began on December 1st, with a series of initiatives that liven up the center of Funchal until January 7th, with an investment of 4.1 million euros.

The amount includes entertainment and logistics, support for the entities involved, New Year's Eve fireworks (1.3 million euros), as well as this year's Christmas illuminations and Carnival 2025, as this is of a joint public tender.

For this period, a total of 173 presentations were scheduled, including 51 shows, 24 choir shows, 49 presentations by folk groups and marching bands, five DJ presentations, among other initiatives.

The traditional Christmas Market, located at Placa Central on Avenida Arriaga, one of the biggest attractions of the season, will also be open until January 7th, and between Sunday and Thursday, it opens at 10:00 and closes at 00:00 and on weekends it closes at 01:00, but on December 31st it will exceptionally close at 04:00.