Successfully implemented at the Lisbon and Porto Coliseums, at the Carolina Deslandes and Diogo Clemente concert, and at the MEO KALORAMA, MEO Marés Vivas, MEO Monte Verde, MEO Sons do Mar and Sol da Caparica festivals, the Fundação MEO 's 'Music with Meaning' project is now taking a crucial step by reaching the country's largest concert hall.
The start of this new phase of the project will be marked by the inauguration of a new Pause Room, with accessibility designed for neurodivergent people. It will be a space with reduced stimuli where sensory kits will be made available and which will allow neurodivergent people to find the sensory regulation they need in the event of overload.
This inauguration will take place on November 1st at the concert celebrating Miguel Araújo's 20th career anniversary.
"The Pause Room is much more than a physical space, it's a symbol of empathy and progress. It was designed to meet the needs of neurodivergent people, such as autistic people or people with ADHD, among others, offering them comfort and safety in an environment that can often be overwhelming. On a stage as emblematic as the MEO Arena, this project represents the Fundação MEO 's clear and unwavering commitment to a culture that is truly inclusive and accessible to all, without exception," says Carolina Pita Negrão, director of the Fundação MEO. "We are working continuously and gradually to make MEO Arena truly accessible to everyone who visits us.
MEO's association through Música com Sentido is a very important milestone for the accessibility project which, year after year, presents improvements and new approaches that are more inclusive and adjusted to all audiences," said Jorge Vinha da Silva, CEO of MEO Arena.
"MEO and its Foundation's investment in the MEO Arena accessibility project is essential for its expansion. We have been on a consistent path, both with the brand, in its events over the last 2 years, and with the Arena, with us since 2022. These are projects that have been honorable for the communities and make a difference among peers in the sector. We continue our journey aware that much remains to be done, but proud of every solid step that has been taken," say Tiago Fortuna and Jwana Godinho, founders of Access Lab.
The new inclusion measures, part of MEO Arena's accessibility project and designed in conjunction with Access Lab, a consultant renowned for its approach and experience in the field of accessibility, reinforce the amenities they cover:
- People with reduced mobility: adapted access, improved accessibility in venues and reserved areas;
- Neurodivergent people: a pause room with reduced stimuli, where sensory kits are provided for self-regulation;
- Deaf people: Portuguese Sign Language (LGP) interpreters in dedicated areas and sensory vests;
- Blind and low-vision people: Audio description service.
The expansion of the 'Music with Meaning' initiative, which positively impacted the cultural experience of more than 150,000 people in 2025 alone, represents the Fundação MEO 's commitment to the community, ensuring that a growing number of people with different needs can fully enjoy live shows. On the other hand, it also reinforces MEO's commitment to putting technological innovation at the service of a more humane and inclusive society.
Between the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026, five concerts with accessibility features are already planned:
November 1st - Miguel Araújo - 20 Years Old
November 28th - Singing Strawberries
November 29th - Matias Damásio - 20 years of career
January 10th - Lisbon Film Orchestra "Our Stories"
February 13 - The Four and a Half
For these shows, in addition to adapted access and the Pause Room, resources will be made available for Deaf, Blind or Low Vision spectators, at no extra cost to the ticket price. To do this, the public should send an email - with reference to the concert and the resource they want - to acessibilidade@aarena.pt, after which they will receive the necessary instructions. MEO Arena's website has a page dedicated to Accessibility where all the relevant information for these communities is available.