STORY: Hundreds of protesters set up dozens of tents in central Lisbon late on Saturday and into the early hours of Sunday (October 17-18), calling for affordable housing.

The action followed a mass demonstration on Saturday, when tens of thousands marched through central Lisbon to protest rising living costs and a worsening housing crisis.

The encampment echoes a similar housing protest in Porto that began a week ago and a larger camp in Madrid that has remained in place since late September.

Protesters say low wages are failing to keep pace with housing costs and the rising cost of living, leaving many people struggling to make ends meet in the European Union and NATO member state.

Portugal's inflation hit 3.6% in September, driven by rising food and fuel prices, the latter up 15% year-on-year following an increase in tensions in the Middle East.

House prices have more than doubled since 2017, while rents for new leases have nearly doubled, fuelling one of Europe's worst housing affordability crises.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: LISBON, PORTUGAL (OCTOBER 18, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all) (NIGHT SHOTS)

1. VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS AND TENTS IN ROSSIO SQUARE IN CENTRAL LISBON

2. TENTS

3. SQUARE FILLED WITH PROTESTERS AND TENTS

4. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING BETWEEN TENTS

5. VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS LOCKING ARMS

6. PROTESTERS CHANTING (Portuguese): ‘THE PEOPLE UNITED, WILL NEVER BE DEFEATED’