More Than Debates: A Night to Unwind at OPOMUN 2026
Madalena Reis, OPOMUN Media Team
The OPOMUN 2026 social event took place at Hard Club Porto at 8 p.m., marking a well-deserved break from the intensity of committee debates. As guests arrived at the venue, excitement quickly filled the room, with delegates eager to meet new people, make friends, and enjoy a relaxed evening before returning refreshed to committee sessions the following day.
To set the tone for the night and help everyone unwind, the evening opened with a beautiful musical performance by CLIP student Grace Lewi on the trumpet, who played Take Five by Dave Brubeck. Her performance created a calm and welcoming atmosphere, allowing guests to settle in and enjoy the moment. Following this, CLIP student Tiago Farinha took the stage with a saxophone solo, performing So What by Miles Davis, captivating the audience with his expressive and dynamic playing. To conclude their performances, both Grace and Tiago joined together for a duet, performing Blue Monk by Thelonious Monk.
Following her brother Tiago’s performance, Anna Farinha enchanted the delegates with a classical interlude, performing a Fugue in E Major by Johann Sebastian Bach. Her elegant and precise playing brought a moment of calm and reflection to the evening. The atmosphere then shifted as Maria Sampaio took the stage, singing Silver Springs by Fleetwood Mac, followed by Inês Mendonça with an emotional rendition of In the Stars by Benson Boone. The two then returned to the stage together to perform A Night to Remember by Laufey and Beabadoobee, before being joined by Rafael Duarte for a powerful group performance of Let Down by Radiohead, which deeply resonated with the audience.
After a short pause, CLIP student Benedita Rodrigues stepped onto the stage, performing well-known Portuguese songs such as Amar Pelos Dois by Salvador Sobral, among others. Her beautiful voice filled the room and offered delegates a meaningful introduction to Portuguese music and culture, making international guests feel especially welcomed and connected to OPOMUNs host country.
The night continued with an energetic shift as one of CLIP’s student bands, Marriage of Convenience, took the stage. With Edan Ibinson as lead singer, Benício Mendes on guitar, Rotem Zernovizky on drums, and Erik Howland on bass, the band brought a strong rock vibe to the event. Their lengthy setlist included crowd-pleasers such as the South Park intro by Primus and Reptilia by The Strokes, among many others. They concluded their performance with Snap Out of It by Arctic Monkeys, leaving the audience cheering and eager for more.
Throughout the evening, the venue was filled with dancing, singing, laughter, and an overall sense of joy, as delegates fully embraced the opportunity to relax and connect outside of committee sessions. To close the night, Chairs from all OPOMUN committees gathered in the centre of the venue for a spirited game of musical chairs, with CLIP student Gabriel Zard emerging as the enthusiastic winner.
Although the night was filled with fun and unforgettable moments, delegates eventually headed home to rest, preparing themselves for the busy day of committee sessions that awaited them ahead.