DDD 2025 opens on Wednesday, April 23, at the Rivoli, at 9:30 p.m., with the premiere of Os Gigantes, by Victor Hugo Pontes with Dançando com a Diferença. Based on Os Gigantes da Montanha, Pirandello's last play, this work focuses on the boundaries between truth and illusion, but also laughter and tears. This performance marks the return of the choreographer born in Guimarães to DDD, specifically to the Rivoli Grand Auditorium, after having presented Margem in 2019 and Os três irmãos in 2021. The performance features audio description on the 23rd.  

Gaya de Medeiros, who presented Pai para Jantar with Gil Dionísio at DDD 2022, returns with a new work, Cafezinho, which is inspired by Pina Bausch's Café Muller and proposes a reflection on the classics and canons, questioning what we want to survive over time. This time, the creator is performing at the Auditório Municipal de Gaia. 

Also not making its debut at DDD is the Porto company Circolando, directed by André Braga and Cláudia Figueiredo. It was 2019 and Clarão was being presented at Teatro Nacional São João. In 2025, the company premiered OU, with Panaibra Canda, at Teatro Municipal de Matosinhos Constantino Nery.  

In 2023, DDD presented new plays by Vânia Doutel Vaz and Ana Isabel Castro, O elefante no meio da sala and Pechisbeque, respectively. In 2025, the creators return to DDD with new premieres. Vânia Doutel Vaz returns to Teatro Campo Alegre, this time with violetas, a game between expectation and perception, on April 25 and 26. Ana Isabel Castro presents Adoçar, at the Auditório Municipal de Gaia, on May 2 and 3. A work that focuses on the exercise of observation.  

On April 27 and 28, Jo Castro presents LABIA, a durational performance-installation that is an encounter between multidisciplinary artists, at CRL - Central Elétrica. Jo returns to DDD five years after the premiere of Su8marino.  

The Rivoli Grand Auditorium will be the stage for Vera Mantero's new work. Vera is an essential name in the Portuguese dance scene and she is also returning to DDD five years after presenting As práticas propiciatórias dos acontecimentos futuros. Now, she is premiering C.C. (Crematística e Contraforça), on April 29 and 30, co-created and performed by Henrique Furtado Vieira, Joana Manaças, Paulo Quedas and Teresa Silva.  

Marcelo Evelin, who is premiering Bananada: OPERANTÍPODA (part I), on May 2 and 3 at the Palácio do Bolhão, returns to the festival after having presented A invenção da maldade in 2019. This new piece is a physical and sound choreographic object created for and with eight artist-collaborators from his company. It is the first part of the Bananada trilogy, which consists of a creation for 24 performers, including artists and non-artists from the local community of the city where it is presented.