Expo Paraguay: Paraguay’s Biggest Fair in July

The Expo Paraguay is considered Paraguay’s most important fair and one of the highlights of the regional events calendar. Every July, the grounds in Mariano Roque Alonso turn into a lively mix of livestock show, business platform, folk festival, and concert program.

For immigrants, future expats, and anyone interested in Paraguay, the Expo is especially interesting: if you want to understand the country and its culture better, you will find many sides of it in one place. Cattle breeding, agriculture, industry, local food, traditional music, public institutions, and families from all departments come together here. It is almost “Paraguay in miniature.”

To help you plan your visit, you will first find the most important facts for 2026. After that, we look at the meaning, program, and practical tips.

📌 Expo Paraguay 2026: Key facts at a glance

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What is Expo Paraguay?

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The Expo Paraguay is the largest fair in the country. It brings together livestock shows, a business platform, a folk festival, cultural programming, and a family day out.

Locally, it is often called Expo Mariano Roque Alonso, Expo MRA, or simply Expo Py.

In line with its motto, it shows different economic sectors and social topics. On the fairgrounds, industries come together that often seem separate in everyday life:

• Agriculture & livestock farming (Ganadería)
• National industry & international trade
• Services & technology
• Gastronomy, crafts & music
• Public institutions, organizations & job opportunities

Through this variety, the fair offers a good cross-section of Paraguay’s economic and social life in one central place.

When and where does the Expo take place?

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The Expo Paraguay 2026 takes place from July 11 to 26, 2026, and therefore falls during the receso de invierno, Paraguay’s winter school break.

Many families use this school-free time for outings. That is why it can get much busier, especially on weekends and school activity days. If you want to see the animal halls and stands without large crowds, a weekday morning is usually the better choice.

The venue is the Campo Ferial Mariano Roque Alonso, the headquarters of the Asociación Rural del Paraguay (ARP). The grounds are located in Mariano Roque Alonso, a city in the Departamento Central just north of Asunción.

The site is located on Ruta PY03, which many people still call Ruta Transchaco (Km 14). This often causes confusion because many think of the Chaco. No worries: the venue is in the urban area near Asunción.

Why is Expo Paraguay so important?

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In everyday life in Asunción or on typical travel routes through the eastern part of the country, the agricultural economy often stays in the background. The fair shows how important livestock farming, agriculture, and food production are for Paraguay. It is not only about animals. Breeding, investment, modern farm technology, and contacts also matter.

For many locals, the fair is a fixed event during the winter season. While trade visitors look at the prize-winning breeding cattle, the evening program in the Ruedo Central or the amusement park attracts a broader public and many families.

Who is Expo Paraguay worth visiting for?

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The fair gives a direct insight into everyday life and the economy in Paraguay. That is exactly what makes a visit so valuable:

• For immigrants, future expats, and investors: The fair works like a hands-on crash course in understanding Paraguay. In one day, you get an overview of important companies, brands, public institutions, and topics that shape daily life in the country.
• For families and children: If you visit Expo Paraguay with children, you will find animals to see up close, tractors, food stands, and an amusement park in one place. With family-friendly admission prices and school activity days, it is a popular weekend outing.
• For travelers: If you want to get to know the country away from the usual routes, this is where you experience “real” life. You see modern, urban Asunción and traditional, rural Paraguay coming together.

What can you see at Expo Paraguay?

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According to Expo information, the grounds cover around 25 hectares. If you want to see a lot, you should expect longer walking distances. The exhibitions are divided into several main areas:

🐂 Animals, genetics, and livestock farming (Ganadería)

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Even though the Expo is not a pure agricultural fair, animals and livestock farming strongly shape this area. More than 2,700 animals are registered for 2026. In addition to sheep, goats, and horses, the focus is mainly on cattle breeds adapted to the subtropical climate:

• Brangus & Braford: These crossbreeds are widely represented in the country.
• Nelore: The robust, white zebu cattle are especially common on farms in the Chaco.

For visitors interested in livestock fairs in Paraguay, modern cattle breeding, breeding cattle, or agriculture, this area is especially interesting. Here, you can talk with breeders (Cabañas) and watch competitions or awards.

🚜 Industry, technology, and business

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More than 1,500 brands from different sectors present their products here. The range includes utility vehicles, cars, and tractors, as well as agricultural equipment and solar technology.

At the same time, this area also helps you understand everyday shopping in Paraguay. Companies show new foods and products, mobile providers advertise special plans, and banks provide information about loans. Even institutions such as the migration office or the tax authority offer advice directly at their stands.

🍴 Food and gastronomy

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The food on site reflects Paraguayan eating habits.

For quick street food, you will find options such as Lomitos (steak sandwiches), Asaditos (meat skewers), Empanadas (filled pastries), or Churros (fried pastry) with Dulce de Leche.

A culinary focus is the large grill stations (Parrilladas). At the Expo Asador, local grill culture takes center stage.

Drinks are also covered: besides Cafés, there is the Tereré Road with offers around Tereré, mate accessories, and Yerba Mate.

If you want to learn more about traditional food in Paraguay or prepare typical meat dishes yourself, you will find more ideas in our overview of Paraguayan recipes.

🎶 Music, shows, and evening program

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After the daily trade programs, concerts and shows take place on the fairgrounds. For 2026, weekend performances include:

• July 18: Wisin and DJ Amilcar
• July 25: Ke Personajes, Talento de Barrio, and DJ Cami
• July 26: Kchiporros for the closing

The wider program also includes a motorcycle cross show (July 22), Miss Expo program items, and a soccer fan fest on World Cup final day.

Small glossary: words you may hear at the Expo

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At the Expo, you will hear and read specific Spanish terms. Some of them are especially useful.

Practical tips for your visit

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🚗 Plan your route and traffic

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Getting to Expo Paraguay via Ruta PY03 can be slow, especially in the afternoon and on weekends, because the roads around the fairgrounds get busy.

My tip: Use apps like Bolt or Muv for the trip there so you do not have to look for parking. If you drive yourself, use only the guarded ARP parking areas and be careful with unofficial parking guides on the street. The Patrulla Caminera is present around the access points during the fair days.

🏨 Staying nearby

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If you are looking for accommodation for your Expo Paraguay visit, plan early: places to stay directly in Mariano Roque Alonso are usually booked quickly during the fair days.

Good alternatives in the greater Asunción area are:

• Luque / near Silvio Pettirossi Airport: Good access to the fair without having to cross Asunción’s heavy downtown traffic.
• Asunción North (Aviadores del Chaco / Carmelitas area): Useful if you want to combine your visit with a larger choice of hotels, restaurants, and shopping centers.

🧥 Clothing for the Paraguayan winter

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Winter in Paraguay is often underestimated. During a south-wind front (Viento Sur), temperatures can drop below 10 °C in the evening. Since much of the Expo takes place outdoors, a jacket or sweater is useful for the evening hours. During the day, the sun can still be strong, so sunscreen and a hat are important.

💵 Bring cash

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Many permanent stands accept credit cards or QR-code payments. At smaller stands for crafts, snacks, or drinks, cash (Guaraníes) is often the easier option.

⏱️ Plan enough time

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The ARP grounds are large. For a first overview, plan at least half a day. If you are traveling with children or want to see the animal halls and stands in more detail, a full day is better. Comfortable shoes are important because of the long walking distances on asphalt.

📅 Check the daily program in advance

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In 2026, the program also changes from day to day. Special activities such as concerts, the job fair, animal evaluations, or grill events only take place on certain dates. Check the daily program, times, and possible changes in advance on the official Expo website.

Does Expo Paraguay have anything to do with the Chaco?

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Yes and no. Geographically, the venue is in Mariano Roque Alonso in the Departamento Central. In terms of content, however, there are strong connections because the Chaco strongly shapes Paraguay’s cattle breeding and agribusiness.

You can see this especially in two areas:

• Genetics & products: Nelore cattle are adapted to hot climates. Cooperatives such as Chortitzer, Fernheim, and Neuland also present well-known products sold across the country.
• Technology: Many machines and all-wheel-drive vehicles are designed for unpaved roads in the west or in the countryside.

If you want to visit agricultural events directly in the Chaco, there are separate alternatives:

• Expo Pioneros del Chaco: usually takes place at the end of May near Loma Plata and focuses strongly on agricultural technology.
• Expo Rodeo Trébol: usually takes place in August near Filadelfia and is considered an important livestock show in the region.

❓ Frequently asked questions about Expo Paraguay

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Conclusion: Expo Paraguay shows the productive side of the country

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When many people think of Paraguay, they first think of nature, Tereré, emigration, or a more relaxed life. All of that is part of everyday life here. But the fair also shows another essential side: productive Paraguay, shaped by producers, cattle breeders, traders, cooperatives, and family businesses.

On the grounds in Mariano Roque Alonso, this dynamic becomes visible. Modern farm machinery stands next to traditional cattle breeds, and families, school groups, businesspeople, craftspeople, and ministry staff all meet in the same place.

At first glance, this mix can seem a little chaotic, but it reflects many current topics in the country. The Expo does not present an artificial image for tourists. It shows a piece of economic and social reality and is therefore one of the most important events in Paraguay in July.

📖 Also worth reading

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• Winter in Paraguay: How cold does it really get?

• Winter dishes from Paraguay: Warming up after a cold day

• Soccer in Paraguay: More than a game

• Overview: Shopping in Paraguay

• Official information: Official Expo website