ABAV Expo São Paulo: Brazil’s 53rd Travel Trade Fair Opens 30 September
BRAZIL · SÃO PAULO · EXPATS
Key Facts
- —What it is The 53rd ABAV Expo, the annual trade fair of Brazil’s travel agents’ association, ABAV Nacional.
- —When and where 30 September–2 October 2026, 13:00–20:00 daily, Expo Center Norte, Vila Guilherme, São Paulo.
- —What it costs Registration is free for tourism professionals, through the official ABAV Expo website.
- —Why it matters Brazilian agents meet more than 2,000 brands here, shaping what Brazilians book abroad and at home.
- —The catch It is a business-to-business fair, so holidaymakers without a tourism job cannot register.
ABAV Expo São Paulo brings Brazil’s travel trade to Expo Center Norte for three days, with free entry for registered professionals only.
ABAV Expo São Paulo opens its 53rd edition on Wednesday 30 September 2026 at Expo Center Norte, in Brazil’s largest city. The fair runs until Friday 2 October and is open to travel professionals, students and media — not the general public.
Who can get into ABAV Expo São Paulo
The organiser’s FAQ says the fair is aimed at tourism professionals, students and media. The official registration page offers no general public ticket or paid entry option.
Registration runs through six credential categories on the official site. They cover ABAV member agents, other travel agents, trade companies, tourism guides, students and media.
The trade category covers staff of tour operators, airlines, hotel chains, destinations, car-rental firms and other travel suppliers. Tourism guides need to be accredited guides working in the sector.
Students enter under the “Future Professional” category, but places are limited. Their university must first register with the organiser before individual students can sign up.
Under-16s may enter only with a parent or legal guardian, who must sign a responsibility form at the credential desk. The organiser also asks visitors to show a digital QR credential rather than a printed one.
What costs money and what does not
The official FAQ states that registration is free for tourism professionals. The ABAV Talks programme of panels and lectures is also free for anyone with a credential.
Your real costs are transport, food and, if you come from elsewhere in Brazil, a hotel. The organiser has not published a paid option for people outside the trade.
Dates, hours and the opening day
The fair floor opens from 13:00 to 20:00 on each of the three days, from Wednesday 30 September to Friday 2 October. The official opening ceremony is on 30 September at 10:00 and is for invited guests only.
On the first day, the official programme lists ABAV Talks sessions starting at 15:00. On 1 and 2 October, the talks start at 14:00, one hour after the doors open.
The talks run across four arenas, each with about 80 seats. The organiser lists more than 50 training sessions, on topics such as technology, sustainability, legislation, marketing and destinations.
Getting to Expo Center Norte
Expo Center Norte is at Rua José Bernardo Pinto, 333, in Vila Guilherme, in São Paulo’s northern zone. It sits beside the Center Norte shopping mall, near the Marginal Tietê expressway.
The organiser runs a free shuttle bus from platform 28 of the Tietê bus terminal to the fair. Buses leave every 30 minutes from 11:00, and the last return leaves the fair at 21:00.
The Tietê bus terminal connects directly to Portuguesa–Tietê station on metro Line 1 (Blue). That makes the metro and shuttle the simplest route from central São Paulo, avoiding traffic on the expressway.
Official shuttle times may change with traffic and passenger numbers. Children using the shuttle must travel with a parent, a legal guardian or written authorisation.
The fair closes at 20:00, during São Paulo’s evening rush hour on the Marginal Tietê. If you plan to take a taxi or rideshare, allow extra time or use the shuttle back to the terminal.
Why the 53rd edition matters
ABAV Nacional, the Brazilian Association of Travel Agencies, organises the fair and calls it Latin America’s largest tourism fair. It expects more than 2,000 exhibiting brands and more than 40,000 visitors.
The fair has moved between Brazilian host cities in recent years, and the association says 2026 marks its return to São Paulo. The city is Brazil’s main business centre and the base of many tour operators.
This year’s Buyers Club brings 30 selected buyers from 11 countries, including Argentina, Chile, China, Spain and the United States. They hold pre-booked meetings with Brazilian suppliers, alongside 20 Brazilian destination management companies.
The association also expects around 495 invited travel agents from every Brazilian state. On 1 and 2 October, the programme lists the launch of the floor plan for ABAV Expo 2027.
What it means for expats in Brazil
If you work in tourism, hospitality or events in Brazil, this week puts much of the national travel trade under one roof. Free registration makes it a low-cost way to meet suppliers.
If you are not in the trade, this is not a holiday show with consumer deals. You will not be able to register just to compare packages or book trips.
Expats who run small agencies, guide tours or create travel content can apply under the matching category. Media and content creators have their own credential and access to a Media Center.
The organiser bans swimwear, shirtless visitors, shorts and flip-flops, and suggests business or smart-casual clothes. Most conversations happen in Portuguese, so some basic Portuguese will help at the stands.
FAQ
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is ABAV Expo São Paulo 2026 open to the public?
No. The organiser says the fair is aimed at tourism professionals, students and media. The official registration page offers no general public ticket.
How much does it cost to attend?
Registration is free for tourism professionals through the official ABAV Expo website. The ABAV Talks sessions are also free for credential holders.
Where is Expo Center Norte and how do I get there?
It is at Rua José Bernardo Pinto, 333, in Vila Guilherme, São Paulo. A free shuttle runs every 30 minutes from platform 28 of the Tietê bus terminal, next to Portuguesa–Tietê metro station.
What are the opening hours?
The fair floor opens from 13:00 to 20:00 from 30 September to 2 October 2026. The opening ceremony on 30 September at 10:00 is for invited guests only.
Sources: Details come from the official ABAV Expo website, its FAQ, registration and programme pages, with additional reporting from Visite Brasília and PANROTAS.
- abavexpo.com.br
- abavexpo.com.br
- abavexpo.com.br
- abavexpo.com.br
- visitebrasilia.com.br
- panrotas.com.br
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
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