The South American Bird Fair Comes to Paraguay for the First Time

PARAGUAY · EXPAT LIFE

Fourteen editions across eight countries, and never once here. Paraguay has more than seven hundred bird species.

The South American Bird Fair opens in Asunción on Thursday 17 September 2026 and runs to Sunday 20 September. Gates open at 8 a.m. Asunción time on the first day.

It is the fifteenth edition and the first ever held in Paraguay. The venue is the cultural centre at the Puerto de Asunción, on the riverfront.

The event is the continent’s principal birdwatching gathering. It combines conferences, workshops, a trade show and organised field trips.

Fourteen Editions, Eight Countries, Never Here

The fair began in Argentina in 2010, at San Martín de los Andes, and stayed there for four years. Brazil hosted it at Paraty in 2015.

Argentina took it back in 2016 and again in 2024. Chile hosted at Puerto Varas in 2017, Colombia at Manizales in 2018 and again in 2021.

Uruguay followed at Punta del Este in 2019 and Peru at Cusco in 2022. Ecuador hosted at Mindo in 2023 and Bolivia at La Paz in 2025.

Paraguay is the ninth country and the last of the major southern-cone hosts to take a turn. The national tourism secretariat is the local partner.

Why Paraguay Is Worth the Trip

Paraguay has more than seven hundred recorded bird species. That is a large number for a country of its size.

The reason is geography. Three distinct systems meet inside its borders, and each carries its own species.

They are the Pantanal wetlands in the north, the dry Chaco in the west and the Atlantic forest in the east. A visitor can cross all three in a week.

Organisers expect attendees to record more than three hundred species around Asunción alone during the four days.

What the Programme Covers

The core is conferences and workshops alongside a trade exhibition. Guided hikes, photography outings and field excursions run throughout.

Excursions are offered as half-day and full-day trips, with longer pre-fair and post-fair tours. There is also a birding-club meeting and an education symposium.

One workshop on bird photography, led by Esteban Argerich, costs 400,000 guaranies, about US$68. A session on biological classification with Horacio Matarasso costs 250,000, about US$42.

A hand-carving workshop on native birds, led by José Escobar, is free with separate registration. The official workshops page still carries a stale year label, though the listed weekdays match 2026.

Tickets and What Is Free

Access is mixed, not uniformly paid. The exhibition and trade zone are free to enter.

Passes for the wider programme are sold through Ticketea, the Paraguayan platform. Early Bird costs 385,000 guaranies, General 595,000 and Night Owl 700,000.

In dollars that is roughly US$65, US$101 and US$119. Day passes and full passes are both offered.

People with a disability certificate enter free. Under-fifteens need a paid ticket.

Current availability was not confirmable at the ticketing site directly, but no sold-out notice has been posted anywhere.

Practical Notes for a Visitor

The venue sits in the redeveloped port precinct in central Asunción. It is walkable from the central districts and served by taxis and ride apps.

Two addresses circulate for it. The fair’s own site gives Avenida República and Colón, while the ticketing listing gives Avenida Stella Maris.

Both describe the same port complex. Confirm with the organisers before setting out if you are travelling from outside the city.

Programming is predominantly in Spanish, with regional attendance from across the continent. English sessions should not be assumed.

More: Paraguay news in English, every day from The Rio Times.

Frequently Asked Questions

When and where is the Bird Fair?

Thursday 17 to Sunday 20 September 2026, at the cultural centre of the Puerto de Asunción in Paraguay. Gates open at 8 a.m. local time on the first day.

How much does it cost?

Passes run from 385,000 to 700,000 guaranies, about US$65 to US$119, through Ticketea. The exhibition and trade zone are free to enter.

Is this really the first Paraguayan edition?

Yes. Fourteen previous editions were held in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Uruguay, Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia. Paraguay is the ninth host country.

How many species can I expect to see?

Paraguay has more than seven hundred recorded species, and organisers expect attendees to record over three hundred around the capital during the four days.

What language is the programme in?

Mostly Spanish. Attendance is regional, and English-language sessions should not be assumed.

Sources: South American Bird Fair official site and trajectory page, Ticketea Paraguay, La Nación and La Tribuna.