Aguascalientes Gears Up for 2026 Grape Fair, Expecting 30,000 Visitors

Aguascalientes is preparing to host its annual Grape Fair from September 11 to 13, 2026, at Expoplaza. The event anticipates attracting around 30,000 visitors and generating an economic impact exceeding 24 million pesos. This year's fair will showcase 50 wineries, offering a diverse program that includes wine tastings, gastronomic experiences, and cultural activities.

Adding to the festive atmosphere, the fair will feature musical performances by renowned artists Río Roma on September 11 and Benny Ibarra on September 12. The event aims to celebrate and promote Aguascalientes' significant viticulture industry, which ranks among Mexico's top five grape-producing regions. The state cultivates over 1,200 hectares of vineyards, yielding more than 14,300 tons of grapes annually and producing approximately 15 million liters of wine from over 200 labels.

A key highlight of the fair will be the inaugural "Concurso de Vinos del Altiplano" (Altiplano Wine Competition). This competition will bring together 45 wineries from nine states across Mexico, including Querétaro, Jalisco, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Chihuahua, Sonora, Nuevo León, Zacatecas, and the host state, Aguascalientes. The event seeks to foster recognition and excellence within Mexico's burgeoning wine regions.

Beyond the competitions and concerts, the fair will offer a wide array of family-friendly activities. Attendees can look forward to artistic performances, culinary showcases, grape-related product exhibitions, guided wine tastings, barbecue masterclasses, a "gluttons" contest, the traditional grape stomping, a traditional dress fashion show, and a winemaking workshop. The event will also pay a special tribute to Nazario Ortiz Garza, who organized the first Grape Fair in 1954 to boost the local wine industry.