Cattle Are Arriving. The Fair Itself Isn't Open Yet
Trucks loaded with cattle have already started rolling into the Santa Cruz de la Sierra fairgrounds, but that's not the same thing as Expocruz opening its gates. The general public still has to wait until September 18 for the 50th international edition of Bolivia's largest trade fair, according to the official Fexpocruz website. What kicked off on September 9 and 10 instead was the livestock sector's own calendar, the annual parade of cebu cattle into the fairground stalls.
Local outlets El Mundo and La Razón both reported on September 9 that registered judging animals rose from 877 last year to 924 this year, a 5.4% increase. The lineup covers high-genetic-value cebu breeds including Brahman, Sindhi, Gyr, Girolando, Nelore and Polled Nelore, the backbone of the fair's livestock program for decades.
More Ranches, a Bigger Dairy Contest
The number of participating cattle ranches grew from 95 to 110. The dairy production contest, which judges the Gyr and Girolando breeds, grew from 25 to 30 entrants, a 20% increase that tracks the sector's broader momentum this year.
On Wednesday, September 9, 558 cebu cattle from the Brahman, Sindhi, Gyr and Girolando breeds entered the grounds; Thursday brought the Nelore and Polled Nelore arrivals that rounded out the total.
Marcelo Muñoz, president of the Bolivian Zebu Breeders Association (Asocebú), framed the volume of entries as a win for the industry, telling La Razón that having "more than 900 animals up for judging is a milestone for us." Because of the sheer volume, organizers split judging across two rings instead of one this year, a point confirmed by both Muñoz and Asocebú's general manager, Fernando Baldomar, in remarks carried by eju.tv.
19 Auctions, and a Calendar That Starts Early
Beyond the judging ring, this year's livestock calendar includes a record 19 cattle auctions, according to eju.tv. Many begin days before the fair's official opening and aren't even held on the fairgrounds: the Sausalito ranch, for instance, kicks off the auction calendar on Sunday, September 13, with its "Mega Toros Mochos" sale, and has two more auctions planned off-site. There's also a dedicated Santa Inés sheep auction run by the Oro Negro ranch, set for the final day of Expocruz, and a direct-sale cattle event, known locally as a "shopping" because there's no bidding involved, organized jointly by the Nelorí, Nelorek and El Trébol ranches for September 20.
The Run-Up to Bolivia's Biggest Fair
Expocruz 2026 marks the fair's 50th international edition, running under the slogan "Opportunities for Everyone" from September 18 to 27, per the official Fexpocruz site. Organizers are projecting more than 2,200 exhibiting brands and over 30 international delegations, with a goal of half a million visitors across the ten-day run. Days before opening, the fairgrounds were reported at roughly 90% construction progress, including a new energy-efficient lighting system along the main avenues, according to eju.tv.
A Date That Changed: Cainco's Business Roundtable
Cainco's International Business Roundtable, held alongside Expocruz, isn't scheduled for September 21-23, as some earlier coverage suggested. The current Fexpocruz calendar puts it at September 25-27. The event is expected to draw upward of 600 firms representing roughly 20 countries, generating over 8,020 business meetings across three days. That sits within organizers' broader target, floated months earlier in eju.tv coverage, of roughly 1.4 billion bolivianos in business intentions across Expocruz and the roundtable combined.
What Comes Next
With most animals now on the grounds, this week's livestock schedule moves on to carcass ultrasound measurements for the Brahman breed, cattle weigh-ins, and the first milking sessions of the dairy contest, ahead of the formal judging rounds. Breed champions will be named as the calendar progresses toward Expocruz's close on September 27.
