Oaxaca Mezcal Fair Guide 2026: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go | Oaxaca Blog · Qué Onda Oaxaca
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Guide12 min readJune 7, 2026
Oaxaca Mezcal Fair Guide 2026: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go
From how to avoid overpaying to why you shouldn't ask for 'shots.' The ultimate guide to surviving the FAIM.
By
Dary / Qué Onda Oaxaca
12 min
International Mezcal Fair. Photo: State Government
If the Guelaguetza is Oaxaca's most photographed cultural event, the International Mezcal Fair (Feria Internacional del Mezcal or FAIM) is probably the most enjoyed on the ground level. Every July, the Oaxaca Cultural and Convention Center (CCO) turns into the largest and most important open bar in Mexico.
But before you buy your ticket thinking about drinking until dawn, there are a few things you should know. This isn't a frat party; it's an agro-industrial and cultural exhibition where you'll find mezcals you'll rarely see in a supermarket, producers who inherited their craft from their great-grandparents, and prices ranging from affordable to super-premium.
This guide is meant to help you survive the fair, avoid buying mediocre spirits at luxury prices, and understand why having 100 producers together in one hall is something worth experiencing.
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The Basics: Dates, Location, and Tickets 2026
Official FAIM 2026 Poster
▸Dates: July 17 to July 28, 2026
▸Hours: 11:00 am to 10:00 pm (Box office closes at 9:00 pm)
▸Venue: Centro Cultural y de Convenciones de Oaxaca (CCO) in Santa Lucía del Camino.
▸Entry Cost: $80 MXN (cash). Free for children under 12 and seniors with INAPAM ID.
Important: This year's (2026) ticket proceeds go to the Hogar Primavera de Vivienda Bienestar Oaxaca program.
How to get to the CCO (And not get lost)
CCO LocationCommon Tourist Mistake: Thinking the fair is at the Ethnobotanical Garden or the zócalo. It's not. The CCO is in Santa Lucía del Camino, about a 15-20 minute drive east of the historic center.
Your transportation options:
1. BinniBus (Best Option): The government usually runs special routes ("Rutas Guelaguetza") from downtown to the CCO for $8 pesos. It's safe, direct, and saves you the nightmare of parking.
2. Walking: If you're staying in Jalatlaco or the far east side of downtown, it's about a 15-20 minute walk. Very safe during the day, and at night there's always a crowd walking back.
3. Taxi / DiDi: A DiDi from the zócalo will cost between $70 and $120 pesos depending on the time. Be patient when requesting a ride back, as demand explodes at 10 pm.
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What's Inside (It's not just Mezcal)
Stands at the Mezcal Fair
Your $80-peso ticket gives you access to the entire venue. The space is strategically divided:
Area
Exhibitors
What you'll find
**Mezcal Pavilion**
100–106 companies
Certified mezcals with official SHCP tax seal
**Artisan Pavilion**
208 artisans
Black clay, alebrijes, textiles from all regions
**Agro-industrial & Coffee**
24 producers + 14 coffee brands
Agave derivatives, salsas, jams, specialty coffee
**Gastronomic Zone**
20 stands
Tlayudas, moles, traditional Oaxacan antojitos
**Craft Beer & Music Forum**
16 breweries
Open-air zone with live music stage every day
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FAIM 2026 Event Program
Two simultaneous stages every day: Recinto Ferial (indoor main stage) and Área Verde (outdoor stage). Some days include activities at the Coffee Pavilion (Pabellón Café). Program is subject to changes by the organizers.
FAIM 2026 Program — July 17 to 20
Friday, July 17 — Opening Day
Recinto Ferial (Main Stage)
▸Official inauguration of the Feria del Mezcal 2026
▸04:00–07:00 pm · Banda La Mezcalera
▸07:30–09:50 pm · DJ Tres Líneas
Área Verde (Outdoor Stage)
▸05:00–07:00 pm · DJ Luz Tenorio
▸07:00–09:50 pm · Legacy
Saturday, July 18
Recinto Ferial
▸12:00–01:00 pm · Book presentation: "El arte de catar mezcal" (The art of tasting mezcal)
▸04:00–05:00 pm · Banda de Aliento Infantil y Juvenil San Lorenzo
▸05:30–07:30 pm · Banda Naram's de Zaachila
▸08:00–09:50 pm · Sigue la Huella
Área Verde
▸03:00–05:00 pm · DJ Vice
▸05:30–07:30 pm · Banda La Clave
▸08:00–09:50 pm · DJ Mausoleo
Tuesday, July 28 — Last Day
Recinto Ferial
▸12:00–01:30 pm · Book presentation: Herencia y maestría, experiencia de maestros mezcaleros (Heritage and mastery: the experience of mezcal masters)
▸02:00–04:00 pm · DJ Martsal
▸05:00–07:00 pm · Andante: La Cumbia del Andador
▸07:30–09:50 pm · La Picosa
Área Verde
▸02:30–04:30 pm · DJ Nat
▸05:00–07:30 pm · Delta Nine DJ Vinilo
▸08:00–09:50 pm · Norteño Panda
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Survival Guide and Mezcal Etiquette
If you've never been to a spirits fair this size, the sheer number of options will overwhelm you in the first ten minutes. Follow these rules so you don't end up dizzy by 1:00 pm:
1. Tastings are not free "shots"
Producers will offer you a small sip (sometimes literally a quarter of an ounce) in a veladora glass. The purpose of this sample is for you to evaluate the flavor and aromas, and decide if you want to buy the bottle. It is not an open bar. Sip it slowly ("a besos", like giving it little kisses), savor it, and if you're not buying, say thank you and move on. Asking for "another little bit just to be sure" when you clearly aren't buying is considered very rude.
2. Start with Espadín, end with Wild Agaves
If you're not very experienced, don't start by tasting a 50% ABV Tepeztate. The Espadín agave is the backbone of Oaxacan mezcal: it's smooth, balanced, and the best way to understand the master mezcalero's style.
Once your palate is calibrated, move on to ensambles (agave blends) or wild agaves like Tobalá, Cuixe, or Madrecuixe, which have more mineral, herbal, or earthy profiles.
3. "Lining your stomach" is mandatory
Never arrive on an empty stomach. The fair opens at 11:00 am. If you start tasting mezcal at noon without eating, your fair experience will end abruptly at 2:00 pm in the worst possible way. Go straight to the food zone, order a tlayuda or some tasajo tacos, and then begin your tasting tour.
4. Ask, ask, ask
The best part of the fair isn't drinking; it's talking to the people who make it. The master mezcalero or their family is usually behind the stand. Ask them what region they're from (mezcal from Sola de Vega tastes very different from Matatlán), what kind of oven they use, or how long that specific agave took to mature. They love talking about their craft.
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The Local's Secret: The Last Day (July 28)
Official FAIM 2026 Artwork: "Diosa del Mezcal" (Goddess of Mezcal). Illustration by master artist Shinzaburo Takeda, inspired by Yaa Nduva — the Zapotec deity of mezcal. Photo: State Government
The official FAIM 2026 artwork is by master artist Shinzaburo Takeda, titled "Diosa del Mezcal" (Goddess of Mezcal). The watercolor piece draws inspiration from the legend of Yaa Nduva, the Zapotec deity of mezcal — a reminder that this drink carries centuries of history before any trend.
If you want the best atmosphere and the best deals, go on July 28.
Why? Due to organizing committee rules, exhibitors are forbidden from removing bottles from the venue that have already been opened for tasting. Plus, packing up and doing inventory on leftover product is a hassle. The result? Starting around 6:00 pm on the last day, prices drop.
Many producers liquidate their remaining inventory and sell the exhibition bottles (sometimes half full, or nearly empty) at ridiculously low prices. Also, the closing musical act is always the most festive, with the best bands playing until the end. If you can only go one day, and you want to buy bottles, make it this one.
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Is it worth going?
Absolutely. Even if you don't drink alcohol, the atmosphere is festive, the food is excellent, and the artisan pavilion has pieces that are sometimes hard to find in the city center.
Final Tip: Bring cash. While many stands now accept cards or transfers, the cellular network inside the CCO sometimes gets saturated due to the crowd, causing payment terminals to fail. Nothing breaks the heart more than finding the perfect Tobalá and not being able to pay for it because your card won't go through.
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Looking for more events in Oaxaca this July?
Check the full events calendar on Qué Onda Oaxaca — updated week by week.
And if you want to keep planning your trip, explore our Oaxaca travel guides.
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See you at the CCO! If you found this guide helpful, share it, and if you see us around the fair, buy us a mezcal!
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