Feria Hecho Aquí 2026 Calls on the Creative Sector: Crafts, Design, Tradition and Costa Rican Identity

The application period opens this Friday, June 12, and will run until Sunday, July 12, 2026. Registration is completely free.
Consult the participation guidelines at: www.mcj.go.cr/cpac

San José, June 12, 2026. The Ministry of Culture and Youth (MCJ) has opened the call for applications for the 12th edition of the Feria Hecho Aquí (FHA2026), the country’s leading space dedicated to the promotion, exhibition, and commercialization of cultural and creative products made in Costa Rica.

The submission process opens this Friday, June 12, and will close on Sunday, July 12, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. Individuals and legal entities interested in participating may register free of charge through the website www.mcj.go.cr/cpac.

Jorge Rodríguez Vives, Minister of Culture and Youth, stated: “The Feria Hecho Aquí is a showcase where Costa Rica’s talent, creativity, and traditions find opportunities to grow, generate income, and connect with new audiences. At the Ministry of Culture and Youth we believe in the importance of strengthening these spaces because every product tells a story, reflects an identity, and demonstrates how culture transforms lives and generates development for people and communities. Betting on our creators is also betting on the country we are and the one we want to continue building.”

The Feria Hecho Aquí 2026 will take place from December 4 to 6 at the Antigua Aduana Complex and the Casa del Cuño in San José. This emblematic space will host offerings across the seven participation categories for this edition:

Traditional crafts: Divided into indigenous crafts and mestizo crafts, preserving the knowledge and trades passed down from generation to generation.
Contemporary crafts: Integrates neo-crafts and artisanal souvenirs, fusing traditional techniques with modern aesthetic trends.
Design: Proposals from various disciplines (clothing, jewelry, utilitarian objects, etc.) that reflect innovation, identity, and Costa Rican cultural value.
Visual arts: Divided into serial works (photography, printmaking) and unique pieces or works (painting, sculpture).
Agro-industry: Enterprises focused on the processing of packaged agricultural raw materials, foods, artisanal beverages, and natural cosmetics.
Gastronomy: SMEs and enterprises dedicated to the on-site preparation of dishes related to traditional Costa Rican cuisine.
Collectives and associativity: Formalized organizations and associations with demonstrable track records that work jointly on projects in the areas of crafts, design, visual arts, artist books, and agro-industry.

The FHA2026 is the annual event in Costa Rica dedicated to the celebration, valorization, and promotion of Costa Rican crafts, design, visual arts, agro-industry, and gastronomy. This space brings together enterprises from various categories to exhibit and commercialize their products, which must be 100% made in Costa Rica. The fair promotes associative work, the building of cultural collaborations, and contributes directly to strengthening the development of the country’s artisanal and creative sector.

Edition Highlights: Driving Renewal and Cultural Balance

With the aim of opening new opportunities within the country’s creative ecosystem, the organization will classify submitted proposals into two modalities for the selection process: “New Weaves” (Nuevos tejidos), aimed at projects that have not participated consecutively in the last three editions of the fair, and “Track Record” (Trayectoria), for established proposals that have been present in the three previous fairs. This measure seeks to promote the renewal of cultural offerings, expand opportunities for new initiatives, and maintain a balance with consolidated projects that have strengthened the fair over the years.

Among the main new features of this edition, the incorporation of the Collectives and Associativity category stands out, designed to allow duly formalized groups, associations, and chambers to exhibit and commercialize their cultural offerings jointly. Furthermore, with the aim of enriching attendees’ experience and energizing the event, the Feria Hecho Aquí 2026 will open the possibility for applicants to propose workshops and activities, turning the fair into a true hub for the exchange of knowledge and community interaction.

José Cañas, Director of the Center for Artistic and Cultural Production, expressed: “The Feria Hecho Aquí is consolidated year after year as an indispensable platform for the economic revitalization of the country’s creative sector. For 2026, the application period that opens today not only represents the first step toward a key commercial window for the year’s close, but also arrives driven by important innovations in its guidelines. With the formal incorporation of the ‘Collectives and associativity’ category and the possibility for applicants themselves to propose workshops and exchange activities, we seek to ensure that the selection process strengthens joint working networks and enhances the sustainability of the entire cultural ecosystem.”