ExpoCatólica, the world’s largest Catholic trade fair, launched its 20th edition this Wednesday (14). The event will take place from July 1 to 4, 2027, at the Pro Magno Event Center in São Paulo. The chosen theme is "Many gifts, the same mission," inspired by the letters of Saint Paul the Apostle, the patron of this edition.
Organized by Promocat since 2003, ExpoCatólica brings together approximately 70,000 people and more than 250 exhibitors. Over the course of four days, the venue hosts manufacturers of religious goods, publishing houses, artists, technology and architecture firms, shrines, dioceses, religious communities, parishes, and the faithful from various regions of Brazil and abroad.
Twenty encounters
The 2027 milestone is measured not in years, but in editions. The organizers view each one as a "gathering"—a year passes on its own, whereas a gathering only takes place because people choose to attend. For this reason, the campaign for the 20th edition is presented as "The Twentieth Gathering.".
"Over the course of nineteen editions, we have seen people with very different gifts come to this pavilion: those who create, those who teach, those who welcome, and those who pray. The 20th edition is an opportunity to recognize that all of this serves the same mission, and to thank everyone who has been a part of this story," says Fábio Castro, CEO of Promocat..
The archive from previous editions—including photos, videos, testimonials, and reports—will be featured in the fair’s communications over the coming months, revisiting the stories of those who have walked the aisles of ExpoCatólica.
Many gifts, the same mission.
The theme originates from the First Letter to the Corinthians, in which Saint Paul writes to a community composed of people who are very different from one another: "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord" (1 Cor 12:4-5). In the Apostle’s view, each person receives a gift; none of these gifts exists solely for the individual, and all are necessary.
The choice of words was deliberate. Instead of "a single mission," the theme speaks of "the same mission"—an expression that serves as a reminder that the mission exists prior to those who serve it. It is received, not invented, and the fair presents itself as a space where various gifts are placed at its service.
The gifts inside the pavilion
At ExpoCatólica, this concept finds a concrete home. Those who manufacture pews, bells, and religious statues; those who publish books, develop parish management systems, design churches, or welcome pilgrims—all of them place their work at the service of the life of the Church. Alongside them are communities showcasing their specific charisms, individuals responsible for parish procurement, and families who attend the fair to live out their faith..
The patron saint himself provides an example. According to the Acts of the Apostles, Saint Paul was a tentmaker and supported himself through the work of his own hands (Acts 18:3).
The patron and the city
The choice of Saint Paul the Apostle is also linked to the location of the trade fair. The city that hosts ExpoCatólica bears the Apostle’s name and was founded on January 25, 1554—the day the Church celebrates the Conversion of Saint Paul.
The liturgical calendar brings the fair even closer to its patron saint: the 20th edition begins two days after the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul—celebrated on June 29th—which commemorates two apostles with different gifts and temperaments, both in the service of the same mission.
A mosaic of twenty editions
The visual identity for the 20th edition is built upon the mosaic—an art form that was highly prevalent in the Church during its early centuries. In a mosaic, every piece is unique, and no single piece forms the image on its own; the image only emerges when the pieces come together. In this campaign, the nineteen previous editions make up the mosaic, and the twentieth edition completes it.
Accreditation and new exhibitors
The sale of exhibition space for the 20th edition has begun, starting with exhibitors from the previous edition. Companies and institutions wishing to participate for the first time—or to return to the fair—may register via the website on the "Become an Exhibitor" page; applications are processed in the order in which they are received.
Visitor registration will open in the coming months.
About ExpoCatólica
Organized by Promocat since 2003, ExpoCatólica is the largest Catholic trade fair in the world. It brings together approximately 70,000 people and more than 250 exhibitors from various sectors, including liturgical and devotional items, books, sacred art, architecture, technology, religious tourism, and various communities and institutions. Beyond business, the program features moments dedicated to faith, formation, and culture. It is the event where the Catholic Church gathers annually.
Read also: ExpoCatólica 2026encerra 19° edição e fortalece o mercado católico mundial
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