elmatecoArgentina’s biggest celebration of yerba mate culture is back. Matear 2026 takes place on October 17 and 18 at the Pabellón Ocre of La Rural, the historic fairground in Buenos Aires’ Palermo neighborhood. Organized by the National Yerba Mate Institute (INYM) together with La Rural, it marks the fair’s return to this venue after three years, under the theme “El sabor de ser argentinos” (the flavor of being Argentine).
Matear 2026 at a Glance
- Dates: Saturday, October 17 and Sunday, October 18, 2026
- Hours: 12:00 to 20:00
- Venue: Pabellón Ocre, La Rural – Predio Ferial de Buenos Aires (Av. Sarmiento 2704), with pedestrian access via Plaza Italia
- Tickets: paid admission, sold through La Rural Ticket
- Official site: matear.com.ar
Tickets and Prices
According to the official site, prices in Argentine pesos are:
- Online, individual ticket: $10,000 + service fee
- Online, family pack (4 tickets for one day, a 25% discount): $30,000 + service fee
- At the box office on event days: $12,000 (individual), $6,000 (retirees)
General admission includes tastings of yerba mate from participating exhibitors. Children can enter if accompanied by an adult, and kids under 3 get in free. Pets are not allowed, except assistance animals. Prices may change, so check the official site before you go.
What Is Matear?
Matear is the fair created by the INYM to bring the whole yerba mate chain together with the people who drink it. Large and mid-sized yerba brands share the floor with family businesses, cooperatives and small companies, so it’s a rare chance to taste a wide range of yerba mate and talk with the people behind it. Beyond tastings, the organizers promise new products, consumption trends, cultural activities, interactive experiences and food inspired by mate.
The 2026 Talks and Tastings
This year’s program is heavy on both science and culture. Highlights from the official schedule:
Saturday, October 17
- 14:00: a tasting on how to evaluate a yerba mate without being an expert (Leonardo Paredes)
- 15:00: “The science of mate: from the plant to neurons” (Juan Ferrario)
- 16:00: a talk on the symbolism and “hidden ceremony” of mate (Juan Acevedo Peinado)
- 17:00: what the world’s first yerba mate championship left behind (Martín Gómez and Nicolás Geiskkovitch)
- 18:45: the history of mate in Chile (Manuel Riquelme and Macarena Lillo)
- 19:30: certified yerba mate, from soil to shelf (Mario Passo)
Sunday, October 18
- 14:40: what it means to create a yerba mate blend (Mariela Moretti)
- 15:30: a mate talk and tasting (Natalia Peiretti)
- 17:30: beliefs and certainties about mate and health (Juan Ferrario)
- 18:30: “The next round”: where yerba mate is headed (Martín Gómez)
Two of these connect directly to stories we’ve covered. The Saturday 17:00 talk looks back at the first-ever Mundial de la Yerba Mate, and Juan Ferrario’s two talks follow the research we explain in our article on yerba mate and Parkinson’s. The full schedule, including more talks than listed here, is on the official Matear site.
How to Get There
- Subway: Line D, Plaza Italia station
- Train: San Martín line, Palermo station
- Bus: many lines stop near the fairground
- Parking: underground parking at Av. Sarmiento 2704 and Av. Cerviño 4446
A Sector in the Spotlight
Matear arrives at an important moment for the industry. Yerba mate production is concentrated almost entirely in Misiones and Corrientes, and the sector is going through ongoing debates about competitiveness, profitability and market deregulation. For those regional economies, the fair is a showcase for brands and a way to reach everyday consumers directly. It also links to the next big event on the yerba calendar: the 48th Fiesta Nacional e Internacional de la Yerba Mate in Apóstoles, Misiones, scheduled for early November.
Tips for First-Timers
- Learn the ritual first. Our guide to mate etiquette will help you avoid the classic beginner mistakes when someone hands you a gourd.
- Look at the gear. Fairs like this are a good place to compare mate gourds and bombillas in person before you buy.
- Visiting Argentina? Our mate guide for tourists covers what to know before your trip.
Can’t Make It? Start at Home
If you’re not in Buenos Aires this weekend, you can still join in. Learn how to make yerba mate the traditional way, and keep an eye on this page: we’ll update it after the fair.
Sources: matear.com.ar (official site and schedule), Buenos Aires Ciudad (Linda), INYM, La Rural, Mercado, Misiones Online.
