{"id":14511,"date":"2026-07-08T16:04:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T21:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/?p=14511"},"modified":"2026-07-08T08:36:25","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T13:36:25","slug":"46th-panama-handicraft-fair-opens-july-29-with-a-record-677-artisans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/events-culture\/46th-panama-handicraft-fair-opens-july-29-with-a-record-677-artisans\/","title":{"rendered":"46th Panama Handicraft Fair Opens July 29 With a Record 677 Artisans"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gloria Lina Hern\u00e1ndez still remembers the feel of Panamanian clay in her hands as a child, learning from elders who refused to let ancient techniques die. Now, as the Master Artisan of 2025, she will help welcome the largest gathering of craftspeople in Panama&#8217;s history. The 46th edition of the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Panama\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>National Handicraft Fair<\/strong> of Panama<\/a> will take over the Atlapa Convention Center from July 29 to August 2, bringing together 677 artisans from every province and indigenous territory in the country. That number shatters previous attendance records and fills every available space in the venue for the first time ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d3940.8095661340662!2d-79.50262582430896!3d8.989663989602127!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x8faca909348b6589%3A0xbc82fb557d6656e4!2sAtlapa%20Convention%20Center!5e0!3m2!1sen!2spa!4v1783516496110!5m2!1sen!2spa\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" style=\"border:0;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ancient Knowledge Meets Modern Technology<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Culture Minister Mar\u00eda Eugenia Herrera announced the event during a press conference at the City of Arts, calling it one of Panama&#8217;s most significant cultural gatherings. &#8220;The <strong>National Handicraft Fair<\/strong> elevates our cultural identity and energizes the economy of those who keep our traditions alive,&#8221; Herrera said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Handicrafts represent the memory, identity, and livelihood of hundreds of Panamanian families&#8221; [Translated from Spanish]<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The fair carries the theme &#8220;Ancestral Knowledge&#8221; this year, a nod to the generations of techniques that attendees will witness firsthand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">National Handicraft Director Algis D\u00edaz brought personal weight to the announcement. He shared that his mother worked as an artisan, an experience that shaped his dedication to the sector. D\u00edaz revealed several firsts for the 2025 edition. The fair will launch its first official website, allowing visitors to browse artisan offerings before, during, and after the event. A virtual map will let people tour pavilions online and locate individual craftspeople directly. The goal, D\u00edaz explained, is to strengthen both promotion and sales for participating artisans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/gloria-lina-hernandez-with-artesans-on-each-side-master-artisan-2025-by-micultura-1043x695-1-1024x682.webp\" alt=\"Gloria Lina Hernandez with artesans on each side Master Artisan 2025 by MiCultura\" class=\"wp-image-14512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/gloria-lina-hernandez-with-artesans-on-each-side-master-artisan-2025-by-micultura-1043x695-1-1024x682.webp 1024w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/gloria-lina-hernandez-with-artesans-on-each-side-master-artisan-2025-by-micultura-1043x695-1-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/gloria-lina-hernandez-with-artesans-on-each-side-master-artisan-2025-by-micultura-1043x695-1-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/gloria-lina-hernandez-with-artesans-on-each-side-master-artisan-2025-by-micultura-1043x695-1-150x100.webp 150w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/gloria-lina-hernandez-with-artesans-on-each-side-master-artisan-2025-by-micultura-1043x695-1-450x300.webp 450w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/gloria-lina-hernandez-with-artesans-on-each-side-master-artisan-2025-by-micultura-1043x695-1.webp 1043w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gloria Lina Hernandez with artesans on each side Master Artisan 2025 by MiCultura<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Live Demonstrations and Digital Transformation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">New spaces will feature the City of Arts and the Art and Culture Center of Col\u00f3n. An &#8220;Artisan Experiences&#8221; area will let master craftspeople demonstrate techniques passed down through families in real time. Visitors can watch <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Panama\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Panamanian handicrafts<\/a> being created rather than just buying finished products. The fair also modernized its registration and competition processes through a digital system, making everything more transparent and efficient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">National Folklore Director Jos\u00e9 Alberto Sosa outlined the cultural program. More than 40 artistic and folkloric groups will perform each day across the fair&#8217;s five-day run. Over 5,000 dancers will fill the main stage on Atlapa Island and the Teatro La Huaca. Sosa said the schedule was designed to represent cultural expressions from every region of Panama, showcasing pride in national traditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Visitors Will Find<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The fair offers a massive selection of handmade goods. <a href=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/environment\/panamas-first-national-park-marks-60-years-of-conservation\/\" rel=\"internal\">National Crafts Fair<\/a> attendees can browse molas, pinta&#8217;o hats, ceramics, beadwork, tagua carvings, cutarras sandals, textiles, and traditional clothing. Food samples, family activities, and cultural performances round out the experience. Traditional competitions will also return, including contests for the best camisilla shirt, outstanding handicraft, artisan queen, polleras with embroidery, and folkloric attire. These events recognize excellence and creativity while preserving Panama&#8217;s cultural heritage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DagmJ1mvKzp\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\"><div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DagmJ1mvKzp\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\"> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\"><svg width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewBox=\"0 0 60 60\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"><g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><g transform=\"translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\"><g><path d=\"M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div><div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\"> <div style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">Ver esta publicaci\u00f3n en Instagram<\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\"><div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: auto;\"> <div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div><\/div><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/a><p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DagmJ1mvKzp\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Una publicaci\u00f3n compartida por @miculturapma<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Master Artisan Hern\u00e1ndez shared her experience representing Panama internationally in Turkey and Barbados. She stressed the importance of passing traditional knowledge to younger generations. &#8220;Panamanian handicrafts constitute a valuable cultural heritage recognized both inside and outside our borders,&#8221; she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The fair runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. General admission costs B\/.3.00, while seniors and students pay B\/.1.50. Children under 12 enter for free. The Culture Ministry extended an invitation to both locals and foreign visitors to attend what officials describe as the largest and most innovative edition of the <strong>National Handicraft Fair<\/strong> in its 46-year history. For five days, Atlapa will become a living museum of Panama&#8217;s creative soul, where ancient techniques meet modern audiences and where the hands that shape clay, thread, and wood tell stories older than the republic itself.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Gloria Lina Hern\u00e1ndez still remembers the feel of Panamanian clay in her hands as a child, learning from elders who refused to let ancient techniques die. Now, as the Master Artisan of 2025, she will help welcome the largest gathering of craftspeople in Panama&#8217;s history. The 46th edition of the National Handicraft Fair of Panama<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14513,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sitemap_exclude":false,"_sitemap_priority":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[5225,680,5222,5223,5224],"class_list":["post-14511","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-events-culture","tag-artisan-fair-panama","tag-cultural-heritage","tag-national-handicraft-fair","tag-panama-artisans","tag-panama-handicraft-fair"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14511","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14511"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14511\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14515,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14511\/revisions\/14515"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14513"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14511"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14511"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14511"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}