The Vale do Pinhão Entrepreneurs Fair 2026 has opened a selection process for up to 100 exhibitors at the Oscar Niemeyer Museum in Curitiba. Applications are free and may be submitted until 11:59 p.m. on September 30. To compete for a space, having a small business is not enough: Public Call No. 006/2026 requires an active CNPJ registration, classification as an individual microentrepreneur, microenterprise or small business, a registered office in Curitiba or the Curitiba Metropolitan Region, activity in an eligible segment, and participation in at least one Curitiba Development Agency initiative in 2026.
The most important point for applicants is to prepare the submission as a selection process, not as a simple reservation. Submission order does not determine who is chosen. The organizers first verify mandatory eligibility requirements; eligible applications are then scored for fit with the fair, own production and business identity, service capacity, relationship with public programs, and the quality of the submitted presentation.
Who can compete for one of the 100 spaces
Individual microentrepreneurs, microenterprises and small businesses with a registered office in Curitiba or any municipality in the Curitiba Metropolitan Region may apply. The public call also requires the business to:
- have an active CNPJ registration in regular standing;
- operate in one of the segments listed in the call;
- be the producer, manufacturer or direct provider of the product or service presented, since simple resale of third-party products is not allowed;
- be able to serve the public and keep the space operating during both event days;
- provide all requested information and documents;
- not fall under the disqualification situations set out in the Curitiba Development Agency's internal rules;
- have participated in at least one program, event, training course or other initiative promoted by the Curitiba Development Agency in 2026.
There is a specific rule for entrants in the 2026 Women Entrepreneurs Award: they may apply to the fair, but if they become award finalists, they may not exhibit or sell at the Entrepreneurs Fair. In that case, the fair application will be denied or cancelled and the space will pass to the next ranked applicant.
Which business segments are eligible
The public call covers fabrics, clothing, accessories and footwear; perfumery, cosmetics, health and wellness; personal and household items; handicrafts and handmade products; packaged foods and authorized culinary products; non-alcoholic beverages; product customization; jams, preserves and dried fruit; herbal and natural products, subject to applicable law; products with geographical indications; and certain entrepreneur support services compatible with the fair's structure and purpose.
For handicrafts, the notice defines artisanal products as items made predominantly by hand, on a small scale, with their own identity and direct participation by the entrepreneur in creation or production. Products of a religious or party-political nature, as well as items that encourage discrimination or violence, may not be exhibited or sold.
How the 100 spaces are distributed
Annex II of the public call allocates the 100 spaces among five municipal entrepreneurship programs. If a group does not fill all of its spaces, the remaining places may be redistributed according to the ranking and a reasoned decision by the evaluation committee.
| Program | Planned spaces |
|---|---|
| Bom Negócio | 15 |
| Worktiba | 10 |
| Curitiba Empreendedora | 25 |
| Empreendedora Curitibana | 20 |
| Liceu de Ofícios Criativos | 30 |
Applicants ranked beyond the available spaces may form a waiting list. The notice also calls for diversity and balance among segments in the fair's organization.
Checklist: what to prepare before opening the application form
The most practical approach is to gather documents, photos and business information in advance. The public call says these items may be required in the form itself or later by the committee. Have the following ready:
- CNPJ registration and status certificate or the individual microentrepreneur certificate, CCMEI;
- valid federal, state, municipal and labor debt clearance certificates, plus the FGTS compliance certificate;
- identification document for the representative responsible for the application;
- proof of the business address;
- photos of the products or services and the intended display format;
- a clear description of what will be sold or presented;
- proof of participation in programs, events, training or mentoring when used for scoring;
- licenses, certificates, authorizations or exemption documents required for the activity, when applicable;
- for food businesses, a valid good practices or food handling training certificate and applicable sanitary documents.
If documentation is requested after the preliminary ranking, the notice gives the applicant two business days to submit it. Failure to respond within that period may result in disqualification and the next ranked applicant being called.
How to apply by September 30
- Open the official 2026 Entrepreneurs Fair online application form.
- Confirm that the CNPJ registration and business address meet the territorial and registration requirements.
- Complete all requested information. Each CNPJ may submit only one application and compete for a single space.
- Describe the product or service well enough for the committee to understand what is offered, how it is produced and how it will be displayed.
- Report electrical equipment and any private furniture you intend to use.
- Attach or prepare the documents and evidence listed in the public call.
- Submit the application by 11:59 p.m. on September 30. The notice recommends not waiting until the final minutes because connection, equipment or browser problems are the applicant's responsibility.
Applications are free, online only and do not guarantee selection. The Curitiba Development Agency fair page also provides access to the form and the public call.
What the committee evaluates
After eligibility screening, five criteria receive 1 to 3 points each, for a total score from 5 to 15. A strong application therefore needs to show more than documentary compliance.
| Criterion | What strengthens the application |
|---|---|
| Fit with the fair | Explain how the product or service fits the event, how it will be displayed and what differentiates the business. |
| Own production and identity | Show direct involvement in production, a recognizable identity and consistent differentiation. |
| Service capacity | Describe inventory, team and planning for serving visitors during both days. |
| Relationship with public programs | Provide evidence of previous participation. The notice increases the score according to the number of documented participations in the previous 12 months. |
| Application presentation | Provide a complete description, quality images and a detailed display proposal. |
Registration and documentary compliance are eligibility requirements and do not generate extra points. In a tie, the notice applies, in order, the higher score for fit with the fair, own production and identity, service capacity, not having taken part in a previous edition, longer CNPJ operating history and, if still tied, a public draw.
What selected exhibitors receive and what they must provide
Each selected exhibitor receives a free, non-transferable space with a counter approximately 1 m high, 1 m long and 0.50 m deep, two chairs and one 110 V electrical outlet, subject to the venue's technical capacity.
Anyone planning to use their own furniture must state this in the application and follow the dimensions in the notice. Electrical equipment must also be declared. Payment methods, sales equipment and internet connectivity are the exhibitor's responsibility.
During the event, the responsible person must keep the space operating, sell only approved items and comply with tax, consumer, sanitary, environmental, safety and accessibility rules. Food and beverage exhibitors have additional labeling, storage and sanitary documentation requirements. Tasting of ready-to-serve food and non-alcoholic drinks is allowed under the stated conditions; on-site production or handling requires prior authorization.
Event dates and a discrepancy worth watching
Public Call No. 006/2026 and the Curitiba City Hall news release place the fair on October 16 and 17, 2026. The notice gives a detailed schedule: setup on October 16 from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., public service on October 16 from noon to 7 p.m., and on October 17 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., followed by dismantling as directed by the organizers.
There is, however, a discrepancy on the Curitiba Development Agency's event page, which at the time checked lists October 17 and 18. Because the public call governs the selection and contains the detailed operating schedule, it is the safer reference for applicants at this point. Applicants should still monitor official channels until the event, since the notice allows dates, times, venue or operating conditions to be changed through an official announcement.
What happens after applying
The preliminary result will be published on the Curitiba Development Agency website. The notice provides a two-business-day appeal period starting on the first business day after publication of the preliminary result. After the final result, selected exhibitors will be called to sign the Space Use Authorization within two business days. Failure to respond may be treated as withdrawal and the space may pass to a waiting-list applicant.
Official sources: Public Call No. 006/2026, Curitiba City Hall and the Curitiba Development Agency.
