The main international school job fairs for 2026-27 are run by Search Associates and ISS. Search Associates holds ten in-person fairs, from Singapore on 13 to 15 November 2026 to Doha on 10 April 2027; they are open only to its members, by invitation. ISS holds free in-person EDU Expos in Asia and the USA, and four online iFairs for its premium members. All dates below come from the organisers’ own pages, checked on 16 October 2026.
This guide lists every fair, who each one suits, what it costs, and how to prepare. If you cannot go to a fair, you can still get a job: many schools hire through their own careers pages all season.
Search Associates job fairs 2026-27
Search Associates says its fairs “are by invitation only, open to active member educators and member schools”. Once your membership is active, you request an invitation from your dashboard (Search Associates). The schedule for this season (Search Associates schedule):
| Fair | Dates | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Singapore | 13 to 15 November 2026 | Canadian International School |
| Istanbul (the Dubai fair) | 28 to 29 November 2026 | Istanbul International Community School, Marmara Campus |
| Melbourne | 3 to 5 January 2027 | Melbourne Business School |
| Bangkok | 8 to 10 January 2027 | Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park |
| Hong Kong | 15 to 17 January 2027 | Chinese International School |
| London (January) | 15 to 17 January 2027 | Millennium Gloucester Hotel, Kensington |
| Cambridge, USA | 22 to 25 January 2027 | Cambridge Regency Hyatt |
| Toronto | 6 to 7 February 2027 | Marriott Hotel Eaton Centre |
| London (March) | 13 to 14 March 2027 | The Hilton, Paddington |
| Doha | 10 April 2027 | Qatar Academy Msheireb School |
Which Search Associates fair suits you?
Each fair page describes who it is for. In short:
| Fair | Schools and candidates (as stated) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Singapore | Up to 50 schools, mostly East and Southeast Asia; about 150 to 200 candidates | Educators with at least 2 years of international experience, middle and senior leaders |
| Istanbul (Dubai) | Schools from the Middle East, Asia and Africa and further afield | Leaders and teachers who have already decided to move; early in the season |
| Melbourne | About 30 to 35 schools, mainly Asia and the Middle East; 100 to 150 candidates, mostly from Australia and New Zealand | Qualified teachers, including Australians and New Zealanders new to international schools |
| Bangkok | About 130+ schools, mostly from Asia | Experienced international teachers, strong teaching couples, subject specialists |
| Hong Kong | About 50 to 60 schools, mostly Asia and Greater China; 150 to 250 educators | Any curriculum background; about 25% of hires go to Hong Kong schools |
| London (January) | About 140 to 150 schools from all regions, about 25% European; about 400 candidates | At least 2 years’ experience and a teaching licence; IB and British curriculum |
| Cambridge, USA | More than 100 schools; about 300 educators | Qualified teachers new to international teaching; the only fair where schools interview Search Associates interns |
| Toronto | In 2026: 50 schools from 33 countries, 185 educators | Certified teachers, new graduates and B.Ed students; held with Queen’s University since 2024 |
| London (March) | Schools from around the world | Teachers with 2+ years in their subject; fewer leadership roles |
| Doha | First year in Doha; the earlier Dubai fair had 15 to 20 schools | A final in-person chance late in the season |
Sources: the fair pages for Singapore, Istanbul, Melbourne, Bangkok, Hong Kong, London January, Cambridge, Toronto, London March and Doha.
Two notes:
- The Dubai fair is in Istanbul this year. Search Associates says the Dubai fair moved to Istanbul because of current conditions in the Middle East, and hopes to return to Dubai later.
- Toronto does not cover jobs in Canada. The page says educators looking for jobs in Canadian schools should not register.
What a Search Associates fair costs
The membership fee is US$100 for new members (no registration fee for UK-based candidates), US$75 to renew. Each additional in-person fair costs US$75, and you pay your own travel and hotel (Search Associates FAQ). You pay nothing when you accept a job.
How a Search Associates fair works
The fairs follow a similar pattern:
- Registration and orientation. Some fairs hold an online orientation the week before (Singapore does).
- Interview sign-up. Recruiters and candidates meet in one room and agree interview times. In London (January) the Friday 3 pm sign-up “is the main opportunity” to secure interviews; in Bangkok most interviews are set at the Friday afternoon session.
- Interviews over the next one or two days, plus school presentations.
- Offers. “Schools can make offers, educators can accept, and the next chapter begins before the fair even ends” (Search Associates).
Plan to stay for the whole fair. Several fair pages strongly encourage it, and the London (January) page says missing the sign-up may be a disadvantage.
ISS recruitment fairs 2026-27
ISS (International Schools Services) runs two kinds of event (ISS, ISS events).
ISS EDU Expos (in person)
EDU Expos “bring educators, school recruiters, leaders, and education partners together”. They are “designed for both local and international educators”, and “attendance is free for candidates”. You must pre-register.
| EDU Expo | Date listed |
|---|---|
| Shenzhen, China | 17 October |
| Bangkok, Thailand | 21 November |
| Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam | 12 December |
| Shanghai, China | 16 January |
| Atlanta, USA | 30 January |
ISS iFairs (online)
iFairs are virtual: you visit online booths and interview with recruiters. Candidates join them “as part of their ISS EDUrecruit Premium membership ($75/year)”.
| iFair | Date listed |
|---|---|
| October | 24 October |
| December | 5 December |
| February | 20 February |
| March | 20 March |
ISS lists these dates without a year. They fall in the 2026-27 season, so the October to December events are in 2026 and the January to March events in 2027.
Other ways to meet schools
- Schrole lists “virtual and in-person recruitment events with school leaders and recruiters” in its paid plan (US$50 a year). It shows the event dates only to registered users (Schrole).
- COBIS, the association of British international schools, does not list a recruitment fair on its site. Its member schools post jobs on its Global Jobs page, and it says “all applicants to COBIS schools must be willing to undergo child protection screening” (COBIS).
- School groups often run their own recruitment. Every job on Teacher Jobs World links to the school’s own careers page. On 16 October 2026 we listed 1,361 jobs from 45 schools and school groups, including 211 jobs in the UAE, 30 in Hong Kong and 23 in Thailand.
Our guide to Search Associates, Schrole, Tes, ISS and Teacher Horizons compares the agencies in full.
Do you need to go to a job fair?
No. The Search Associates office for Australia and New Zealand says fairs “account for approximately 35% of total Search placements” and that “over 60% of our teachers find great positions without attending a fair” (Search Associates ANZ FAQ). Its main FAQ still says a fair can “significantly boost” your chances of interviews.
A fair is most useful if you are open to many countries, have the experience the fair asks for, and can afford the trip. If not, apply online from October onwards. Our guide to the international school hiring season explains the timeline.
How to prepare for an international school job fair
Before the fair
- Get your membership active early. Search Associates says “our fairs can fill up quickly”.
- Update your online profile and ask your referees to submit their references. Safer recruitment guidance asks schools to get references before interview where possible.
- Research the schools attending. Make a short list of 10 to 15, with a reason for each.
- Prepare a two-page CV with printed copies. See our international teacher CV and cover letter guide.
- Practise your answers, including safeguarding questions: see international school interview questions.
- Decide your limits in advance: countries, salary and package, and what your family needs.
At the fair
- Arrive for the interview sign-up. Bring a short note for each school you want to meet.
- Ask each school about salary, housing, flights, medical cover, tuition for children and contract length. Our guide to international school salary and benefits has a checklist.
- Talk to schools you had not considered. The London (January) page quotes a teacher who found a good fit at a school they had not planned to meet.
When you get an offer
Take it seriously. The ANZ office says that at Melbourne “contracts may be offered at the fair, which if accepted, even verbally, are considered binding” (Search Associates ANZ FAQ). The main FAQ says “once you accept, both you and the school are expected to honor it”, and that you can ask for a couple of days to decide (Search Associates FAQ). Do not accept two offers.
Fair dates and venues can change. Always check the organiser’s page before you book travel. This guide is general information.
Frequently asked questions
When are the international school job fairs in 2026-27?
Search Associates fairs run from Singapore (13 to 15 November 2026) and Istanbul (28 to 29 November 2026) through Melbourne, Bangkok, Hong Kong, London, Cambridge (USA) and Toronto in January and February 2027, to London on 13 to 14 March and Doha on 10 April 2027. ISS holds EDU Expos and online iFairs from October 2026 to March 2027.
Can anyone attend a Search Associates job fair?
No. Search Associates fairs are by invitation only, for active members. You join, get approved, then request an invitation from your dashboard. New membership costs US$100 (no fee for UK-based candidates), and each additional fair costs US$75.
Are ISS job fairs free?
ISS says attendance at its in-person EDU Expos is free for candidates, with pre-registration. Its online iFairs are part of the ISS EDUrecruit Premium membership, which costs US$75 a year.
Is there an international school job fair in Dubai or the UAE this year?
Search Associates moved its Dubai fair to Istanbul for 28 to 29 November 2026, and runs a one-day fair in Doha on 10 April 2027. Many UAE schools hire through their own careers pages; Teacher Jobs World listed 211 jobs in the UAE on 16 October 2026.
Is an offer accepted at a job fair binding?
Search Associates says that once you accept, both you and the school are expected to honour it, and its ANZ office says offers accepted at Melbourne, even verbally, are considered binding. Ask for time to decide if you need it, and never accept two offers.