WORLD OF COFFEE BRUSSELS 2026 CLOSES WITH RECORD ATTENDANCE
World of Coffee Brussels 2026 has closed its doors after three days of competition, education, and connection at Brussels Expo. The event welcomed more than 14,400 attendees from 142 countries, alongside 445 exhibiting companies, making it the largest World of Coffee event ever held in Europe.
Produced by the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) and proudly supported by Host Sponsor BWT water+more, Diamond Sponsors 1Zpresso, Alpro, Ceado, and Thermoplan, and official media sponsors koffieTcacao and Supper Magazine. Each edition of World of Coffee shines a spotlight on a single origin country through its Portrait Country program. This year, Uganda took center stage, with a full three-day program celebrating Ugandan coffee. World of Coffee Brussels brought together the full breadth of the global specialty coffee community for the first time in Belgium.
"What strikes me most about Brussels is not the numbers, impressive as they are, but the quality of the dialogue happening across the show floor, in the lecture rooms, and over a cup of coffee," said Yannis Apostolopoulos, CEO of the Specialty Coffee Association.” The conversations I had in Brussels, with producers, buyers, roasters, and policymakers, reinforced what I believe about the future of this industry: that specialty coffee is increasingly recognized not just as a product category, but as a driver of economic development, cultural exchange, and sustainable trade. World of Coffee Brussels was a landmark edition, and one we are deeply proud of. The scale of what we achieved here reflects the ambition of this industry, and I am grateful to everyone who was part of it.”
CELEBRATING DESIGN AND INNOVATION
The 2026 Best New Product Awards recognized outstanding achievement across six categories, celebrating the products and technologies shaping the future of the specialty coffee industry:
Coffee Accessories: DiFluid Moment by DiFluid
Consumer Equipment: Varia ORBI by Varia Brewing Limited
Commercial Equipment: Millab M01 Coffee Grinder by TIMEMORE
Specialty Coffee Consumable: Speciality Cacao Cold Brew Bags by ANDER Cacao
Open Class: Ecotact Trace IQ by ECOTACT
People's Choice Award: PLUS X Collection by Innoroc GmbH
The 2026 Coffee Design Awards recognized outstanding achievement in branding, packaging, and spaces across the specialty coffee industry:
Branding: Coaltown Coffee, Edinburgh, Scotland
Packaging: CULT Coffee Roasters, Edinburgh, Scotland
Spaces: Tactile Café, Paris, France
The SCA extends its congratulations to every winner and finalist recognized across the Best New Product and Coffee Design Awards. Each entry represents the kind of forward-thinking craft and ingenuity that pushes our industry forward and sets the standard for what comes next.
LEARNING, PANELS, AND SHARED EXPERTISE
World of Coffee Brussels delivered one of the most ambitious education programs in the event's history. Across three days, attendees participated in expert-led workshops covering coffee business, brewing, sustainability, and sensory skills, with many sessions reaching capacity. The SCA Lecture Series brought together industry leaders, researchers, and practitioners for panels and presentations that reflected both the depth and the breadth of specialty coffee's global conversation.
Among the standout sessions was a public roundtable on June 25 presenting new economic research on coffee's contribution to the EU economy, drawing significant interest from policy, trade, and industry audiences alike.
DIPLOMATS, TRADE BODIES, AND INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS
World of Coffee Brussels welcomed a notable presence of diplomats and representatives from international organizations whose work intersects with the coffee value chain. The SCA was proud to host partners including the International Trade Centre, the International Coffee Organization, and the European Coffee Federation, whose collaboration and shared commitment to equity, sustainability, and industry development across producing and consuming nations continues to shape the work of the specialty coffee sector.
THANK YOU
World of Coffee Brussels would not have been possible without the dedication of 179 volunteers who gave their time and expertise to make the show run smoothly, the exhibitors who brought their innovation and craft to the floor, and the attendees who traveled from more than 140 countries to be part of it. The SCA is grateful to each and every one of them.
World of Coffee returns later in 2026 with World of Coffee Panama, taking place from October 23-25, which will feature the World Barista Championship. For upcoming dates and locations, please visit worldofcoffee.org.
