World of Coffee Bangkok 2026: Asia's Biggest Specialty Coffee Event Comes to Thailand

Bangkok Hosts World of Coffee Asia 2026

Bangkok will welcome the third edition of World of Coffee Asia from May 7 to 9, 2026 at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC). Organized by the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA), Exporum Inc. and the Barista Association of Thailand (BAT), the event is the largest specialty coffee gathering in Asia. Bangkok was just named Best City in Asia for 2026, making this an especially well-timed choice for the event organisers.

This marks the first time the event takes place in Thailand, and it brings along the World Cup Tasters Championship, another first for the country.

Why Bangkok?

Thailand has quietly become one of Southeast Asia's most exciting coffee origins. Highland regions in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Nan now produce internationally recognized Arabica beans, while southern provinces like Chumphon are major Robusta growing areas. Bangkok itself has exploded with specialty coffee shops over the past decade, offering everything from Thai single-origin pour-overs to creative coffee cocktails — our Bangkok specialty coffee cafe guide has the best picks across the city.

The SCA chose Bangkok because of this dual role as both a quality-driven producing country and a fast-growing consumer market. Local barista competitions, investment in coffee education and a strong focus on traceability have pushed Thailand onto the global specialty coffee map.

What to Expect

World of Coffee Bangkok 2026 brings together roasters, baristas, green-bean buyers and coffee equipment manufacturers from across the globe. Visitors can expect:

• World Cup Tasters Championship — professional cuppers compete to identify coffees in a blind tasting format
• Exhibition hall — over 200 exhibitors showcasing the latest in brewing equipment, roasting technology and green coffee
• Workshops and lectures — sessions on sustainability, processing methods and latte art
• Thai single-origin showcases — local farms presenting beans from the northern highlands

Explore our Bangkok specialty coffee cafe guide for the best independent roasters to visit around the city during the event dates, and our best night markets Bangkok guide for evening plans between sessions.

Practical Information

• Dates: May 7-9, 2026
• Venue: BITEC, Bang Na, Bangkok
• Getting there: Take the BTS Skytrain to Bang Na station, then a short taxi ride or walk to BITEC
• Tickets: Available through the official World of Coffee Asia website

Whether you are a serious coffee professional or simply a traveller who wants to taste the best Thai beans, World of Coffee Bangkok 2026 is worth building a trip around. Combine it with a visit to one of Chiang Mai's highland coffee farms for the full Thai coffee experience — the Bangkok to Chiang Mai sleeper train is a great way to make the journey. If you are staying in Bangkok for the event, our Bangkok neighbourhood guide covers the best areas to base yourself, and our Thailand first-time visitor guide has everything else you need to plan the trip. You can also check the best hotels in Bangkok for accommodation options near BITEC and the city centre. If you are visiting in May, Songkran celebrations will have just wrapped up, so expect the city to be back to normal. The Bangkok Spectacular 2026 is another major event ongoing that month along the Chao Phraya.