World coffee champions title runs begin in San Diego on April 10, 2026. Every competitor faces tough choices for each unique stage; their competition strategy has five full months to evolve. By spanning San Diego, Bangkok, Brussels, and Panama City, the tour spotlights global diversity as baristas meet different altitudes, water quality, and crowd styles. There’s no chance to replicate the same routine and hope to win.
The chase opens at the World Latte Art Championship April 10–12. Artists twist milk and espresso into shapes that must stay perfect for the cameras. San Diego’s sunny show warms crowds as last-minute practice drawings fill hotel mirrors, emphasizing the city’s role as a global coffee hub.
Milk, espresso, and May sunshine collide as latte legends etch fleeting masterpieces under San Diego skies.
The spotlight shifts to Bangkok from May 7–9. Fast tyrosine tongues race at the World Cup Tasters Championship. Competitors sip six flights of mystery brews, guess the odd one out within instants, then grin or grimace in full view. Bangkok’s mix of street cafés and cutting-edge bean labs gives this stop a bold local flavor. Thais celebrate first WCTC on home soil as national heroes cheer every correct sip.
In late June, Brussels hosts three events at once. From June 25–27, the Brewers Cup, Roasting Championship, and Coffee in Good Spirits run side by side. Brewers weigh water and bloom time down to the gram. Roasters watch curves turn green beans glossy. Cocktail bartenders shake espresso with citrus and spice. Each arena rings with rapid French, English, and Dutch chatter. Brussels finals represent the European climax after months of anticipation.
October hands the final mic to Panama City. The World Barista Championship runs October 23–25 on Central America’s bridge between two oceans. Finalists deliver a fifteen-minute show: three espresso, three milk, and three signature drinks judged on taste, skill, and story. Drums echo from nearby rainforests; crowds feel the heat and the care.
Specialty Coffee Association teams built the schedule. They picked cities on four continents so cultures cross over in every booth. National winners fly in tight economy seats, hug strangers who soon cheer for them, and fly home with fresh ideas. From San Diego’s surf to Bangkok’s neon lanes, Brussels’ brick halls, and Panama’s canal lights, the months create a single world map where coffee speaks every accent.
