When World of Coffee returns to Europe from 25 to 27 June 2026, it will do so in Brussels, underscoring how the continent’s largest coffee-consuming region is positioning itself as a global hub for specialty coffee trade and competitions. The show will take over Brussels Expo, with organisers presenting it as a key meeting point for the international coffee value chain.
According to the event guide from Perfect Daily Grind, Europe accounted for over 30% of global coffee consumption in the 2023/24 period, making the region a central market for both specialty and commercial coffee. Reflecting that importance, the 2026 edition of World of Coffee will bring together between 430 exhibitors, as listed on the official registration page, and “more than 450 companies,” as stated in a 11 March 2026 news release from the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA).
In that same SCA release, chief executive Yannis Apostolopoulos described World of Coffee as “a cornerstone gathering for the global coffee industry, bringing together innovators, producers, roasters, and professionals to trade, share knowledge, showcase new ideas, and celebrate the craft and culture of coffee.” He added that “hosting World of Coffee in this globally connected city strengthens our ability to support trade, foster collaboration, and deliver value to professionals across the coffee value chain.”
Brussels is described by the SCA announcement as “the de-facto capital of the European Union”, reachable by direct flights from more than 200 international destinations and by high-speed rail from major European cities. SCA chief executive Apostolopoulos said in that announcement that “Brussels offers an exceptional platform for international business and industry exchange,” and later characterised the city as sitting “at the crossroads of Europe’s institutions, cultures, and commerce.”
The 2026 show will also see World of Coffee expand and formalise several platforms for global collaboration. In its March 2026 registration news, the SCA said that Producer Village will appear for the first time at a European World of Coffee event, alongside two Roaster Villages that will collectively feature 120 specialty coffee roasters. The same news confirms that thousands of coffee professionals are expected to attend the three-day trade show.
World of Coffee Brussels will host three official World Coffee Championships: the 2026 World Brewers Cup, World Coffee in Good Spirits, and World Coffee Roasting Championship, as listed on both the SCA announcements and the show schedule on World of Coffee Europe’s official site. An article from EspressoDrop additionally mentions a World Latte Art Championship in Brussels, but this competition does not appear on the official SCA schedule and is therefore [UNVERIFIED]. EspressoDrop and the SCA agree that the World Barista Championship will instead take place at a separate event in Panama in October 2026.
The trade show programme in Brussels will extend beyond the championships. Perfect Daily Grind reports that the event will host Roasters Village and Producer Village, as well as a Best New Product Competition, Coffee Design Awards, lectures, workshops, cuppings, and a packed calendar of side events ranging from pricing salons to brand-hosted parties. Brands such as Ecotact, Pinecone Swiss, LIGRE, and MILBOK are listed by Perfect Daily Grind as among those planning exhibitions and activities around the show.
Event host sponsor BWT water+more will again support the show. In the SCA announcement naming Brussels as the 2026 host city, BWT water+more general manager Dr. Frank Neuhausen said that “partnership and ‘hands on’ support are the key words for BWT water+more when it comes to events like World of Coffee,” adding that, as Event Host Sponsor, the company “proudly continue[s] our support for the Specialty Coffee Association and all people working within the coffee industry.”
The Brussels edition also sits within a longer European trajectory for the event series. The World of Coffee Europe homepage notes that Lisbon has been selected as the 2027 host city, indicating that Brussels is part of a continuing rotation of major continental centres for the show. In its communications about Brussels 2026, the SCA frames this European circuit as a way to “make coffee better for everyone” by bringing together actors from across the global coffee value chain.
