Panama Chosen as Host for World of Coffee 2026 Announcement

On December 11, 2023, at an inaugural signing at the Panama Convention Center in Panama City, Panama, the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) Board Members and Chief Executive Officer, Yannis Apostolopoulos with SCA Board President, Konstantinos Konstantinopoulos, joined a welcoming crowd alongside The Specialty Coffee Association of Panama (SCAP) Board Members and President, James Hunter Tedman, and The Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama President, Adolfo Fabrega, to solidify the expansion of the World of Coffee trade show to Panama in 2026. World of Coffee Panama, produced and delivered by licensed partners The Specialty Coffee Association of Panama and The Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama, will take place at the Panama Convention Center in October of 2026. This inaugural World of Coffee in Central America will run in addition to the SCA’s annual World of Coffee trade shows in Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

The Specialty Coffee Association 2023 Board of Directors, SCAP President James Hunter Tedman, The Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama President, Adolfo Fabrega, SCA Board President, Konstantinos Konstantinopoulos and SCA Chief Executive Officer, Yannis Apostolopoulos

Source Specialty Coffee Association.

World of Coffee Panama 2026 marks the first World of Coffee trade show in Central America and focuses on a deep-rooted connection to coffee producing regions.

This growth highlights the thriving specialty coffee industry in Central America and establishes Panama as an easy-to-reach hub for coffee producers and traders alike. Renowned for its excellence in coffee varietals, agriculture, specialty coffee trade and consumption, Central America stands as an ideal host for World of Coffee, showcasing the region’s significant role in the global coffee landscape.

SCAP President James Hunter Tedman, SCA CEO Yannis Apostolopoulos, The Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama President, Adolfo Fabrega

On the expansion of World of Coffee into Central America in 2026, SCA CEO Yannis Apostolopoulos says: “We are thrilled to bring World of Coffee, our premier coffee trade show, to Central America for the very first time. World of Coffee Panama 2026 is our first-ever trade show in a coffee-producing country and this marks a significant step in our commitment to promoting coffee consumption within producing countries, a key element for the sustainability of coffee and in alignment with the Specialty Coffee Association’s sustainability agenda. World of Coffee Panama is the ideal platform for coffee professionals, producers, and traders worldwide to connect, network, and foster innovation in the specialty coffee sector. We are proud to collaborate with The Specialty Coffee Association of Panama and The Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama on this project. As our official licensed partners, we are excited for them to produce a World of Coffee tailored to the unique coffee culture in this region, highlighting Central America’s important role in the global coffee industry.”

SCAP President James Hunter Tedman, SCA CEO Yannis Apostolopoulos, The Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama President, Adolfo Fabrega

Adolfo Fábrega, president of the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama (CCIAP), states: “This is an excellent opportunity, our country has been selected for the first edition of the World of Coffee in Latin America. Panamanians will be able to show the world the great potential of the exportable offer that we have and promote our high-altitude coffee, which is a source of pride, particularly in recent years, when it has had positive behavior with the Geisha,” he added.

In addition, he thanked the Specialty Coffee Association, as well as the Specialty Coffee Association of Panama for the “trust placed in the CCIAP that for 40 years has organized international great events such as the famous Expocomer, Expo Logistica Panama and Expo Turismo Internacional, among others.” Mr. James Hunter Tedman, president of the Specialty Coffee Association of Panama adds:
“In SCAP we are very proud that the Specialty Coffee Association has chosen our country for the first Latin American World of Coffee. We see it as a recognition of the hard work Panama has done positioning our coffees as one of the best in the world, as the best expression of “Specialty Coffee”. The World of Coffee Panama will highly impact many industries in our country, tourism, commerce and the service sectors will benefit tremendously. Our partnership with the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Panama will strengthen our Association and secure the success of this project.”