World of Coffee Panama 2026 Runs 23–25 October, With Passes from US$52
PANAMA · COFFEE
Key Facts
- —What World of Coffee Panama 2026: trade show, lectures, cupping rooms and the 2026 World Barista Championship
- —When Friday 23 and Saturday 24 October, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday 25 October, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Panama time
- —Where Panama Convention Center, Calle General Juan D. Perón, Amador Causeway, Panama City
- —Tickets One-day pass US$52.40, two-day US$98.44, three-day US$139.10; children under 12 enter free
- —Good to know Panama uses the US dollar, so no conversion is needed; the barista championship starts a day earlier, on 22 October
World of Coffee Panama, the trade show’s first Latin American edition, fills the Panama Convention Center from 23 to 25 October.
World of Coffee, the global specialty coffee trade show, comes to Panama City, Panama, from 23 to 25 October 2026. It is the first edition in Latin America. It takes place at the Panama Convention Center on the Amador Causeway. A one-day pass costs US$52.40, and the World Barista Championship runs alongside it.
What World of Coffee is
World of Coffee is a trade show run with the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA), the main global body for high-quality coffee.
Specialty coffee means beans that score highly in professional tasting, and are traced to a farm or region. Buyers pay more for that quality.
The show brings together farmers, roasters, traders, machine makers and baristas. Past editions took place in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
Panama City hosts the first edition in Latin America. The local organisers are the Specialty Coffee Association of Panama and Panama’s Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture.
Organisers expect more than 13,000 visitors and over 370 exhibitors. The ticket page lists more than 300 exhibitors from 35 countries.
Dates and opening hours
The trade show opens on Friday 23 October and closes on Sunday 25 October 2026.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Panama time.
Panama stays on Eastern Standard Time all year. That is five hours behind UTC and one hour ahead of Mexico City.
The organisers have not published a full hour-by-hour programme of lectures and workshops yet.
Tickets and what they include
The official seller lists a one-day pass at US$52.40, a two-day pass at US$98.44 and a three-day pass at US$139.10.
Panama uses the US dollar as its everyday currency, alongside its own balboa coins. Prices are the same for local and foreign visitors.
A ticket gives access to the exhibition hall, more than 21 lectures and the World Barista Championship stage. The organisers promise coffees from more than 17 origins.
Children under 12 enter free. Ticket sales run until the last day of the show.
The workshop and special-event pages on the official site still say “coming soon”. Check them before you travel.
The World Barista Championship
The World Barista Championship is the top competition for coffee-bar professionals. National champions from more than 50 countries take part.
Each competitor prepares espresso, milk drinks and an original signature drink for a panel of judges.
In Panama, the championship runs over four days, from 22 to 25 October. It starts one day before the trade show opens.
Watching a round is quiet and focused, a little like a cooking contest. The organisers have not yet published the round-by-round schedule.
Why Panama
Panama is a small coffee producer by volume. It is famous for quality, above all for Geisha, a variety with a light, floral taste.
In 2004, a Geisha from Hacienda La Esmeralda won the Best of Panama competition and changed the market. The variety now sets auction records.
In 2025, a washed Geisha lot sold at the Best of Panama auction for US$30,204 per kilogram, according to Boquete Coffee Traders.
Most Panamanian specialty coffee grows in the Chiriquí highlands, on the slopes of the Barú volcano. Towns such as Boquete lie in the far west of the country, near the border with Costa Rica.
Holding the show near farms lets producers meet buyers without flying to Europe or Asia. For small farms, that can change who they sell to.
Getting to the Panama Convention Center
The Panama Convention Center stands on the Amador Causeway, a road built on rock from the canal’s excavation. It links three small islands to the mainland.
The centre’s wave-shaped building sits next to the Biomuseo, a biodiversity museum designed by architect Frank Gehry.
No metro line reaches the causeway. Most visitors take a taxi or ride-hailing car. The trip from the city takes about 15 to 30 minutes, depending on traffic.
October is in the rainy season. Heavy afternoon showers are common, so plan extra time for traffic and carry an umbrella.
The causeway is busy with families, cyclists and joggers. It is a pleasant place to walk before or after the show.
Travel help for visitors
Copa Airlines, Panama’s national airline, offers up to 15 per cent off fares with the event code C9719. It applies to travel between 20 October and 10 November.
United Airlines offers discounts of 2 to 7 per cent with the code ZSSP. Both deals exclude taxes and some fare classes.
Visitors who need a visa can download an invitation letter template from the event website. The organisers sign it after review by email.
The show offers foreign residents a close view of how a small country turned quality into a global name in coffee.
More: Expats & Nomads guides, every day from The Rio Times.
FAQ
When is World of Coffee Panama 2026?
The trade show runs from Friday 23 to Sunday 25 October 2026 at the Panama Convention Center. The World Barista Championship starts one day earlier, on 22 October.
How much does a ticket cost?
The official seller lists one-day passes at US$52.40, two-day passes at US$98.44 and three-day passes at US$139.10. Children under 12 enter free.
Is the World Barista Championship included?
Yes. The ticket page says a pass includes access to the World Barista Championship, the lectures and the exhibition hall.
How do I get to the venue?
The Panama Convention Center is on the Amador Causeway, which has no metro station. A taxi or ride-hailing car from central Panama City is the usual option.
Sources: World of Coffee Panama 2026 (official site) · World of Coffee Panama ticket sales · Panama Convention Center: event listing · World of Coffee Panama: Plan Your Trip · Boquete Coffee Traders: World of Coffee Panama 2026 guide
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