The International Café & Beverage Show (ICBS) 2026 returns to the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) for its fifth edition from May 7–9, 2026, featuring a new, dedicated tea segment.
The three-day premier trade event will bring together a vibrant global community, welcoming 650 brands, 1,000 baristas, and 2,000 café owners, with an anticipated 13,000 attendees from 55 countries.
The show offers free entry, featuring the Malaysia Open Coffee Championship (Brewers Cup, Latte Art & Barista), the new dedicated “Tea Segment,” and the Unite Malaysian Taste Challenge.
Organised by Montgomery Asia in partnership with Barista Guild Asia, Eciatto and HJC Global Tea Fair, ICBS 2026 highlights a strong focus on both coffee innovation and the rising tea industry, catering to professionals and café enthusiasts alike.
The tea segment brings global tea innovations to the ICBS floor, reflecting a major shift as tea moves from a supporting category into a core, high-growth and premium part of modern café menus in Malaysia and the region.
Montgomery Asia project director Alun Jones said ICBS has emerged as a premier catalyst for growth in Southeast Asia’s beverage industry by fostering partnerships, debuting new products and highlighting trends like the expanding tea sector alongside its established coffee focus.
“As we celebrate our fifth edition, the show is not just reflecting the industry but actively shaping it.
“In 2026, we are seeing a beverage landscape more diverse and innovation-driven than ever before.
“Coffee continues to anchor café culture, but there is strong momentum in speciality tea, ready-to-drink beverages and mixology-inspired concepts, and ICBS is designed to give industry players direct access to these emerging opportunities,” he said at the ICBS 2026 press conference on April 16, 2026 at KLCC.
Based on 2025 industry data, Malaysia’s foodservice sector is valued at USD 14.75 billion, with projections showing it will reach USD 27.5 billion by 2030. Within that, demand for premium and functional beverages is accelerating – the ready-to-drink tea segment alone is expected to grow by USD 32.4 million between 2025 and 2030, reflecting a shift to rapidly evolving Malaysian consumer spending, socialising and experiential trends.
The Malaysia Open Coffee Championship (MOCC) will feature 38 competitors across three categories: the Malaysia Open Brewers Cup, Malaysia Open Latte Art Championship, and Malaysia Open Barista Championship. This event acts as a vital talent pipeline, boosting the professionalism and skill levels of the local barista community.
Meanwhile, the Unite Malaysian Taste Challenge 2026 spotlights local mixology creativity, inviting participants to craft story-driven mocktails with local ingredients, emphasizing cultural influences in Malaysian beverage creation.
The ICBS 2026 strengthens its position as a vital platform where distinctly Malaysian concepts take centre stage – giving producers and café operators a meaningful opportunity to present homegrown innovation to both trade and public audiences.
Entry to ICBS 2026 is free, with registration now open via the ICBS registration page. The event is open to trade visitors for all three days (May 7-9) and to the public on the final day, May 9.
For more information, visit https://intl-cbs.com/.
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