MALAYSIA’S BIGGEST CAFE AND BEVERAGE TRADE SHOW RETURNS TO KL CONVENTION CENTRE IN MAY 2026, DEBUTING FIRST-EVER DEDICATED TEA SEGMENT

MALAYSIA’S BIGGEST CAFE AND BEVERAGE TRADE SHOW RETURNS TO KL CONVENTION CENTRE IN MAY 2026, DEBUTING FIRST-EVER DEDICATED TEA SEGMENT

The International Café and Beverage Show 2026 marks its 5th edition with expanded global participation, new industry competitions, and a growing spotlight on Malaysia as Southeast Asia's café hub.

[PRESS RELEASE]

The International Café and Beverage Show (ICBS) 2026 returns for its 5th edition from 7-9 May at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, bringing together a vibrant global community under one roof. 

Over three days, the event is set to welcome 650 brands, 1,000 baristas, and 2,000 café owners, with an anticipated 13,000 attendees from 55 countries. As Malaysia’s only dedicated café and beverage trade show, ICBS has grown from an industry niche into a barometer for where café culture in the country - and the broader region - is heading.

Mr. T.H. Hoh, CEO of Eciatto, Mr.Alun Jones, Project Director of Montgomery Group Asia, Mr. Koh Wei Yang, General Manager Of Barista Guild Asia

(From Left to Right)

Organised by Montgomery Asia in partnership with Barista Guild Asia, Eciatto, and HJC Global Tea Fair, ICBS 2026 introduces several new developments that reflect how seriously the show is tracking the industry’s evolution. The most significant debut this year is a dedicated tea segment, developed in collaboration with HJC Global Tea Fair - a first in the show’s five-year history. The segment brings global tea innovations to the ICBS floor at a moment when tea is moving from a supporting category into a core part of modern café menus across Malaysia and the region.

“ICBS has become a catalyst for Southeast Asia’s beverage economy. It’s where ideas are exchanged, partnerships are formed, and businesses find new pathways for growth,” said Mr. Alun Jones, Project Director of Montgomery Asia.

Mr.Alun Jones, Project Director of Montgomery Group Asia

“As we celebrate our fifth edition, the show is not just reflecting the industry - it is 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 specialty tea, ready-to-drink beverages, and mixology-inspired concepts, and ICBS is designed to give industry players direct access to these emerging opportunities.”

Mr. T.H. Hoh, CEO of Eciatto

The timing matters. Malaysia’s foodservice sector is valued at USD 14.75 billion as of 2025 and is projected to reach USD 27.50 billion by 2030, according to industry data. 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. These are not abstract figures; they reflect a shift in how Malaysians spend, socialise and seek out new experiences, and ICBS is the platform where the industry gathers to respond to that shift.

Mr. Koh Wei Yang, General Manager Of Barista Guild Asia

Anchoring the competition side of the show is the Malaysia Open Coffee Championship (MOCC), which brings together 38 competitors across three categories: the Malaysia Open Brewers Cup, Malaysia Open Latte Art Championship, and Malaysia Open Barista Championship. More than a skills showcase, the MOCC is a talent pipeline as it continues to raise the bar for Malaysia’s barista community.

Alongside its championships, ICBS 2026 continues to spotlight the evolving creativity within Malaysia’s beverage scene through the Unite Malaysian Taste Challenge 2026. Bringing together emerging and seasoned mixologists, the competition invites participants to craft story-driven mocktails inspired by Malaysia’s rich and diverse flavour heritage, transforming local ingredients into distinctive expressions of taste. More than a mixology showcase, it reinforces ICBS’s role as a 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.

The Team From UCSI

“Malaysia’s café scene has matured considerably over the past decade, moving well beyond chain coffee into a landscape of independent cafés, specialty roasters, and concept-driven spaces, with a consumer base that travels specifically to seek them out,” said Mr. Alun Jones.

“ICBS sits at the centre of that ecosystem - not just as an exhibition, but as the place where the next ideas in Malaysian café culture tend to surface first.”

Entry to ICBS 2026 is free, and registration is now open. The exhibition runs from 7–9 May, with trade visitors welcome on all three days. The exhibition officially opens to the public on 9 May, inviting all attendees to experience the show floor and explore the latest in coffee, tea, and beverage innovation firsthand.

For more information on ICBS 2026, exhibition opportunities, partnership inquiries, and visitor passes, visit https://intl-cbs.com/.