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 alongside 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.
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.
“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 speciality tea, ready-to-drink beverages and mixology-inspired concepts, and ICBS is designed to give industry players direct access to
these emerging opportunities.”
The timing matters. Malaysia’s foodservice sector is valued at USD 14.75 billion as of 2025 and 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.
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.
“Malaysia’s café scene has matured considerably over the past decade, moving well beyond chain coffee
into a landscape of independent cafés, speciality 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 for all three days, while 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 enquiries, and visitor passes,
visit https://intl-cbs.com/.
