Kuala Lumpur is set to strengthen its position as a regional coffee destination with the launch of the KL Coffee Festival 2026–2027 and Asia Coffee Summit 2027.
The two initiatives were officially launched at a ceremony held at Pavilion Damansara Heights, bringing together coffee businesses, industry players, partners and enthusiasts to celebrate a new chapter for Malaysia’s coffee industry.
The ceremony was officiated by Mohd Akbal Setia, Deputy Director General (Promotions), on behalf of Mohd Amirul Rizal Abdul Rahim, Director-General of Tourism Malaysia. Also present were Teresa Kok Suh Sim, Member of Parliament for Seputeh, and Kung Suan Ai, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur’s Director of Marketing.
Malaysia’s coffee culture has long been part of everyday life, from the familiar aroma of traditional kopitiam coffee to the growing popularity of specialty coffee. The latest initiatives aim to showcase this diversity while connecting Malaysian coffee businesses with a wider Asian audience.
“Malaysia’s coffee culture is a reflection of our country’s diversity, creativity and hospitality. From our traditional kopitiams to our growing specialty coffee scene, coffee offers visitors another way to experience the character of Malaysia,” said Amirul Rizal.
He added that initiatives such as the KL Coffee Festival and Asia Coffee Summit would provide opportunities to bring Malaysia’s coffee story to a wider regional audience while creating connections between local businesses, the tourism industry and international visitors.
A major highlight of the launch was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Huuha Production (M) Sdn Bhd and the South Korea-based Asia Specialty Coffee Association (ASCA). The agreement establishes the official hosting of the Asia Coffee Summit 2027 in Kuala Lumpur for the first time.
Asia Coffee Summit 2027 will take place from 2 to 4 April 2027 alongside KL Coffee Festival 2027. The regional gathering is expected to bring together coffee producers, roasters, café operators, entrepreneurs and industry professionals from across Asia for knowledge exchange, collaboration and business engagement.
The programme will also feature the Asia Top 100 Cafe Awards ceremony on the evening of 3 April 2027, recognising outstanding cafés and excellence across the region’s coffee scene.
Before the 2027 programme, KL Coffee Festival 2026 will take place from 6 to 9 November 2026. The festival will provide visitors, coffee enthusiasts and businesses with an opportunity to explore Malaysia’s coffee culture, spanning traditional coffee heritage and the creativity of the contemporary specialty coffee movement.
The initiatives also highlight the growing role of gastronomy and lifestyle experiences within Malaysia’s tourism offering. Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, with their diverse food and beverage landscape, vibrant urban communities and expanding specialty coffee scene, have strong potential to attract visitors seeking authentic local experiences.
The economic impact is expected to extend beyond the coffee industry. Hospitality, retail, food and beverage, transportation and other businesses within the wider visitor economy could also benefit from increased visitor activity surrounding the festival and summit.
The launch also included the unveiling of the official Asia Coffee Summit website, which will provide industry stakeholders and potential participants with information about the upcoming summit and future opportunities to get involved.
As Asia’s coffee industry continues to grow and evolve, the KL Coffee Festival 2026–2027 and Asia Coffee Summit 2027 aim to create stronger connections between Malaysia and the regional coffee community.
For visitors, the initiatives offer another way to discover Malaysia through its food, beverages and local businesses. For the industry, they provide a platform for collaboration, knowledge sharing and regional growth.
From traditional kopitiams to modern specialty cafés, Malaysia’s coffee story is continuing to evolve — and Kuala Lumpur is preparing to bring that story to the wider Asian stage.