The International Café and Beverage Show (ICBS) 2026 returns for its 5th edition from 7 to 9 May at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, bringing together a dynamic global community under one roof. Over the three-day event, ICBS is expected to welcome 650 brands, 1,000 baristas and 2,000 café owners, with an estimated 13,000 attendees from 55 countries. As Malaysia’s only dedicated café and beverage trade show, ICBS has evolved from a niche industry gathering into a key indicator of the direction café culture is taking in Malaysia and across the wider region.
Organised by Montgomery Asia in partnership with Barista Guild Asia, Eciatto, and HJC Global Tea Fair, ICBS 2026 introduces several new developments that reflect the industry’s rapid evolution. The most notable addition this year is a dedicated tea segment developed with HJC Global Tea Fair, marking a first in the show’s five-year history. This segment brings global tea innovations to the ICBS floor at a time when tea is increasingly moving from a supporting offering to a central feature in modern café menus across Malaysia and the region.
According to Mr Alun Jones, Project Director of Montgomery Asia, ICBS has become a catalyst for Southeast Asia’s beverage economy, serving as a platform where ideas are exchanged, partnerships are formed, and businesses discover new pathways for growth. He added that as the show enters its fifth edition, it not only reflects the industry but actively helps shape it. In 2026, the beverage landscape is more diverse and innovation-driven than ever, with coffee continuing to anchor café culture while speciality tea, ready-to-drink beverages and mixology-inspired concepts gaining strong momentum. ICBS, he noted, is designed to give industry players direct access to these emerging opportunities.
The timing of this growth is significant. Malaysia’s foodservice sector is valued at USD 14.75 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 27.50 billion by 2030, according to industry data. Within this, demand for premium and functional beverages is accelerating, with the ready-to-drink tea segment alone expected to grow by USD 32.4 million between 2025 and 2030. These figures reflect broader shifts in consumer behaviour, including how Malaysians spend, socialise and seek new experiences, with ICBS serving as a key platform for the industry to respond to these changes.
Anchoring the competitive element 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. Beyond being a skills showcase, the MOCC functions as a talent pipeline that continues to elevate standards within Malaysia’s barista community.
Alongside these championships, ICBS 2026 will also spotlight Malaysia’s evolving beverage creativity through the Unite Malaysian Taste Challenge 2026. The competition gathers emerging and experienced mixologists to craft story-driven mocktails inspired by Malaysia’s 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 Malaysian concepts take centre stage, offering producers and café operators a meaningful opportunity to present homegrown innovation to both trade and public audiences.
Mr Alun Jones further noted that Malaysia’s café scene has matured significantly over the past decade, moving beyond chain coffee into a landscape defined by independent cafés, speciality roasters and concept-driven spaces, supported by a consumer base that actively seeks out these experiences. He emphasised that ICBS sits at the centre of this ecosystem, not only as an exhibition but as a space where the next wave of ideas in Malaysian café culture often emerges.
Entry to ICBS 2026 is free, with registration now open. The exhibition runs from 7 to 9 May, welcoming trade visitors throughout all three days, while opening to the public on 9 May for visitors to experience the show floor and explore the latest developments in coffee, tea and beverage innovation. More information on ICBS 2026, including exhibition opportunities, partnership enquiries and visitor passes, is available at https://intl-cbs.com/.
