The KL Coffee Festival 2026–2027 and Asia Coffee Summit 2027 were launched today at a ceremony held at Pavilion Damansara Heights, with the 2026 festival taking place on 6-9 November later this year at Pavilion Bukit Jalil while the 2027 festival will run concurrently with the inaugural summit on 2-4 April 2027 at Pavilion Damansara Heights.
From the familiar aroma of a morning kopitiam brew to the growing sophistication of Malaysia’s specialty coffee scene, coffee has long been woven into the country’s culture, lifestyle and everyday life. Now, Kuala Lumpur is set to take that story further, with the introduction of two new platforms aimed at bringing Malaysia’s coffee community closer to the wider Asian region.
Paul Bae, President of the Asia Specialty Coffee Association (ASCA) highlighted the reason behind the establishment of Asia Coffee Summit, “Across Asia, there are exceptional cafes, talented coffee professionals, and unique coffee cultures in every country. However, I believe we need a stronger platform, one that connects us with various coffee scenes to recognise their excellence and achievements, and bring their stories to the world.”
The KL Coffee Festival 2026–2027 and Asia Coffee Summit 2027 were launched today at a ceremony held at Pavilion Damansara Heights, bringing together coffee businesses, industry players, partners and enthusiasts to mark the beginning of a new chapter for Malaysia’s coffee industry.
The occasion was officiated by Mohd Amirul Rizal Abdul Rahim, Director-General of Tourism Malaysia, reflecting the growing connection between coffee, culture and tourism as visitors increasingly seek experiences that allow them to discover a destination through its food, beverages and local businesses. 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 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. Initiatives such as the KL Coffee Festival and Asia Coffee Summit provide an opportunity to bring this story to a wider regional audience, while creating meaningful connections between our local businesses, tourism industry and international visitors,” said Amirul Rizal.
“Malaysia’s coffee culture is a reflection of our country’s diversity, creativity and hospitality. From our traditional kopitiams with kopi ‘O’, kopi ‘C’ and kopi tarik, to our growing specialty coffee scene, coffee offers visitors, both local and international, another way to experience the character of Malaysia,” said Tourism Malaysia’s Deputy Director General and Head of the Visit Malaysia 2026-27 Secretariat, Mohd Akbal Setia, who officiated the launch on behalf of the Director General, Mohd Amirul Rizal Abdul Rahim.
A key highlight of the launch was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Huuha Production (M) Sdn Bhd and the South Korea-based Asia Specialty Coffee Association (ASCA) for the official hosting of the Asia Coffee Summit 2027 for the first time in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The partnership lays the groundwork for Kuala Lumpur to welcome coffee professionals and industry players from across Asia for knowledge exchange, collaboration and regional engagement.
The launch saw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Huuha Production (M) Sdn Bhd and the South Korea-based Asia Specialty Coffee Association (ASCA) for the official hosting of the Asia Coffee Summit 2027 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, witnessed by Kung Suan Ai, Director of Marketing for Pavilion Kuala Lumpur (left), Akbal centre), and Teresa Kok Suh Sim, Member of Parliament for Seputeh (right).
Envisioned as a regional platform, Asia Coffee Summit 2027 will take place from 2 to 4 April 2027, alongside KL Coffee Festival 2027, bringing together coffee producers, roasters, café operators, entrepreneurs and industry professionals from across Asia. The programme will also feature the Asia Top 100 Cafe Awards ceremony on the evening of 3 April 2027, recognising excellence within the region’s café scene.
Ahead of the 2027 programme, KL Coffee Festival 2026 will take place from 6 to 9 November 2026, offering an earlier opportunity for businesses, coffee enthusiasts and visitors to experience the diversity of Malaysia’s coffee culture, from traditional coffee heritage to the creativity of its contemporary specialty coffee scene.
“Coffee can be a gateway to our country, bringing visitors into our neighbourhoods, cafés, restaurants, retail destinations and communities, something that aligns strongly with Visit Malaysia 2026-27, where tourism is increasingly about experiences and meaningful connections,” said Terrance Lim, CEO of Huuha Production and Founder of KL Coffee Festival, in his welcome remark.
Beyond coffee itself, the initiatives also reflect the broader potential of gastronomy and lifestyle experiences as part of Malaysia’s tourism offering. Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, with their diverse food and beverage scene, growing specialty coffee culture and vibrant urban communities, are well positioned to offer visitors new ways to experience Malaysia.
The Festival and Summit are also expected to create opportunities beyond the coffee sector, with potential benefits for hospitality, retail, food and beverage, transportation and other businesses that form part of the wider visitor economy.
The launch also marked the unveiling of the Asia Coffee Summit official website, providing industry stakeholders and prospective participants with information on the upcoming Summit and future opportunities for engagement.
The Asia Coffee Summit 2027 will also feature the Asia Top 100 Cafe Awards which will recognise the excellence of cafes from across the region’s coffee scenes.
With the coffee industry continuing to evolve across Asia, the KL Coffee Festival 2026–2027 and Asia Coffee Summit 2027 aim to create a space where Malaysian businesses can connect with the region, where visitors can discover Malaysia through its coffee culture, and where a simple cup of coffee can become the beginning of a much bigger conversation.
