Buzz Around the Globe to Attend the Best Coffee Festivals

In 2025 a cup of coffee is no longer limited to a few options. From different espresso beans to craft drinks such as lattes and macchiatos to even the types of milk used in each drink, the world of coffee has come a long way. And whether you’re a coffee snob or someone who simply enjoys the taste (and smell) of roasted coffee, why not combine a trip with a coffee-related experience?

In addition to more and more destinations offering tours of coffee plantations and roasteries, many major cities also join in on celebrating and honoring the beloved ingredient, hosting massive coffee festivals to highlight every possible aspect of the brew.

THE LONDON COFFEE FESTIVAL
In east London you’ll find the largest coffee festival in the world. In 2024 this event welcomed more than 22,000 visitors to explore specialty coffee across more than 260 artisan coffee and gourmet food brands. Even on my own visit to this festival back in 2019, I encountered not only expert baristas but also craft tea makers, latte artists, coffee-related merchandise and even coffee-based cocktails. This festival also hosts interactive workshops, music events and art exhibitions; and visitors can take home an extensive guidebook to coffee shops around London. One of its most unique features is the latte art- making competition which sees creative baristas compete to concoct the most eye-catching latte art using just coffee and milk. Don’t think it’s going to be just latte leaf art; baristas can create all sorts of images atop the surface of a latte.

You may leave buzzing (maybe literally, with all of the coffee you’ve consumed) and eager to return the next year. In the meantime, be sure to visit London’s thriving coffee scene outside of the festival. Beyond chains such as Black Sheep and Ole and Steen, you can expect quirky spots like The Wren Coffee, located within a beautiful church; Attendant Coffee Roasters Fitzrovia, located in a restored Victorian public lavatory; and Monmouth Coffee Company, a Covent Garden staple with locally sourced beans from Bermondsey.

THE NEW YORK COFFEE FESTIVAL
New York City has its own coffee festival, with plans already in the works to soon announce its 2026 dates. New York Coffee Festival is the city’s flagship coffee event focusing on its many cafés and coffee shops in and around the Big Apple. Next year’s event, held at the Metropolitan Pavilion, will showcase not only exceptional coffee but also tasty cocktails and food, live music, and eye-catching art.

You can even try your own hand at latte art in a 30-minute work- shop, where professionals teach you the skills and techniques behind latte art. In 2023 this festival held a Smirnoff Cocktail Masterclass where visitors experienced firsthand the way to make the perfect espresso martini. And when you have NYC-based food vendors serving dishes like empanadas, Australian sausage rolls, avocado toast and Vietnamese plates, you’ll never want to leave!

Of course, if you do end up going to see other New York City attractions, you can still get your coffee fix at places such as Variety Coffee Roasters (several locations) and standalone spots like Handcraft Coffee.

SĀO PAULO COFFEE FESTIVAL
Down in Brazil, a country renowned for its coffee from places like the Minas Gerais region, the annual São Paulo Coffee Festival hits the city each June (this year’s took place in Ibirapuera Park) with special demonstrations, events and classes for all coffee lovers. The festival nods to the city’s title as the capital of gastronomic diversity with a series of events blending food, confectionary and baking with coffee. This program hosts exceptional bakers, chefs and baristas.

Visitors to the festival can roast their own coffee and understand the process in a detailed workshop. How do you choose the ideal bean? What profiles should you look for? This program delves into these questions and more to leave visitors with the knowledge to make the perfect coffee drink.

The festival’s Laboratory explores the present and future of coffee as visitors can listen to conversations between experts and professionals covering everything from production to consumption. There’s even the chance for wannabe coffee shop owners to learn a thing or two.

PHOTO: © MIRKO VITALI | DREAMSTIME

WORLD COFFEE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Okay, so this might not be a festival, but who doesn’t want to watch the best of the best compete in a series of events? Hosted at the Geneva World Coffee Championships (this year’s ran June 26–28), nearly 100 elite competitors enter events including the World Latte Art Championship, World Coffee in Good Spirits Championship and World Cup Tasters Championship.

During the World Latte Art Championship, baristas are challenged and judged on their creativity and performance across six beverages in a mere 10 minutes. Watch baristas’ and barkeepers’ mixology skills in real time during the World Coffee in Good Spirits Championship, celebrating the harmony of coffee and alcohol together.

Perhaps the most entertaining, the World Coffee Tasters Championship sees professionals distinguish the taste differences in specialty coffee. Three cups are placed in a triangle, with two cups being identical coffees and the third cup a different coffee. Competitors must use their senses of smell and taste, as well as attention and experience, to identify the odd cup out.

THE AMSTERDAM COFFEE FESTIVAL
Each April the Dutch capital hosts its own coffee festival. The 2026 iteration of the festival runs April 16–18 and features the best Dutch baristas and roasters, expert-led masterclasses, cocktails, and more.

Unique to this festival is The Cupping Exchange, where visitors can taste, explore and evaluate coffees from different regions around the world. And for all of the matcha lovers, this festival even has its own Matcha Latte Art Battle, which debuted in 2024 and will return next year. Here you’ll see more than 10 talented competitors vie for the title of best matcha latte artist.

DC COFFEE FESTIVAL
The best of Washington, D.C.’s, specialty roasters, coffee shops and baristas come together this September at DC Coffee Festival. Held at Dock 5 at Union Market, this festival will see roasters from Small Planes Coffee, Hypergoat Coffee Roasters, Black Acres Roastery and more. Expect live music and delicious food, too.

OTHER U.S. COFFEE FESTIVALS ON THE HORIZON
In addition to New York City and Washington, D.C., many other U.S. cities are set to host coffee festivals this year and into 2026, including

• New Orleans’ Nola Coffee Festival (Oct. 3–4, 2025)
• Columbus Coffee Festival (Oct. 4–5, 2025)
• San Diego Coffee Festival (Oct. 11–12, 2025)
• Austin Coffee Festival (Oct. 25–26, 2025)
• Philly Coffee Festival (Oct. 25–26, 2025)
• San Francisco Coffee Festival (Nov. 8–9, 2025)