Kuala Lumpur is set to take Malaysia’s coffee culture to a wider Asian audience with the introduction of the KL Coffee Festival 2026–2027 and Asia Coffee Summit 2027.

The two initiatives were officially launched at a ceremony at Pavilion Damansara Heights, bringing together coffee businesses, industry players, partners and enthusiasts to celebrate a new chapter for Malaysia’s coffee industry.

The launch was officiated by Mohd Akbal Setia, Deputy Director General (Promotions), on behalf of Mohd Amirul Rizal Abdul Rahim, Director-General of Tourism Malaysia. Teresa Kok Suh Sim, Member of Parliament for Seputeh, and Kung Suan Ai, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur’s Director of Marketing, were also present.

The launch highlights the growing relationship between coffee, culture and tourism, as travellers increasingly look for authentic experiences that allow them to discover destinations through local food, beverages and businesses.

“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.

A major highlight of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Huuha Production (M) Sdn Bhd and South Korea-based Asia Specialty Coffee Association (ASCA). The agreement establishes the foundation for Kuala Lumpur to host the Asia Coffee Summit 2027 for the first time in Malaysia.

The 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 sharing, networking and collaboration.

The programme will also include the Asia Top 100 Cafe Awards ceremony on the evening of 3 April 2027, recognising outstanding cafés and achievements within Asia’s café industry.

Before the 2027 programme, KL Coffee Festival 2026 will be held from 6 to 9 November 2026. The festival will provide coffee businesses, enthusiasts and visitors with an opportunity to explore Malaysia’s diverse coffee culture, spanning traditional kopitiam heritage and the country’s increasingly vibrant specialty coffee scene.

The initiatives also highlight the potential of gastronomy and lifestyle experiences as important components of Malaysia’s tourism offering. Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, known for their diverse food and beverage landscape and vibrant urban communities, are well positioned to showcase Malaysia through its evolving coffee culture.

The festival and summit could also generate opportunities for sectors beyond coffee, including hospitality, retail, food and beverage, transportation and other businesses connected to the wider visitor economy.

The launch also included the unveiling of the official Asia Coffee Summit website, giving industry stakeholders and prospective participants access to information about the upcoming summit and future opportunities for engagement.

As Malaysia’s coffee industry continues to evolve alongside the wider Asian coffee scene, the KL Coffee Festival 2026–2027 and Asia Coffee Summit 2027 aim to strengthen regional connections, support local businesses and give visitors another way to experience Malaysia.

From the familiar aroma of a morning kopitiam brew to the creativity of modern specialty cafés, coffee is becoming more than a daily ritual. In Kuala Lumpur, it is emerging as a platform for culture, tourism, business and regional collaboration.