World of Coffee Asia | BITEC Bangkok | May 7–10, 2026
BANGKOK — QAHWA WORLD
The world’s most discriminating tongues are heading to Thailand. From May 7 to 9, 2026, the Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC) will host the 2026 World Cup Tasters Championship (WCTC), presented by Porland, as part of World of Coffee Asia — marking the first time this sensory competition has landed in Southeast Asia.
Forty-five professional cuppers from 38 countries will lean over porcelain triangles, spoons in hand, and attempt to do what sounds simple but is brutally difficult: taste three cups of coffee, identify the one that is different, and do it faster than anyone else on Earth.
The Triangle Test
Each round presents eight triangles — three cups where two contain identical coffees and one contains a different coffee. The cupper must identify the odd cup in each triangle using only smell, taste, attention, and experience. Competitors with the most correct identifications advance. Ties are broken by fastest time. Round 1 narrows the field to the top 8 for quarterfinals, then to 4 for the finals.
New 2026 rule updates:
• Clear “time” call required — only official time counts.
• Public discussion of an active appeal before a ruling will result in dismissal.
Full rules: wcc.coffee/rules-regulations
Full Competitor List (45 nations)
| Name | Country / Region |
|---|---|
| Karl Lee | Australia |
| Andrew Wong | United Kingdom |
| Mehmet Sogan | United States |
| Cristian Arévalo | El Salvador |
| Kiko Fong | Hong Kong SAR |
| Minwook Jeong | South Korea |
| Nathanael | Austria |
| Sipho | South Africa |
| Kamila Nováková | Czech Republic |
| Le Quang Cuong (Nicky) | Vietnam |
| Shao Edouard | France |
| Luigi Paternoster Vicino | Italy |
| Jacques Carneiro | Brazil |
| Ivaniuk Rostyslav | Ukraine |
| Vaggelis Stavropoulos | Greece |
| Ply Pasarj | Canada |
| Mateusz Derkacz | Poland |
| Adeola Peter Akingbade | United Arab Emirates |
| Gabriel Tudorin | Ireland |
| Chiam Tow Jin | Malaysia |
| Bogdan Danilenko | Turkey |
| Juan Hu (胡娟) | China |
| Benjamin Chamy | Chile |
| Jonathan Davila | Ecuador |
| Bo-Kai Lai (Eli) | Chinese Taipei |
| Chiaki Kobayashi | Germany |
| Luisa Fernanda Rodriguez | Guatemala |
| Abdulkarim Abulrahman Ali Jumah | Saudi Arabia |
| Tan Yi Xin | Singapore |
| August Hislop | Aotearoa/New Zealand |
| Marcos Uhlig | Spain |
| Alif Andira | Indonesia |
| Erhan Dizbay | Turkey |
| Mooh Punnaphob | Thailand |
| Anthony Huy Nguyen | Sweden |
| Juan Sebastian Gómez | Colombia |
| Tibor Hamori | Belgium |
| Mizuki Tagami | Japan |
| David Pahomi | Romania |
| Jhon Jimenez | Peru |
| Catherine Queiroz | Switzerland |
| Vicky (Jinghan) Cheng | Netherlands |
| Alvaro Arnez | Bolivia |
| Reza F. Anissi | Denmark |
Schedule
- May 7, 2026 – Orientation + Round 1
- May 9, 2026 – Quarterfinals & Semifinals
- May 10, 2026 – Finals & Awards Ceremony
Sponsors
Title: Porland | Qualified Water: Bluewater | Diamond: Cosori (Juni) | Supporting: Kranti Coffee, Cosori Cooks, Option-O
2026 WCC Circuit
| Dates | Location | Championship |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 18–20 | Dubai, UAE | Cezve/Ibrik Championship |
| Apr 10–12 | San Diego, USA | World Latte Art Championship |
| May 7–9 | Bangkok, Thailand | World Cup Tasters Championship |
| June 25–27 | Brussels, Belgium | Brewers Cup, Roasting, Coffee in Good Spirits |
| Oct 23–25 | Panama City, Panama | World Barista Championship |
Follow official updates: wcc.coffee | #WCCBangkok #WCTCBangkok
Reporting based on official announcements from World Coffee Championships, Porland, Bluewater, Cosori, and World of Coffee Asia. Competitor list as published March–May 2026. All times and schedules subject to change.
