Cup of Excellence 2026: Auction Schedule, Countries, and Key Changes
The Alliance for Coffee Excellence (ACE) has released an early outline of its 2026 Cup of Excellence (CoE) competition and auction calendar, signaling another active year for one of specialty coffee’s most influential quality-driven market programs. The provisional schedule includes auctions from 11 producing countries, with activity largely clustered in the middle of the year.
Now approaching its third decade, the Cup of Excellence continues to operate as more than a sensory competition. The program functions as a structured gateway between producers and international buyers, using a multi-stage evaluation system to identify exceptional microlots and channel them into transparent, global online auctions. For many producers, CoE remains a key mechanism for price discovery and direct market access.
Mid-Year Auction Window Dominates the 2026 Season
According to the newly published calendar, most 2026 CoE auctions are scheduled between late June and the end of July, creating a highly concentrated auction window.
The season is set to open with Nicaragua on June 25, followed by a rapid sequence of auctions:
- El Salvador — July 2
- Costa Rica — July 9
- Honduras — July 16
- Guatemala — July 23
- Mexico — July 28
- Thailand — July 30
Additional Cup of Excellence auctions for Taiwan, Peru, and Brazil are listed with dates yet to be confirmed, while Indonesia’s CoE auction is scheduled for November 26, positioning it as the final event of the year.
Colombia, Ethiopia, and Ecuador Remain Absent
As was the case in the previous season, several historically significant origins are missing from the 2026 Cup of Excellence calendar.
- Colombia, a long-standing participant, ran CoE competitions consistently from 2005 through 2023
- Ethiopia hosted CoE events between 2020 and 2024
- Ecuador’s most recent participation occurred in 2023
ACE has not provided an official explanation regarding the continued absence of these origins from the 2026 schedule.
Auction Access and Sample Registration Open
Alongside the calendar announcement, ACE has opened registration for both auction participation and sample purchases via its online platform. Pricing varies based on membership status and participation type.
Current listings show:
- Cup of Excellence sample sets priced at $395 for ACE members and $850 for non-members
- Auction-only registration priced at $25 for members and $250 for non-members
Recent Operational Shifts Shape the Program
The release of the 2026 calendar follows several structural updates within the Cup of Excellence ecosystem.
In March 2025, ACE confirmed a partnership with V-Auction, part of the Vollers Group, appointing the platform as the official auction provider for CoE events. Earlier, in June 2024, ACE formalized a collaboration with the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA), announcing the adoption of the SCA’s Coffee Value Assessment (CVA) protocols for future competitions.
Together, these changes signal an ongoing effort to standardize evaluation frameworks and modernize auction infrastructure as the program evolves.
Read other articles :
- What’s Driving Coffee Market Uncertainty in 2026 | Industry Analysis
- Why Coffee Trade Margins Are Won at the Handoffs, Not at the Farm
- How Coffee Trade Really Works – and Where Value Is Won or Los
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