COFFEE lovers can look forward to three days of aromatic brews, exciting competitions and engaging activities as the Penang Coffee Festival 2026 takes place from Aug 14 to 16 at Sunshine Central in Air Itam.
The festival promises to be a vibrant celebration of Penang’s growing coffee culture, featuring specialty coffee tastings, interactive workshops, product showcases and regional competitions, including the Malaysia AeroPress Championship (Northern Region).
During a press conference at the State Legislative Assembly in Dewan Sri Pinang today, Penang Island City Council (MBPP) councillor Koay Gaik Kee said the festival aims to bring together coffee professionals, roasters, café operators, equipment suppliers, industry players and coffee enthusiasts under one roof.
She said the event would not only celebrate Penang’s increasingly dynamic coffee scene, but also help strengthen the local coffee ecosystem by creating opportunities for industry players and enthusiasts to connect, exchange ideas and share their passion for coffee.
Meanwhile, Penang Legislative Assembly Speaker Datuk Seri Law Choo Kiang, who was also present at the press conference, said Penang has the potential to establish itself as a destination for international coffee enthusiasts.
He noted that the state’s diverse café scene, coupled with its relatively reasonable prices, could make Penang an attractive stop for coffee lovers from around the world.
“Penang can also be a destination for international coffee hoppers, especially with the variety of cafés available throughout the state and the reasonable prices offered,” he said.
Also launched during the press conference was the CoffeeCity Journal, a publication conceived by Koay and her friends as a way to document and preserve the stories behind Penang’s evolving coffee culture.
Koay said the idea emerged from a simple conversation during one of their coffee sessions.
“Every great idea begins with a simple conversation. So one day, myself and my friends, during our coffee session, talked about something beyond coffee itself.
“We spoke about Penang’s vibrant coffee culture, the people behind the industry, the stories that often go untold, and how quickly our coffee scene continues to evolve.
“So we realised that while coffee festivals and events come and go, many of these valuable stories are not documented.
“That led us to ask a simple question: why don’t we create something that preserves these stories for future generations?” she said.
Koay said that conversation eventually gave birth to the CoffeeCity Journal.
“This journal is much more than a souvenir for the Penang Coffee Festival; it is a collection of stories, experiences and perspectives from those who have shaped Penang’s coffee journey, from green bean suppliers and roasters to specialty coffee professionals, café operators and industry partners.
“More importantly, it is a tribute to the people, the passion and the culture behind every cup of coffee.
“We see this publication as the beginning of a long-term journey, and we look forward to exploring opportunities for future editions and additional languages,” she said.
Story by Riadz Akmal