Expanded program and new experiences hit MICE26 – BeanScene

The Melbourne International Coffee Expo (MICE) will return to the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre from 26 – 28 March 2026, bringing together the global coffee community for three days of innovation, education, and industry connection.

Hosted by Prime Creative Media, MICE is the Southern Hemisphere’s premier coffee industry event, welcoming thousands of café owners, roasters, baristas, producers, and suppliers from across Australia and around the world. 

In 2026, the event will deliver its most ambitious program yet, featuring expanded educational sessions, immersive origin experiences, and the launch of a brand-new evening experience, MICE at Night. 

“Each year, MICE brings together the entire coffee industry, from producers and green bean traders through to roasters, baristas, café owners and equipment innovators,” says Siobhan Rocks, General Manager – Events at Prime Creative Media. 

“MICE is where the industry comes together to share knowledge, discover new ideas and build the relationships that drive the coffee sector forward. We’re incredibly excited about the new features and experiences we’re introducing in 2026.” 

MICE 2026 is supported by a range of industry sponsors and partners, including platinum sponsors Breville Group, MILKLAB, and La Marzocco.

This year’s gold sponsors are Riverina Fresh, T2, Grounded Packaging, and Venus Packaging, with cup sponsor noissue, and social media sponsor FoodPEEPS. 

The MICE 2026 association partners are Australian Coffee Traders Association (ACTA), Restaurant & Catering Australia (R&CA), the New Zealand Specialty Coffee Association (NZSCA) and the Australian Grown Coffee Association. 

Also supporting the 2026 edition of the Melbourne International Coffee is charity partner StreetSmart and sustainability partner Reground, whose support helps bring the event’s program, experiences and industry connections to life. 

MICE at Night launches in 2026

A major new addition to the program is MICE at Night, an extended show experience designed for café owners and hospitality professionals who may find it difficult to attend during standard trading hours. 

Taking place on Friday, 27 March, the show floor will remain open until 7.30pm, with a dedicated $29.95 evening ticket available from 4.00pm.

Visitors will be able to explore the exhibition floor, enjoy Friday night beverages, and extended programming as part of the Café Owners Education Series, with panel discussions continuing into the evening. 

MICE at Night is designed as a continuation of the expo, creating a more social and accessible way for the industry to connect after service. 

Roasters Playground returns

The Roasters Playground is back as one of the most interactive features on the show floor. 

Sponsored by La Marzocco and Riverina Fresh, the feature will host 34 high-calibre roasters across three days, each showcasing their coffees through scheduled cupping sessions. 

Visitors will be able to taste coffees from leading and emerging Australian roasters including:  

• Clark St Coffee
• Daily Drop Coffee 
• SOHO Coffee Roasters 
• Artisti Coffee Roasters 
• Kindred Coffee 
• Grace and Taylor Coffee Company 
• Rumble Coffee Roasters 
• Veneziano Coffee Roasters 
• Merchant Coffee Roasters 
• Pablo & Rusty’s Coffee Roasters 
• Stitch Coffee 
• Fonzie Abbott Coffee Roasters 
• Allpress Espresso 
• The Grounds Roastery 
• Haven Coffee 
• Padre Coffee 
• Single O 
• Humm Coffee Roasters 
• Commonfolk Coffee Co. 
• Coffee Supreme 
• LOMA Coffee 
• Mecca Coffee
• Fat Cat Coffee Roasters 
• Seven Seeds Coffee Roasters 
• Jasper Coffee 
• Little Italy Coffee Roasters 
• Grinders Coffee Roasters 
• Toby’s Estate Coffee 
• ST. ALi 
• Market Lane Coffee 
• Old Quarter Coffee Merchants 
• Criteria Coffee 
• Niccolo 
• Lavazza 

The Roasters Playground is a dynamic hub for tasting, discussion and direct connection with the people behind some of Australia’s most exciting coffee companies. 

Trip to Origin showcases producing countries

Another highlight of the 2026 program is Trip to Origin, an immersive showcase connecting attendees with producing nations and green coffee specialists. 

Across the event, representatives from countries including: Brazil, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Uganda, Nepal, India, Colombia, Peru, and Guatemala will present their coffees through tastings, cuppings and educational sessions. 

The feature provides insight into farming practices, regional flavour profiles, and the people behind the beans, helping strengthen the connection between origin and café.

Education and industry insights

Education remains a cornerstone of MICE, with a packed schedule of presentations and panel discussions exploring the challenges and opportunities shaping the coffee industry. 

The Café Owners Education Stage, sponsored by Grounded Packaging, and powered by BeanScene magazine, will focus on practical insights for café operators, covering topics such as café profitability, pricing strategies, retail coffee opportunities, beverage trends, customer experience, and scaling a coffee business in a competitive market. 

The program will also feature world champion baristas and industry experts sharing insights into the evolving café landscape.  

“Education has always been a core part of MICE,” says Sarah Baker, Publisher at Prime Creative Media, and MICE Education Moderator.  

“The program is designed to give café owners and coffee professionals practical insights they can take back to their businesses, while also opening up important conversations about where the industry is heading.” 

MICE will also host the Global Coffee Report Leaders Symposium on the morning of Friday, 27 March, bringing together senior leaders from across the coffee supply chain for high-level discussions on the future of the industry. This is a ticketed event for senior decision-makers, industry leaders, and professionals looking to gain strategic insights into the trends shaping the global coffee sector. 

Sessions will explore the expansion of specialty coffee into the wider hospitality sector, strategies for scaling coffee businesses, and global coffee influences and trends from international coffee brands, a special keynote presentation from Starbucks Australia CEO Braeden Lord on the past, present, and future direction of the company.

Awards and recognition 

Alongside the exhibition and education program, MICE will host the Coffee Industry Heroes Awards as part of the official MICE Opening Party on Thursday, 26 March. 

This year’s batch of seven awards has grown from the three presented at the inaugural 2025 event, which are: 

• Community Champion
• Lifetime Achievement
• Next-Gen Talent
• Best New Café
• Sustainability Champion
• Coffee Educator
• Home Grown Hero 

The evening will celebrate not only the incredible people shaping Australia’s coffee industry through the Coffee Industry Heroes Awards, but also the first day of MICE itself bringing together café owners, baristas, roasters, educators, producers, and suppliers from across the sector. 

Expect drinks flowing, DJs playing, and a relaxed party atmosphere as the industry comes together to celebrate the first day of MICE. 

It’s a great chance to unwind, connect with peers, and enjoy a memorable night with the people behind Australia’s coffee scene. 

Coffee lovers at MICE

While MICE is a major business event for the coffee and hospitality industry, it also welcomes passionate coffee drinkers and curious consumers. Coffee lovers can taste incredible blends, watch live demonstrations, and learn how to brew better coffee at home. 

Platinum sponsor Breville Group will bring its family of brands – Breville, Baratza, Lelit, and Beanz.com – to the show floor at the MICE Town Square with hands-on experiences, competitions and guided tastings.  

Visitors will be able to explore espresso machines and grinders up close, watch latte art battles, and discover their personal coffee flavour profile through interactive tastings designed to help recreate café-quality coffee at home. 

With an expanded program, new experiences, and thousands of coffee professionals expected to attend, MICE26 will once again position Melbourne at the centre of the global coffee conversation. 

From discovering new equipment and roasting innovations to hearing directly from producers and industry leaders, the event offers a unique opportunity to explore the ideas, people, and products shaping the future of coffee. 

There’s still time to secure your ticket to the ‘World’s Destination for Coffee’: internationalcoffeeexpo.com/attend