Catering Food | Coffee & Tea

One of the signature highlights of HOTELEX, the World Coffee Competition Series brings together four prestigious championships covering Barista, Latte Art, Roasting, and Brewers Cup. Making its highly anticipated appearance at HOTELEX Shenzhen, the competitions will determine the South China regional champions while showcasing the highest standards of craftsmanship, creativity, and technical excellence in coffee.

More than a competition, the event serves as a premier stage for coffee professionals to demonstrate their skills, exchange expertise, and inspire industry innovation. Featuring outstanding performances from some of the region’s most talented coffee professionals, the championships promise an exciting experience for both industry practitioners and coffee enthusiasts alike.

In addition to the World Coffee Competition Series, HOTELEX Shenzhen will host a wide range of renowned professional competitions, including specialty beverage, pizza, chocolate, and culinary championships, bringing together top industry talents to compete on one stage at the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center.

Among the highlights, the Shanghai International Creative Drinks Competition, now in its 10th edition, will showcase innovation, craftsmanship, and creativity in specialty beverages while promoting tea and beverage culture and inspiring new trends across the industry.

The exhibition will also feature the HOTELEX International Culinary Championship (Shenzhen), one of the largest and most comprehensive international culinary competitions in the region. The championship covers a wide range of categories, including team and individual competitions, Chinese and Western cuisine, pastry, bakery, and artistic carving, providing a world-class platform for culinary professionals to demonstrate their skills and creativity.

Together, these internationally recognized competitions will deliver an inspiring showcase of technical excellence, innovation, and craftsmanship, creating an unforgettable experience for industry professionals and visitors alike.

One of HOTELEX’s signature lifestyle events, the International Coffee & Gourmet Festival has become a highly anticipated attraction across East China, North China, Southwest China, and South China. In 2026, the festival will once again make its debut in Shenzhen, bringing together specialty cafés, tea brands, dessert shops, and lifestyle food concepts from around the world.

The festival provides an ideal platform for exhibitors to showcase their signature products, innovative creations, and lifestyle brands to both industry professionals and consumers. At the same time, participating brands will have the opportunity to connect with investors, distributors, and upstream and downstream supply chain partners, creating valuable business and collaboration opportunities.

As one of China’s most influential coffee and gourmet lifestyle festivals, the event attracts thousands of coffee enthusiasts, food lovers, and industry professionals each year, offering a vibrant experience that blends specialty coffee culture, culinary creativity, and commercial networking.

A comprehensive conference programme will take place throughout the exhibition, covering key topics across the hospitality, foodservice, food manufacturing, and central kitchen industries.

Bringing together founders of leading hospitality and foodservice brands, renowned food industry experts, and influential business leaders, the forums will explore the latest market trends, business innovation strategies, and emerging opportunities shaping the industry. Discussions will also focus on the future development of central kitchens, prepared food solutions, and foodservice operations, providing valuable insights into technology, business transformation, and sustainable growth.

Through a series of high-level forums and thought-provoking discussions, the programme will inspire new ideas, encourage cross-industry collaboration, and drive innovation across the food, hospitality, and foodservice sectors.