Rules & Regulations Released for the 2026 World Barista Championship in Panama
The Specialty Coffee Association is delighted to release updated rules and regulations for the 2026 World Barista Championship (WBC). The updated rules and regulations will be used at the 2026 World Barista Championships from October 22-25, 2026, at World of Coffee Panama.
This round of updates introduces changes to the water served to judges, clarifies language around the number of espresso shots competitors must prepare for the signature beverage, and explains the possibility for competitors to override the drink evaluation protocol of the espresso and milk beverage courses by not serving spoons.
Grinder regulations for the 2026 World Barista Championship have been updated, with full details now available in the supplemental Grinder Procedures document. This year, Qualified Sponsor Ceado will provide all competitors with standardized equipment, offering two approved grinder models: the REV Zero and the E37Z-Naked. Competitors may use up to two grinders and may choose between provided and personal equipment, as long as personal grinders are the same approved models with original parts only. All grinders will be inspected and sealed by Ceado prior to competition. For full details on selection, inspection, modification rules, and equipment specifications, competitors are encouraged to review the supplemental Grinder Procedures document.
The rules documents, summaries of changes, and scoresheets are now available at the World Coffee Championships website: wcc.coffee/rules-regulations.
The 2026 World Barista Championship is proudly sponsored by:
Qualified Espresso Machine: STORM “Barista Attitude”, Tempesta Espresso Machine
Qualified Espresso Grinder: Ceado REV Zero and E37Z-Naked Grinders
Qualified Water Filtration Sponsor: BWT water+more
The World Coffee Championships team looks forward to welcoming competitors, judges, and coffee professionals to Panama this October.
