FAO celebrates the first International Coffee Day
The event, scheduled for October 1, 2026 in Rome, aims to enhance the 25 million small farmers who support the global supply chain.
Quick Look
- On 1 October 2026, the FAO headquarters in Rome will host the first official celebration of International Coffee Day.
- The event aims to support 25 million small farmers and promote sustainability in a $34 billion industry.
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Why It Matters
International Coffee Day was launched by the ICO in 2015 and recognized by the UN in 2026.
Behind that daily and reassuring gesture with which millions of people begin the day, a complex economic, social and human machine moves which on Thursday 1 October 2026 will see the birth of its first global tribute at the FAO headquarters in Rome. With the inauguration of the General Director QU Dongyu at 12.15pm from the Sheikh Zayed Centre, the first official celebration of International Coffee Day will begin: an event born under the slogan "Celebrate coffee, honor the people behind every cup" to shine the spotlight on those who, in fields all over the planet, make one of the most widespread and shared rituals of all time possible.
The anniversary aims to enhance a supply chain that goes far beyond the pleasure of the palate and which in 2024 alone moved over 11 million tons of product for a commercial value that broke the ceiling of 34 billion dollars.
Above all, the day intends to give voice to those 25 million small farmers and their families who constitute the beating heart of the sector, celebrating a heritage of traditions, knowledge and international cooperation that supports the entire journey from plant to cup.
An attention that is more urgent than ever, given that the supply chain today finds itself navigating turbulent waters between market volatility and the tailwinds of climate change. Recent anomalies linked to phenomena such as El Niño have in fact shown all the fragility of the main producing regions of the planet, making a change of pace towards sustainable models of production and consumption a priority.
Launched in 2015 by the International Coffee Organization (ICO), the Day was officially recognized by the United Nations General Assembly on 10 March 2026, following a proposal adopted by the FAO Conference in 2025.
The agency, in close collaboration with the International Coffee Organization (ICO), will thus lead an annual awareness-raising process to transform a simple coffee break into an act of responsibility and support towards the communities that make it possible.
Open Questions
- What concrete measures will FAO adopt for sustainability?
