The Cacao of Excellence programme of the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT is pleased to announce that the 10th Edition of the Cacao of Excellence Awards will be held on 20 February 2026 at the historic Beurs van Berlage in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, during the Chocoa Trade Fair at Amsterdam Cocoa Week (ACW).
This global celebration will honour the Best 50 cacao producers of the 2025 cycle, selected for the outstanding quality of their cacao beans.
Recognising Excellence Across Four Global Regions
Each awardee will receive a Gold, Silver, or Bronze Medal, representing the finest flavour profiles from four major cacao-producing regions:
- Africa & the Indian Ocean
- Asia & the Pacific
- Central America & the Caribbean
- South America
To celebrate these producers, four regional award ceremonies—one for each region—will be held throughout the day, bringing together cacao farmers, buyers, traders, chocolate makers, and sensory professionals from around the world.
A Key Moment During Amsterdam Cocoa Week
The Awards are a cornerstone of Cacao of Excellence’s mission to spotlight flavour diversity and superior quality cacao, while recognising the producers behind it. Held alongside the World Cocoa Foundation’s Annual Partnership Meeting, this moment marks a major convergence for cacao and chocolate value chain stakeholders.
Introducing the First-Ever Seguine Cacao Auction
As part of the celebrations, Amsterdam Cocoa Week will also host the first-ever Seguine Cacao Auction, launched in honour of the late Ed Seguine, a pioneer in cacao sensory evaluation. The auction will offer exclusive Gold-winning lots from the 2023 Cacao of Excellence Awards to selected buyers—connecting exceptional producers to premium markets.
Be Part of the Celebration
The Cacao of Excellence programme is the only global initiative that places cacao producers at the centre—analysing the quality of their beans, sharing their stories, and elevating their work to a global stage.
Are you a past Award-winning producer planning to attend?
We’d love to hear from you. Email us at cacaoofexcellence@cgiar.org.
Interested in sponsoring the Cacao of Excellence programme?
Get in touch with Julien Simonis J.Simonis@cgiar.org to explore our sponsorship opportunities and support cacao quality and producer recognition worldwide.
