If you will be in Cusco in early November, FICAFÉ is a chance to discover the people and places behind Peruvian coffee. Here is what the organizers have published so far—and what still needs checking before you go.
At a glance: the 10th FICAFÉ Cusco International Specialty Coffee Fair is scheduled for November 2–6, 2026. Cusco’s Main Square is the principal fair venue; the organizers also list Plaza Regocijo and Plaza San Francisco, alongside conference and cultural venues. The online programme is still labelled preliminary, so check it again before setting out.
FICAFÉ Cusco 2026: key dates and facts
| Item | Published information |
|---|---|
| Dates | Monday, November 2 through Friday, November 6, 2026. |
| Main fair venue | Plaza Mayor, also called Cusco’s Plaza de Armas. |
| Other fair squares | Plaza Regocijo and Plaza San Francisco. |
| Other announced venues | Cusco Convention Center, University Paraninfo and Casa de la Cultura. |
| Schedule | Preliminary; updates appear on the organizer’s website. |
The FICAFÉ organizers describe five days of fair stands, competitions, a coffee congress and business meetings. The Cusco regional government also announced November 2–6. We are not listing one general admission price or a single opening time: conditions differ by activity and are not uniformly confirmed in the published programme.
Where is the fair? Squares and venues in central Cusco
Plaza Mayor is the main fair site and the announced location of the principal stage. According to the official venues page, Plaza Regocijo and Plaza San Francisco are complementary fair squares. All three are in the historic center, making it practical to explore them on foot.
The same source lists the Cusco Convention Center for the coffee congress, the University Paraninfo for academic sessions and Casa de la Cultura for cultural activities. This does not mean every venue has the same programme every day. Check the specific session before leaving the square. If you want to locate a particular stand, use the organizer’s fairground map.
Why coffee origin matters at FICAFÉ
The fair is about more than a drink. It brings together producers, cooperatives, roasters, tasters and visitors. The organizer’s origin stories section features producers and businesses, including examples from La Convención in the Cusco region. Ask where a coffee was grown, who produced it and how it was processed; those answers can make a tasting more meaningful.
Flavour notes are invitations to explore, not proof that one coffee is universally “better.” Start by comparing origins and brewing methods. The photograph of coffee cherries beside this section was taken in Piura. It shows a real Peruvian coffee plant, not a FICAFÉ exhibitor or an event taking place in 2026.
What to do: a visitor’s guide to the coffee fair
Start with the fair squares, meet accredited exhibitors and taste coffees from different origins when samples are available. If you are curious about preparation, ask how a filter method changes the cup or what happens between green and roasted beans. The event website announces the third National Filter Coffee Championship for November 3–5 and the ninth National Cup Tasters Championship for November 5–6. Confirm times and locations close to your visit.
The preliminary schedule lists an opening ceremony and welcome activities in the Plaza de Armas on November 2. Since the organizer may still revise these details, avoid building a rigid day around provisional times. Business meetings and professional sessions may have different participation requirements from activities open to visitors; check the relevant event page.
A simple way to fit FICAFÉ into your Cusco trip
Keep a morning or afternoon flexible. Begin in Plaza Mayor to orient yourself and check that day’s programme; then walk to Plaza Regocijo and Plaza San Francisco. If a talk or competition catches your eye, confirm its venue before leaving the square. This is a suggested visitor route, not an official fair itinerary.
Carry water, a light layer for changing weather and an alternative payment method in case a stand cannot take cards. Ask before photographing producers or tasters, and keep work areas clear. For another food-focused stop in the historic center, see our guide to Cusco’s markets.
What to verify before you go
Review the organizer’s programme, venues and fairground map on the day of your visit. The overall dates have been announced, but session times, exhibitors and activities can change. An old promotional post is not a current schedule.
Sources and photo credits
Reviewed October 26, 2026 using the official FICAFÉ Cusco 2026 website, its programme and venues page, plus the Cusco regional government. The three images are real contextual photographs, not photographs of FICAFÉ 2026. Cover: xiquinhosilva / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0, cropped and resized. Coffee plant: Kızıldeniz, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized. Cupping: Visitor7, CC BY-SA 3.0, resized. Adapted ShareAlike images retain their respective licences.
GT Peru Travel editorial team
Travel guides · GT Peru Travel · Cusco, Peru
Travel information checked against official sources and explained by a local team in Cusco.
