Amsterdam Cocoa Week 2026 Set for February as Organisers Double Down on ‘Resilience’ and ‘Transition’

The dates, direction, and operational framework were outlined during a recent exclusive stakeholder webinar with CocoaRadar (the event’s official media partner), offering an early look at how the Chocoa 2026 sustainable conference and its surrounding events are taking shape — and where important questions still remain.

A Week-Long Cocoa Ecosystem, Not a Single Event

Organisers were clear that Amsterdam Cocoa Week is designed not as a standalone conference or trade fair, but as a carefully interlinked ‘week ecosystem.’ The structure will again span business, policy, and consumer-facing moments, including:

• Chocoa Conference
• WCF Partnership Meeting
• Cocoa of Excellence
• Trade fair
• Consumer chocolate festival
• A growing number of partner-led side events

“From the start, every year we have added new elements to the programme — with the philosophy that every new element should contribute to the success of the other programme elements,” said Jack Steijn, Chocoa co-founder and finance director. “To make sure that it’s a synergy, especially for the visitors.”

That ecosystem approach is also reflected in the scale of collaboration. “We have 20-plus other organisations who make use of the event to organise their own side event in the same week and also in the same building,” said Anna Laven, Programme Director of Amsterdam Cocoa Week.

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Chocoa 2026: Resilience and Transition at the Core

The thematic focus for the 2026 Chocoa Conference has been set as ‘Resilience’ and ‘Transition.’ Organisers say the aim is to move beyond surface-level sustainability narratives and instead confront:

• Root causes of fragility in cocoa supply chains
• Farmer-centred realities and perspectives
• Forward-looking farming and business models

“We need to transition into a sector that is more sustainable and more fair for producers and for all who contribute to the cocoa sector,” Laven said, explaining why the theme matters now.

The programme is being shaped to reflect a sector under pressure — from regulation and climate stress to disease and shifting market expectations — while creating space for more nuanced, sometimes difficult conversations. “We don’t start necessarily by thinking we know all the answers,” Laven added, “but we do want to bring everybody together to discuss in a nuanced way.”

CocoaRadar Confirmed as Official Media Partner

CocoaRadar has been confirmed as the official media partner for Chocoa 2026, committing to on-the-ground reporting throughout the week. Coverage will include interviews, daily reporting, and premium editorial content capturing both headline developments and behind-the-scenes dynamics.

Operational Model and Attendee Experience

From an operational standpoint, several key elements were reconfirmed:

• The official event app will again serve as the primary networking and matchmaking tool
• Registered attendees will receive app access approximately three weeks before the event
• Organisers are prioritising clearer agenda formats, venue screens, and guidance on “what’s on when”

Exhibitor onboarding is already well advanced and the show is almost sold out, manuals, timelines, and stand setup support are underway.

Behind the scenes, scale remains a constant challenge. “With a four-person team we have managed to do something that is virtually impossible,” Steijn said. “The only way we could have pulled it off is that we didn’t know this at the beginning.”

What’s New for 2026

Several notable developments were highlighted during the webinar:

• The Grand Chocolat Dinner will move to a new venue, De Koepel, replacing the Hilton
• The Cocoa of Excellence ceremony will introduce a first-ever cocoa auction, featuring special batches auctioned in lots of approximately 200–500kg
• Logistics are being finalised for the new Trade & Transport in Transition event

Looking Ahead

With the programme now described as finalised, a communications push is imminent as Amsterdam Cocoa Week 2026 positions itself as a pivotal moment for a sector in transition.

“As we are not related to any interest in the cocoa supply chain, we’re a neutral platform,” Steijn said. “That allows us to get those discussions on stage at a very early level.”

For now, stakeholders are being encouraged to grab their tickets and prepare for a week in February in Amsterdam that aims to reflect not just where cocoa is today, but where it may be heading next.

cocoaradar.com is:

• Official Media Partner - Amsterdam Sustainable Cocoa Conference, Chocoa, 2026.
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