Women working across the global cacao and chocolate sector will gather online from 17 to 20 September for the third annual Women of Cacao Global Summit, a four-day programme placing their leadership, knowledge and creativity at the centre of conversations about the industry’s future.
Hosted by the Women of Cacao network, the summit will bring together producers, chocolate makers, scientists, educators, entrepreneurs, researchers, authors and other industry professionals. Keynotes, panel discussions, workshops, tastings, wellness practices and practical training will be delivered in English and Spanish.
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The organisers describe the event as an opportunity to connect the people driving innovation, preserving tradition and seeking lasting change across the cacao value chain. The 2026 summit is free to attend online, although participants must reserve a pass.
Across its four themed days, the programme moves from personal relationships with cacao to some of the most consequential questions facing its production, trade and cultural identity.
From Wellness to Stewardship
The summit opens on Wednesday 17 September with a focus on women’s wellness through cacao. Sessions will examine rituals, self-care and holistic practices alongside sensory experiences and conversations about cultural responsibility and cacao science.
The theme presents cacao as more than an agricultural commodity or an ingredient in confectionery. It considers the place cacao occupies in personal practice and community life while creating space for discussion about how traditions are interpreted and shared.
Attention turns to stewardship, sustainability and community on 18 September. The day’s programme covers sustainable farming, zero-waste practices, digital traceability and ethical supply chains, as well as certifications, co-operatives and fair trade.
Bringing those subjects together reflects the breadth of responsibility across the cacao value chain. Environmental practices at origin, the use of by-products, purchasing relationships and the systems used to verify provenance all form part of the same conversation about how cacao is grown, traded and valued.
Community storytelling is also woven into the programme, ensuring that discussions about sustainability include the experiences of the people involved in production rather than concentrating solely on technical systems and standards.
Expanding the Meaning of Innovation
On 19 September, the summit will explore the future of chocolate through flavour, technology and education.
Sessions on mechanical innovation and bean-to-bar technology will sit alongside discussions of flavour development, professional training and chocolate festivals. This framing extends innovation beyond equipment or product development to include how knowledge is shared and how new generations of cacao professionals enter the sector.
The day also highlights the role women play as chocolate makers, educators and technical specialists. By connecting practical advances with training and international exchange, the programme aims to make expertise more accessible across a geographically dispersed industry.
Among the names featured in the organisers’ 2026 speaker line-up are Zoi Papalexandratou, Andal Balu of CocoaTown, India Mayorga, Diana Marcano, Kristy Leissle and Rosário Cunha. Women of Cacao founders Dominique Zuniga and Mayari Castellanos are also listed.
Cacao as Culture and Creative Practice
The final day, 20 September, will celebrate cacao through art, culture and storytelling.
Culinary arts, children’s experiences and community celebrations will broaden the summit’s perspective beyond production and commerce. Storytelling sessions will consider how cacao’s histories and cultural meanings are preserved, communicated and carried into contemporary practice.
This closing theme also reinforces one of the summit’s central ideas: that the future of cacao cannot be separated from the people and communities that hold its knowledge. Women participate throughout that story as growers, makers, researchers, educators, entrepreneurs, artists and custodians of cultural traditions.
Rather than treating wellness, sustainability, technology and culture as isolated fields, the summit places them within one shared programme. Its structure shows how changes in one part of the cacao ecosystem can inform conversations elsewhere — from farming and sourcing to flavour, education and public understanding.
Building a Global Network
The Women of Cacao network was created to connect and amplify women throughout the cacao and chocolate community. The summit extends that work by offering a meeting place for expertise that is often divided by profession, geography or position in the supply chain.
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Its emphasis on collaboration is particularly visible in the combination of technical panels, sensory activities, cultural programming and community discussions. Producers and researchers can enter the same conversation as artisans, wellness practitioners and educators, creating opportunities for knowledge exchange and future partnerships.
- Free passes include four days of live online programming in English and Spanish. A paid All Access pass, currently advertised at $120, includes summit recordings, more than 20 pre-recorded workshops, networking opportunities, additional resources and one year of access to the Women of Cacao community.
Registration and further information are available through the Women of Cacao website.
CocoaRadar in Peru
During October 2026, CocoaRadar will publish a series of articles exploring the Peruvian cocoa economy.
Commercial: philippe@cocoaradar.com Editorial: tony@cocoaradar.com