International Coffee Day 2026: UN Resolution, Date and Key Facts for Exam Prep

International Coffee Day was observed on 1 October 2026, and as of 2 October 2026 that observance has taken place. This year is the first time the day carries official United Nations status. The UN General Assembly proclaimed 1 October as International Coffee Day in a resolution approved on 10 March 2026. GKToday numbers the 2026 observance as the "12th", but the supplied evidence does not explain how that count works.

What happened and when

Event date versus source dates

The observance date (1 October) is different from the publication dates of the sources. The FAO piece reports the March decision. The GKToday piece reports the October observance.

Why the UN resolution matters

What the resolution recognises

According to FAO, the resolution recognises coffee's cultural, social and historical significance. It also treats coffee as an agricultural commodity and a source of livelihood. It links coffee production and processing to four Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 1: reducing extreme poverty
• SDG 2: the fight against hunger
• SDG 5: women's empowerment
• SDG 8: decent work and economic growth

How it came about

FAO says the proposal reached the General Assembly after the FAO Conference adopted it at its 44th session in 2025. Under the resolution, FAO is invited to facilitate the observance, working with relevant organisations, in particular the International Coffee Organization. FAO's statement links to the resolution text.

Resolution number and voting

GKToday gives the resolution number as A/RES/80/248. It also reports that the United States voted against and Canada abstained. These two details come from GKToday alone; the FAO statement does not mention them. Check them against the UN record before relying on them.

2026 observance: theme and initiatives

GKToday says the FAO Liaison Office in Geneva would host the 2026 celebration with the Permanent Missions of Indonesia, Rwanda and Türkiye. The theme was given as "Celebrating Coffee, Honouring the People Behind Every Cup". GKToday also says the International Coffee Organization launched "Coffee's Next Generation", an initiative aimed at young people and entrepreneurs in the coffee sector.

The Geneva event is described in future tense in a post dated the day of the observance. The supplied evidence does not confirm what happened there, so this page does not report its outcome.

Coffee sector facts from FAO

FAO's statement includes the following figures. They are FAO's own, and the statement does not name its data sources for them.

• Global per capita coffee consumption has grown by 1.2 percent per year over the past decade.
• The sector supports the livelihoods of around 25 million farmers.
• The global coffee industry generates more than $200 billion in annual revenue.
• In 2024, global production passed 11 million tonnes, and about 8 million tonnes of beans were traded internationally.
• In 2024, coffee made up 27.9 percent of Ethiopia's merchandise exports, 20.1 percent of Uganda's and 19.5 percent of Burundi's.
• In 2024, Brazil and Viet Nam were the leading exporters, while the European Union and the United States were the largest importers.

FAO's role in coffee-producing regions

FAO describes work on climate adaptation, such as Farmer Field Schools in Panama and climate-resilient varieties in East Africa. It also describes support for traceability systems in Honduras, Guatemala and Uganda, and investment support in Brazil, Costa Rica, Honduras and El Salvador.

Exam-relevant points

These are facts supported by the evidence that are useful for revision. Nothing here suggests a question will appear in any exam.

• International Coffee Day is observed on 1 October.
• The UN General Assembly approved the designation on 10 March 2026.
• The 2026 observance is the first with official UN status.
• FAO is invited to facilitate the day, working with the International Coffee Organization.
• The resolution links coffee to SDGs 1, 2, 5 and 8.
• The 2026 Geneva theme was "Celebrating Coffee, Honouring the People Behind Every Cup".

Evidence gaps

• The evidence does not explain why 2026 is called the "12th" edition, so treat that count with caution.
• It contains nothing on India's role, Indian coffee production or any Indian event for the day, so this page makes no India-specific claims.
• The resolution number, the voting detail and the "Coffee's Next Generation" launch rest on a single secondary source.

FAQ

When is International Coffee Day?

It falls on 1 October each year. The 2026 observance was on 1 October 2026.

Did the UN officially recognise International Coffee Day?

Yes. FAO reports that the UN General Assembly approved a resolution proclaiming 1 October as International Coffee Day on 10 March 2026.

Which organisation facilitates the observance?

The resolution invites FAO to facilitate it, in collaboration with relevant organisations, in particular the International Coffee Organization.