UN Declares October 1 as International Coffee Day

FAO welcomes the resolution recognizing coffee's cultural, social, and economic significance.

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a resolution proclaiming October 1 as International Coffee Day. The resolution highlights coffee's importance as an agricultural commodity, source of livelihood, and symbol of social interaction and cultural expression. FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu welcomed the move, stating that coffee is more than just a beverage and that recognizing its value will raise awareness about the socio-economic importance of the coffee sector.

Why it matters

The resolution underscores coffee's contribution to several Sustainable Development Goals, including fighting hunger, reducing poverty, empowering women, and promoting decent work and economic growth. Establishing an International Coffee Day provides a platform to address the challenges and opportunities facing millions of coffee producers worldwide and strengthen global commitment to a sustainable coffee sector.

The details

The resolution was adopted on Tuesday in New York, following its approval by the FAO Conference during its 44th session in 2025. Under the UN resolution, FAO is invited to facilitate the observance of International Coffee Day in collaboration with the International Coffee Organization and other relevant organizations. Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages globally, supporting the livelihoods of around 25 million farmers and generating over $200 billion in annual revenue for the industry.

  • The resolution was adopted by the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, March 11, 2026.
  • The resolution was previously approved by the FAO Conference during its 44th session in 2025.

The players

QU Dongyu

FAO Director-General, who welcomed the resolution and stated that coffee is more than just a beverage, but a globally traded commodity that sustains the livelihoods of millions of farming households.

International Coffee Organization

An organization that FAO is invited to collaborate with in facilitating the observance of International Coffee Day.

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What they’re saying

“Coffee is more than a beverage, it is a globally traded commodity - from beans to the coffee service - that sustains the livelihoods of millions of farming households, and connects rural communities to markets across the world.”

— QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General (Mirage News)

What’s next

FAO is invited to facilitate the observance of International Coffee Day in collaboration with the International Coffee Organization and other relevant organizations.

The takeaway

The establishment of International Coffee Day by the UN General Assembly underscores the cultural, social, and economic significance of coffee, and provides a platform to address the challenges and opportunities facing the global coffee sector, contributing to the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals.