ShanghaiApril 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The 2026 China Latte Art Championship (CLAC) National Finals were grandly held and successfully concluded from March 30 to April 2 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) Hongqiao.
This year’s competition selected 23 top domestic latte art competitors from five regional qualifiers in Chengdu, Zhengzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Nanjing. During the finals, contestants had to compete through three rigorous rounds: preliminary, semi-final, and final.
Ultimately, Liu Guoqiang successfully defended his title, claiming his third career China Championship trophy. Lu Daoqiang won the runner-up position, Deng Xiuqing secured third place, and Wang Jing, Huang Kunming, and Luo Xian ranked fourth through sixth, respectively.
I. Standardized Event Organization and Authoritative Judging Mechanism
The national finals strictly adhered to international competition rules, divided into three stages: preliminary, semi-final, and final. The competition systematically assessed contestants’ technical execution, artistic expression, on-site performance, and adaptability.
All judges for the finals were selected after participating in two days of knowledge and practical skill assessments, under the supervision and training of WCC international representatives. Through continuous on-site practice and calibration, they achieved consistent evaluation standards, ensuring fair and authoritative results.
II. Outstanding Performance by Award Winners, Deepening Integration of Art and Technology
After over a decade of development, the China Latte Art Championship has seen increasingly mature presentation of latte art patterns. The focus is not only on the barista’s skills but also on integrating cutting-edge trends and delving into the underlying logic of industry and ecological development.
Champion Liu Guoqiang skillfully combined latte art with technology in this competition: he first completed the pattern design and core technique conception, then used AI assistance to optimize details and line proportions, ultimately presenting the complete concept precisely on the coffee surface through his exquisite latte art skills. This “human-led, technology-empowered” creative approach achieved a perfect unity of artistic creativity and technical execution, providing a reference direction for innovative development in the coffee industry.
III. Rich Supporting Activities, Significant Industry Interaction
During the competition period, the National Exhibition and Convention Center simultaneously hosted the HOTELEX Shanghai International Hotel and Catering Industry Expo series of events, attracting coffee professionals, distributors, enthusiasts, and related media from across the country. The activities not only provided a platform for industry exchange and cooperation but also further promoted the popularization and dissemination of coffee culture among the public.
IV. Significance of the Event and Industry Outlook
The World Latte Art Championship (WLAC) is a professional coffee competition initiated by World Coffee Events (WCC) to promote specialty coffee. It is the world’s second-largest coffee competition and the highest stage for latte art. In 2013, Shanghai Bohua International Exhibition Co., Ltd. was authorized to introduce this international competition to China.
Today, the China Latte Art Championship has developed into one of the most influential professional competitions in China’s coffee industry, continuously supplying high-level technical talent and driving the development of Chinese latte art toward professionalism, internationalization, and artistry. With the continuous expansion of the domestic specialty coffee market and the rising aesthetic demands of consumers, latte art is gradually becoming an important part of the specialty coffee culture system, possessing both technical and aesthetic value.
The winner of this national finals, Liu Guoqiang, will represent China at the 2027 World Latte Art Championship Global Finals, competing against outstanding contestants from around the world, showcasing the professionalism and artistic creativity of Chinese baristas.
The 2026 China Latte Art Championship selection concludes here. We thank all sponsors and partners for their strong support this season, the 2026 judging panel for their hard work, and the contestants who have always loved and fought for this art. Passion never ends, dreams never die. The 2027 China Latte Art Championship selection awaits the challenge of baristas!
V. Special Acknowledgments
The smooth progress and successful hosting of this year’s competition would not have been possible without the strong support and outstanding contributions of the following partners:
Title Sponsor: Beijing Sanyuan Foods Co., Ltd.
Designated – Coffee Machine: Guangzhou Jienuo Intelligent Equipment Co., Ltd.
Designated – Dairy Products: Beijing Sanyuan Foods Co., Ltd.
Designated – Coffee Cups: CLUB HOUSE Guangdong Daye Ceramics Co., Ltd.
Designated – Coffee Beans: Nestlé Professional
Official – Scoreboard: Meiyoushitou Coffee (Pu’er) Co., Ltd.
Official – Aprons: Guangdong Weiwei Technology Group Co., Ltd.
Official – Tamper and Scale: Shanghai Timer Coffee Utensils Co., Ltd.
Special – Contestant Gifts: Guangdong Baishangtu Technology Co., Ltd.
Special – Contestant Gifts: Kafuri (Suzhou) Coffee Machine Technology Co., Ltd.
Special – Contestant Gifts: Chengdu Liangqing E-commerce Co., Ltd.
Special Platform Partner: JD Coffee Machines
We hereby extend our highest gratitude to all sponsors. Thanks to the strong support and excellent guidance of each partner, this event achieved its brilliance. We look forward to continuing to work together in the future to create value.