WT Asia 2026, also known as World Tobacco Asia, takes place on 22 and 23 October 2026 at the Grand City Convention & Exhibition Centre in Surabaya, Indonesia. It is a two-day B2B trade show covering tobacco processing, machinery, packaging and the wider supply chain. The organiser, Quartz Business Events, describes it as Asia’s only major B2B event for the global tobacco industry. Entry is free for registered trade visitors, and the show is closed to the general public.
WT Asia 2026 at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Dates | Thursday 22 and Friday 23 October 2026 |
| Venue | Grand City Convention & Exhibition Centre, Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia |
| Organiser | Quartz Business Events |
| Format | B2B trade exhibition with a supporting conference programme |
| Entry | Free for registered trade visitors |
| Audience | Professional visitors only |
| Frequency | Annual |
What Is WT Asia?
WT Asia is the Asian edition of the WT Process & Machinery series, which Quartz runs alongside other tobacco-sector events such as World Tobacco Middle East. The focus is on the making side of the industry. Where a consumer-facing show is built around finished products, WT Asia is built around what it takes to produce them: leaf and redrying, cutting and processing equipment, filter rods, cigarette paper, packaging machinery and factory automation.
That makes it a working show rather than a showroom. The people who benefit most are those who buy, specify or operate production equipment and materials, and who want to compare suppliers face to face in a single room.
Who Attends
The primary visitors are professionals from the manufacturing industry who are looking for new suppliers, technologies and business partners. In practice that means cigarette and tobacco manufacturers, leaf merchants, machinery and component suppliers, packaging and materials companies, and the engineers and procurement teams who work with them. Because the format is only two days, most visitors arrive with a list of meetings already booked.
What You’ll See on the Show Floor
The organiser publishes a running exhibitor list, and it gives a good picture of the range on show. Names on it include Focke & Co, Actega, Beckhoff Automation Indonesia, BMS Filterods Industry, Mudanjiang Hengfeng Paper, Solbourg Machinery, International Tobacco Machinery, Chevron Leaf Tobacco, Sacmar Leaf Tobacco, International Tobacco Redrying Company, Bengal Leaf Tobacco Industries and Tobacco Board India. The list changes as booths are confirmed, so check the organiser’s page for the current line-up.
Reading across those names, the show floor falls into a few clear groups:
Leaf and redrying. Leaf merchants and redrying companies supply the raw material, and they are the starting point of every blend. If you want to understand how leaf types translate into a finished product, our guide to tobacco blending covers it from the manufacturing side.
Machinery and automation. Cigarette-making, packing and processing equipment, together with the control systems that run it. This is the largest group at a show with “Process & Machinery” in its name, and it is where visitors can see how rod formation, filter attachment and packing equipment is being specified today.
Filters and filter rods. Filter rod producers sit alongside the machinery makers, because a filter is only as consistent as the rod it is cut from. Our explainer on cigarette filter types shows how those materials differ.
Paper and packaging materials. Cigarette paper, tipping paper, coatings and packaging machinery all appear on the exhibitor list. Our post on cigarette tipping paper explains why that one component matters more than it looks.
Why Surabaya?
Indonesia’s cigarette market is built largely around kretek, the clove-blended cigarette, which makes it one of the most distinctive tobacco markets in the world. Hosting a processing and machinery show in Surabaya puts suppliers and equipment buyers within reach of a large manufacturing base, and it gives regional manufacturers across Southeast and South Asia a convenient place to meet international suppliers. For readers interested in how the market is structured, our page on cigarette manufacturing for Indonesia explains what international brands need to consider there.
Registration and Visa Notes
Visitor registration is free and done online through the organiser’s WT Asia page. Two practical points are worth checking early.
First, the organiser states that a tourist visa or a visa on arrival is not valid for legally attending, exhibiting or speaking at the show. Anyone travelling from outside Indonesia should confirm the correct visa category with the Indonesian embassy or consulate in their country well before the dates, rather than leaving it to the last week.
Second, the organiser’s registration page is the only reliable source for entry requirements and the conference schedule. Third-party listings often carry outdated hours and ticket details, so treat them as a guide only.
Planning Your Trip to Surabaya
The venue is in central Surabaya, at Jl. Walikota Mustajab in the Genteng district. Surabaya is served by Juanda International Airport, and hotels close to the venue fill up quickly around trade shows, so book early. With only two show days, it helps to arrange meetings in advance and to leave a buffer for travel between sessions.
Where WT Asia Fits in the 2026 Industry Calendar
The tobacco trade calendar for autumn 2026 is busy. InterTabac and InterSupply ran in Dortmund in September, WT Asia follows on 22 and 23 October, the CORESTA Congress takes place from 25 to 29 October in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, and World Tobacco Middle East follows in Dubai in November. Each has a different centre of gravity: Dortmund for the European supply chain, Surabaya for Asian processing and machinery, CORESTA for tobacco science, and Dubai for the Middle East and North Africa.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is WT Asia 2026?
Thursday 22 and Friday 23 October 2026.
Where is WT Asia 2026 held?
At the Grand City Convention & Exhibition Centre in Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia.
Is WT Asia free to attend?
Yes, the organiser offers free entry for registered trade visitors.
Is WT Asia open to the public?
No. It is a professional B2B show, and entry is limited to trade visitors.
Who organises WT Asia?
Quartz Business Events, which also runs World Tobacco Middle East and other tobacco-industry events.
Can I attend WT Asia on a tourist visa?
The organiser states that a tourist visa or visa on arrival is not valid for legally attending, so confirm the correct visa category with the Indonesian embassy before travelling.
How often is WT Asia held?
Once a year.
What is the difference between WT Asia and InterTabac or InterSupply?
WT Asia is an Asian show focused on tobacco processing and machinery, held in Surabaya each October. InterTabac and InterSupply are held in Dortmund, Germany, in September, and cover the European consumer and supply-chain side of the industry.
