WHAT IS NEW IN THE CSWC SEASON 2026

Without a doubt, there will be some exciting new developments in SEASON 2026. The CSWC will grow even more with new countries joining, new partners adding value, new names and locations adding exclusivity, and some new features adding heat, excitement, and faster heartbeats to the slow smoking race.

Every year, the Cigar Smoking World Championship, a global organization with members from all over the world, strives to bring fresh ideas, thrills, and inventiveness to the new season. CSWC is like a creative game, a blank canvas that allows creativity and new art of experiences through the challenge of the world's slowest race—the Cigar Smoking World Championship, which delivers its show on the global stage.

In this way, Season 2026 brings many novelties, and we'll give you a quick rundown of some of the intriguing news.

As previously mentioned, the new season brings with it a record number of countries—exactly 57—as well as some of the most prestigious and exclusive venues all over the world.

CSWC this year, among new countries on the list will mark and beautiful Chile

This year, the USA will host six locations in addition to a special CSWC USA edition of the competition at Philadelphia's Union League Club, one of the country's most prestigious private clubs. The Old Philadelphians established the Union League of Philadelphia as a private club in 1862 as a patriotic organization to back Abraham Lincolns policies. In 2022, there were more than 4,000 members of the club. Constructed in 1865, its principal structure was inducted into the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. The club personally presented a gold medal (the same one they personally presented to Abraham Lincoln) to such esteemed US personalities as George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush, and Donald Rumsfeld.

Union League Club in Philadelphia as one of the most iconic private clubs in the USA will be one of the most exclusive hosts of the CSWC

The gorgeous Caledonian Club in the heart of London’s Belgravia, will host the CSWC GREAT BRITISH 🇬🇧 OPEN on the 25th July.

Our CSWC Head Judge, Sarah Saunders, and the UK team’s reputations and achievements in the cigar community bring you a “ can’t buy” opportunity to smoke in this prestigious private club. Anyone from outside the UK interested in competing in this event, please contact Sarah Saunders or David Taylor directly . Scotsman Neville Campbell founded the Caledonian Club in 1891. In order to highlight the exclusivity of Caledonian, we will list a few notable individuals who were or are members of this esteemed private club: Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, the late consort to Queen Elizabeth II, Sean Connery, a well-known Scottish actor; and Sir Alex Ferguson, the former manager of Manchester United Football Club, who is well-known for his achievements and leadership in English football. The Caledonian Club is among the most exclusive in UK society because of its close ties to the Royal Family too.

The private Caledonian Club will host the 2026 CSWC GREAT BRITISH 🇬🇧 OPEN on 25th July. With some of the world's most famous people as members, this place will be iconic for CSWC

Naturally, Europe will also introduce a few new sites that will offer an exceptional CSWC challenge experience at the level of the 007 scenario. Slovakia is making significant progress in that regard after five years; this years CSWC Final of the Slovakia Championship will take place at the esteemed Pallavicini Manor estate, an exclusive location. As a seasoned CSWC judge and organizer, Robeto Resmer wants to demonstrate how Slovakia can provide something genuinely unique...

Pallavicini Manor estate, a stunning location, will host Slovakian CSWC in 2026

Since our organizer in Switzerland, Gian Carlo Casparis together with Stefanno and Joe, Gian Carlo, was among the first to introduce CSWC as an experience—in the form of a qualification event—outside of Croatia long time ago (14 years), Switzerland will also enter a new era of the competition. This is a significant change for both CSWC Switzerland and CSWC overall. This year, CSWC Switzerland is relocating to the magnificent and exclusive Time Out club in Zurich, which is run by longtime CSWC friend Joca Jovanovic.

The newly opened private club Time Out in Zurich will be the CSWC arena in 2026

This year, Africa will host the CSWC for the first time in Kenya and Morocco. We have already written an article about Kenya, but Morocco will also provide something exclusive and distinctive. It will take place in the most prestigious hotel Selman in Marrakesh and feature a competition program that includes a special show featuring stunning Arab horses and diamonds. There will be a spectacle, it promises.

Morocco will welcome the CSWC at the highest level in the best hotel it has - the Selman Hotel in Marrakesh.

The exclusivity of the CSWC experience will also be followed by Asia. Hong Kong, with Bertie Cigar Lounge, will maintain the high-end level of the CSWC, but Japan is also becoming extremely exclusive. This year, the CSWC will relocate to Kyoto in the old SACRA Building, which was constructed in December 1915 as the Kyoto Sanjo Branch of the Fudo Savings Bank. All competitors will be able to experience something genuinely unique in the absolutely gorgeous and exclusive Setsugetsuka + SALON bar with multiple spaces for different experiences: Japanese perfection in terms of hospitality and craftsmanship.

Japan will host this year's CSWC in Kyoto in one of the culturally protected historic buildings.

The Grand Final, which will be held at the official CSWC partner hotel Rixos in Dubrovnik, will be the culmination of it all. After hosting the Grand Final in Dubrovnik in 2024 on the 15th anniversary of the CSWC, the Grand Final in 2025 returned to Split. However, in 2026, the CSWC is returning to Rixos Dubrovnik because it has recognized Rixos as a fantastic partner for such a large and organizationally demanding international festival.

The grandiose and monumental Rixos Hotel in Dubrovnik will be the home of the 2026 grand final

The grand final itself is already proving to be significant in a number of ways. We anticipate a record number of finalists, CSWC legends, as well as newcomers and up-and-coming talent. We can confirm that one of the world's greatest players, World Cup Golden Shoe winner and top scorer of the 1998 World Cup, Mr. Davor Suker, will be present at the Grand Final festival weekend for one of the competition tables with wild card entry. There will be more surprises for the attendees of the CSWC Grand Final Rixos 2026.

One of the former best soccer players in the world will be at the grand final in the competition arena

The biggest excitement for the this year season and especially for the Grand Final 2026 will be another recognition for the best of the best - it will be the title of the best team in the world, or rather the national team or country that will receive the title of world champions. Of course, the title of individual world champion also remains as the highlight of this competition, which, after all represents an individual sport, but we also want to add a new title to recognize the country and the country's competitors who work together to be the strongest country in the competition. As we said, this is a big addition, and we will devote special information to it, down to the smallest details, on our cswcnews pages in the nearest future.

The Grand Final 2025 brought together several competitors from the same countries, but they competed only individually. This year, they will be able also to do it as a team. In the gallery are competitors from England, Italy, Poland and Germany before the grand final in 2025