By Timothy S Donahue

Top Takeaways:

• Major cigar brands confirmed: Arturo Fuente, Drew Estate, Rocky Patel, Joya de Nicaragua, E.P. Carrillo and La Flor Dominicana are among the exhibitors already committed to InterTabac 2026.
• Retailer education expands: New workshops and blending sessions will focus on cigar evaluation, blending and consumer trends.
• Consumer insights take center stage: New programming will examine digital engagement, women cigar consumers and brand storytelling.

InterTabac is expanding its focus on premium cigars in 2026 through new educational programming, retailer-focused workshops, and a growing roster of international exhibitors, as the world’s largest tobacco trade show seeks to provide additional value for cigar retailers and distributors.

Organizers said the expanded cigar program will combine product showcases with hands-on learning designed to help retailers navigate an increasingly competitive and complex premium cigar market.

“Cigars are not a mass-market product – they embody craftsmanship, origin and a culture of enjoyment,” InterTabac said in announcing the program. “Accordingly, the market is highly demanding. And so are its customers.”

The first confirmed exhibitors underscore the event’s importance in the premium cigar sector. Companies already committed to exhibiting include Joya de Nicaragua, Quesada, E.P. Carrillo, La Flor Dominicana, Villiger Söhne, August Schuster, GRE Trade, and Drew Estate and Arturo Fuente.

Several companies will also make their InterTabac debut, including Dynasty Cigars (Victor Calvo Cigars), Rocky Patel, Matilde Cigars, Casa DR (SansPareil), Blackbird Cigar, and Don Emmanuel Cigars.

For retailers, one of the event’s primary draws remains the opportunity to evaluate products firsthand before making purchasing decisions.

Organizers emphasized that InterTabac allows trade visitors to taste, compare, and discuss products directly with manufacturers and brand owners, providing what they call a stronger basis for portfolio decisions than traditional sales presentations or catalogs.

The 2026 event will also significantly expand its educational programming.

Master Blender Claudio Sgroi will return with the popular Blending Experience sessions on Sept. 15 and 16, offering retailers insights into cigar-blending techniques and tobacco selection. InterTabac will also introduce a new workshop, “Decoding Cigars – by ICSI,” led by Anthony Azar, founder of the International Cigar Sommelier Institute.

Drawing on more than three decades of industry experience, Azar’s sessions will examine cigar construction, combustion characteristics, and flavor development through a technical lens. Organizers said the goal is to provide retailers with a more structured framework for evaluating cigars and advising customers.

Another addition is “The Modern Cigar Consumer Series,” a three-part masterclass hosted by Mechelle Merkerson, a cigar educator and certified cigar sommelier, founder of Cigars with M.

The sessions will explore how consumer behavior is evolving across the premium cigar category, including the influence of digital platforms, the growing role of women consumers, and the impact of brand storytelling on purchasing decisions.

Beyond cigars themselves, InterTabac will continue to emphasize cross-category education through pairing experiences and networking opportunities. In the show’s Crossover Lounge, consultant Jens Tausch will guide attendees through cigar and spirits pairings designed to provide retailers with additional merchandising and consumer engagement ideas.

The expanded program reflects broader changes across the premium cigar industry, where retailers increasingly seek technical product knowledge, consumer insights and category expertise, along with access to new products.

InterTabac 2026 takes place Sept. 15-17 in Dortmund, Germany. Organizers are also encouraging attendees to arrive early for the second Cigar Culture Summit on Sept. 14, which will focus on trends and developments shaping the global premium cigar market.

As premium cigar manufacturers continue to expand internationally and consumer preferences grow more diverse, InterTabac appears to be positioning itself not merely as a product showcase but as a knowledge and business-development platform for the global cigar trade.