Fascinated by the hospitality, the gastronomy, and the invaluable support of both state and municipal authorities, the Premium Cigar Association (PCA) temporarily bids farewell to New Orleans, closing a successful trade show edition held at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. This celebration surpassed the previous year’s event in terms of attendee numbers, product launches, celebrity presence, and networking collaborations across the premium tobacco industry.
During four days of activities from April 17 to 20, the trade show featured 262 exhibiting companies and welcomed over 2,540 retailers representing nearly 1,000 retail accounts, reaching a total attendance that exceeded 6,000 people.
The activities kicked off with a day of seminars, panels, exclusive interviews, and the premiere of the next installment of the Hand Rolled documentary series, which focused this time on the Padrón Family. It also featured a panel discussion with the Newman Family, and a pairing session led by Manuel Inoa and the León family from La Aurora.
The event’s profile was elevated even further by the participation of celebrity guests, including Guy Fieri, Marlon Wayans, Chazz Palminteri, and Martin Kove. Additionally, more than 30 lawmakers, representatives from the Mayor’s office and the Gaming Commission, and two ambassadors attended, bringing the industry closer to the decision-makers who make major victories possible for brands, manufacturers, retailers, and consumers.
Because of this, the event served as the perfect backdrop to celebrate the final ruling from the District of Columbia District Court, which dismissed the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) final appeal regarding the Tobacco Control Act.
This decision excludes premium cigars from overregulation, distinguishing them from other mass-market tobacco products that do pose a health risk. Furthermore, it safeguards thousands of jobs, both in the United States and across all producing countries around the world.
With these results and achievements, the PCA trade show confirms the ongoing growth of the industry and the market. This expansion is driving future projects such as Connect Asia, participation in the World Cigar Show in Dubai, and the upcoming launch of a Cigar Bar Expo held in synergy with the spirits industry.
The PCA temporarily says goodbye to New Orleans after two consecutive editions and a contract signed with the city to return in 2029 and 2030. The association is also looking forward to celebrating its Centennial in 2033; while a definitive host city has not yet been chosen, interest has been shown by cities like St. Louis, Missouri, and Las Vegas, Nevada. In fact, preparation is already underway in Las Vegas for the 2027 edition, which will take place from March 5 to 8 in the West Hall of the city’s Convention Center.
