The aroma of fine cocoa will once again fill the air in Buka as the annual Bougainville Chocolate Festival returns from 28 to 30 October 2025, bringing together farmers, chocolatiers, industry leaders, and the public to celebrate the island’s world-class cocoa.
This year’s festival carries the theme: “Bougainville Island of Cocoa: Through Creative Opportunities, Innovation, and Information Sharing for Sustainable Socio-Economic Empowerment.” It reflects the organisers’ ambition to showcase Bougainville’s premium cocoa while promoting knowledge-sharing, innovation, and market connections that can strengthen livelihoods across the region.
Announcing the dates, Kenneth Dovaro, Secretary for the Autonomous Bougainville Government’s (ABG) Department of Primary Industry, said the event was far more than a celebration of chocolate.
“The Bougainville Chocolate Festival is more than just a celebration of cocoa — it is an investment in our farmers, our communities, and our economy,” Mr Dovaro said. “It provides a platform for knowledge sharing, networking, and creating market linkages that directly benefit over 50,000 cocoa farmers across Bougainville.”
Driving Bougainville onto the Global Stage
Bougainville has steadily built a reputation in the global premium cocoa market, with beans that have earned recognition for their quality and unique flavour profiles. The festival has been central to this progress, serving as both a showcase for excellence and a driver of new opportunities.
“Every award our cocoa earns overseas, and every new business born from this festival, proves Bougainville can compete at an international level,” Mr Dovaro said. “By lifting cocoa quality and expanding value-adding, we are helping households boost their incomes while strengthening Bougainville cocoa as a key pillar of our economy.”
What to Expect at the 2025 Festival
Over three days, festival-goers can look forward to a rich programme, including:
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Cocoa bean competitions judged by experts who will provide valuable feedback on quality and flavour.
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Seminars and workshops covering farming techniques, value-adding, and business opportunities.
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Exhibitions featuring cocoa products, farming tools, agri-technologies, and innovative small business solutions.
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Awareness sessions on cocoa quality standards and compliance with the Bougainville Agriculture Commodities Regulatory Authority (BACRA) regulations.
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Tastings and demonstrations of chocolates and downstream cocoa products, along with displays of complementary commodities such as rice, coconut, spices, and livestock.
The festival has been a launchpad for award-winning brands like Bougainville Nunu’s Black Opal and Twilight chocolates. This year, organisers are eager to see even more creativity, from cocoa-based drinks and cakes to boutique, artisan chocolates.
“Our vision is to make Bougainville synonymous with premium cocoa, innovation, and sustainable livelihoods,” Mr Dovaro added.
A Partnership for Growth
Launched in 2016, the Bougainville Chocolate Festival is an initiative of the Autonomous Bougainville Government, implemented in partnership with the Governments of Papua New Guinea, Australia, and New Zealand. Over the years, it has grown into a major platform for strengthening the cocoa value chain — from the farm gate to international markets.
For Bougainville’s thousands of cocoa farmers, the festival is not only a celebration of their hard work but also a gateway to opportunity, linking local communities with global buyers and setting the stage for long-term socio-economic empowerment.
