PCA Connect Mexico Ends Its First Run

The Premium Cigar Association has wrapped PCA Connect Mexico 2026, a new international market-development initiative that moved through Mexico City, Queretaro, Guadalajara, Puebla, and Riviera Maya from August 24 to 30. Unlike a traditional trade show, the program was a curated roadshow combining education from The Cigar Academy with brand experiences, networking, and consumer engagement. Participating brands included Rocky Patel, Oliva, AJ Fernandez, J.C. Newman, Perdomo, Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust, Joya de Nicaragua, Casa Turrent, and others, supported by local importers and distributors. The model is part of PCA's broader push for year-round international engagement beyond the annual convention. For a U.S.-centric trade group, it is a notable shift toward cultivating markets in-country rather than waiting for buyers to come to New Orleans.