In 2026, the famous cigar lounge was the Urs Portmann Tabakwaren AG no longer welcome in their usual place at Man's World. The rules of the game for cigar lounges are becoming more demanding: ever new changes to the law mean that cigars are increasingly being lumped together with cigarettes or vapes. Yet cigars stand for tradition, quality and conscious enjoyment - characterised by craftsmanship, not mass production. This is precisely why we need formats that keep this culture alive: with ideas, suitable locations and concepts that adapt to new requirements.

2026: New setting, different framework

At Man's World 2026, this adaptation is very tangible: the long-standing indoor space for the cigar lounge no longer met the requirements of Hall 550 in Zurich and was no longer desirable as a cigar lounge.

The good news is that the culture of indulgence is not disappearing - it is finding new ways.

With our long-standing partners Urs Portmann Tabakwaren AG and India tent and new contacts from ROK Humidor a new cigar lounge was created with Warm air supply and Ventilation. However, the idea didn't quite work out: it was too cool, the smoke extraction was „solala“, and the ambience didn't come close to the original cigar lounge.

So why make a cigar lounge at all?

Yes, it was cool. And yes, the smoke extractor didn't work perfectly. But that's exactly the point: Despite an undesirable solution at the original location, a deliberate presence was shown. Not as an act of defiance, but as a clear message: Cigars are part of Man's World - and they remain visible. Even if the setting seemed provisional, it showed attitude: you adapt, find ways, build solutions - and don't let yourself be driven away.

Cigar culture cannot simply be organised away.

55 years of cigar culture in Switzerland

The Urs Portmann Tabakwaren AG stands for experience and expertise: specialising in cigars from all over the world, pipe tobaccos, pipes and accessories - and to this day also with an international clientele.

The credo is: The customer is a guest. Aficionados and those who want to become one will find a contact person here who can provide detailed advice. More than 50 years of experience in the tobacco trade and import are a strong foundation - and an obvious basis when putting together a cigar lounge with exclusive brands.

We will not be driven away!

I received honest customer feedback that captures the mood. One visitor describes the afternoon like this - representative of so many opinions:

I was at Man's World Zurich today and treated myself to an enjoyable afternoon. I visited the cigar lounge with correspondingly high expectations - unfortunately I was left somewhat disappointed this time. For me, the cigar lounge is always one of the highlights of the trade fair. In previous years, it was a place to linger, enjoy and switch off. This year, however, it was located in a tent in the inner courtyard, which would have been fine in principle. When I entered, however, I missed the inviting ambience: The furnishings seemed rather sparse, it was chilly, and both the sofas and the floor quickly led to cold feet - even my hands quickly became uncomfortably cold. Overall, the atmosphere wasn't really cosy for me and didn't invite me to linger any longer. Especially in the anniversary year (10 years of Man's World), I personally expected much more, which I think is a shame. Despite everything, I treated myself to two cigars and didn't end the visit completely without enjoyment.

ECLEA spot at Man's World

In the cigar lounge was ECLEA not represented at Man's World, but at Man's World it is. ECLEA is a Swiss manufacturer of Guyaberas (cigar shirts). Practical use shows that the fabric does not absorb the smell of smoke - really.

A Sincere THANK YOU to the exhibitors! Respect!

A huge one, A heartfelt THANK YOU to the exhibitors: What was achieved here deserves real respect. Present all day, approachable, attentive - with passion, humour and a level of expertise that cannot be matched. Despite the new situation, the atmosphere remained strong: there was advice, explanations, organisation, smiles - and above all, enjoyment was made possible. It was precisely this attitude that characterised the cigar culture at this year's Man's World Cigar Lounge: steadfast and sovereign.