Peppers (Capsicum spp.) with pungent (chili, hot pepper) and non-pungent (sweet pepper) fruits are important spice and vegetable crops worldwide. There are five domesticated species of the genus Capsicum, C. annuum being the most widely cultivated. Over the past 25 years, the pepper breeding program at AVRDC The World Vegetable Center has focused on improving this species (hot and sweet peppers) with respect to incorporation of pest resistance and developing male sterile lines. In this presentation, we briefly share the research activities of AVRDC’s pepper breeding program.