Anna Sebastian rounds up her pick of the year’s calendar of bar events around the world, from London to Abidjan.
It’s hard to believe that this time fi ve years ago, the world was shutting down. Bar shows were cancelled, travel plans put permanently on hold and guest shifts moved online. Five years later, the bar industry has gone from social distancing to social ‘calendaring’, with shows, cocktail weeks and activations so frequent the jetsetting bartender’s itinerary rivals the rich and famous. But, of course, you can’t do everything. So where should you go in 2025? My guide has the must sees but also some leftfield picks. So if you’re someone who doesn’t often travel for work, maybe this is the year to take a dip. There’s so much to see.
Edinburgh Bar Show
6-9 April
Shining a light on the Scottish bar scene the Edinburgh Bar Show is a collaborative project between Panda & Sons’ Iain McPherson, Gary Anderson and Jamie Faulds, the team behind the hugely popular Edinburgh Cocktail Week. A teaser has been released of the line-up, which will include the UK debut of The Johnnie Walker Drop activation at Johnnie Walker Princes Street, a seminar on mindful drinking opportunities and a breathwork workshop with Lillet and Camille Vidal, and Bar Snack (NYC) x The Glendronach takeover at Nauticus. Edinburgh is buzzing with late-night bars and if you fi nd yourself looking for a spot head to Uno Mas owned by the wonderful Siân Buchan.
Gulf Bar Show Dubai
7-8 April
The first bar show to arrive in the Middle East will be hosted in Dubai at the Madinat Jumeirah hotel and unsurprisingly there will be no corners cut. With more than 200 exhibitors, 40 seminars and over 50 bespoke tastings and a range of local and international guests descending on Dubai, this show will sparkle throughout the desert with several guest shifts each evening. A great line-up of speakers includes Priyanka Blah of The Dram Attic and Dré Masso, co-founder of Altos tequila. Firm favourites of the bar scene include LPM for that iconic Tomatini, Zuma for the complete vibes and Amelia for the party.
Kuala Lumpur Cocktail Week
22-7 April
A spirited celebration, Kuala Lumpur Cocktail Week is a consumer-focused hybrid event showcasing cocktail bars and fi ne spirits, bar takeovers and a festival village bar show putting the spotlight on spirits, products and people. It is a non-profit event with founding members from Penrose, Reka, Three X Co and Trigona.
Mirror Hospitality Expo Bratislava
5-6 May
Central Europe’s big bar show is returning for a third year at the Radisson Blu Carlton Hotel in the heart of Bratislava. The two-day event provides a blend of educational experiences, local Slovak brands, tastings of both food and drink, and 28 bars from across the globe participating in seminars, masterclasses and guest shifts. The educational two days are set within a broader cocktail week, 4-8 May, with more guest shifts at various venues, pop-ups and activities to share the locality.
CLASS Bar Awards
20 May
The major awards of the UK bar calendar sees the great and the good of bartending descend on London. Satellite events now straddle the Battersea Arts Centre-based ceremony, with parties and guests shifts aplenty.
Lisbon Bar Show
20-21 May
The biggest cocktail and hospitality event in Portugal is back. It presents several exhibitors, workshops, seminars and cocktail competitions, highlighting international trends in this sector. It always has a great line-up of speakers and is set in a culinary capital in the sunshine.
Puerto Rico Cocktail Week (PRCW)
25-27 May & 9-15 November
Think fun, music, education and great drinks in a beautiful setting and, most importantly, supporting the local community and generating economic and social growth in areas outside the metro region. The latter event is seven days of immersive learning, networking and cultural exchange that highlight the best of hospitality and cocktail craftsmanship. All PRCW events are designed to support the industry through Tip Jar, an emergency fund that assists hospitality professionals in Puerto Rico by providing financial aid during difficult times, along with access to mental health services and professional development opportunities.
Roma Bar Show
26-27 May
Set in the picturesque city of Rome, this bar show is Italy’s leading event when it comes to Italian mixology and education. Expect a huge focus on Italian heritage, products and brands mixed with brands and spirits from around the world.
BCB Brooklyn
10-11 June
Not that you need a reason to head to New York, but if you did, then there’s no better one than this show. Two days of bars, brands, tastings, events and activations throughout the city. Be prepared to be travelling back and forth from Manhattan to Brooklyn a lot, but there is never not a bar with a cold beer or cocktail close by. The show’s education programme is headed up by Lynnette Marrero, so you know it will be great. Do not miss out on a couple of new hotspots – Clemente Bar, Schmuck and, if you can make the chicken noodle soup in Employees Only, then my friend you have completed New York.
BCB London
30 June-1 July
For the first time ever BCB comes to London’s Tobacco Dock for its inaugural trade show. Organisers have also confirmed that Jack Sotti has been appointed the show’s brand ambassador. In the lead-up to the main event, the BCB London Roadshow will visit cities across the UK and Ireland, offering exclusive educational sessions to the hospitality community. These stops include Manchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Cardiff , Dublin, and Belfast, providing a glimpse into what BCB London will offer.
TOTC
20-25 July
Held annually in New Orleans, Tales of the Cocktail is one of the most important events in the industry, primarily attracting bartenders, bar owners, and industry professionals, while also welcoming cocktail enthusiasts. One of the key pillars is education and it hosts some of the best seminars with speakers from around the world. It is the host of the coveted Spirited Awards, a ceremony which recognises bartenders, bars, hotels, teams, writers and visionaries from around the world. New Orleans is the home of some of the most iconic bars in the world, the home of many cocktails and, of course, the home of the carnage that proceeds in dive bar Alibi in the early hours. Enter with caution, drink lots of water, don’t do the jello shots and look after yourself and each other.
Barra Mexico
12-13 July
Described by many as the beacon of spirits education and industry visibility, Barra Mexico is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. It has been at the forefront of sustainability, has eliminated single-use plastics and has reduced the carbon footprint of the festival. It was founded by Paula García and Ara Carvallo, who have cleverly created a platform that brings together professionals from all corners of the beverage world. Set in the heart of Mexico City, you are surrounded by some of the world’s best bars.
Accra Bar Show
5-10 August
The 2025 edition will feature events including exhibitions, tasting and pairing sessions, conferences and seminars, as well as industry mixers. This year, it will also introduce the Accra Bar Week, bringing an exciting wave of cocktail creativity. Bar teams and bartenders from various countries, including Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya, alongside more international bars to be confirmed, will showcase their skills at Accra's hottest venues.
Perfect Serve Bar Show
9-10 September
Set in Amsterdam, one of the coolest cities in the world, this slightly smaller show is incredibly engaging, fun, laid back and easy to navigate. Last year saw over 3,000 visitors enjoy the show that legendary duo Timo Janse and Tess Posthumus set up 11 years ago to inspire, educate and network the drinks industry. Amsterdam is one of the best and prettiest European cities to enjoy, especially in September, with a great collection of bars and restaurants to enjoy – in particular The Flying Dutchman, Super Lyan and the new Rosewood Hotel headed up by Yann Bouvignies opening in May.
Baltic Bar Show
20-21 September
The Baltic Bar Show is set to return to Vilnius, Lithuania, for its second edition after the huge success of the first show, which was held in an old prison. Launched by power duo Greta Skamarociute and David Brumberg, 2025 will continue to showcase the best of the Baltic region, the people and the bar scene but also invite international guests, products and brands to be part of the event. Hosted seminars on a variety of topics from trends to drinking culture, wellness and business will take be held by a variety of keynote speakers. It is energetic, has a beautiful rawness to it and a very wholesome feeling to the show and community. Plus bars stay open late and there is no shortage of delicious Lithuanian food and fruity (but strong) local liquor.
BCB Berlin
6-8 October
Recognised as Europe’s premier bar and beverage trade show, BCB is a behemoth of bar owners, bartenders, distributors and manufacturers from nearly 90 countries. While there is a strong education programme and B2B networking, you can also expect an even stronger line-up of parties and events such as the Campari Academy, the education programme headed up by Monica Berg which sees a series of events, seminars, talks and guest shifts. Berlin is not shy of big clubs and dive bars and apparently (according to Dan Nevsky) Bei Schlawinchen is the best/worst one to be in.
The World’s 50 Best Bars
8 October
The annual celebration takes place in Hong Kong this year, bringing together the great and the good of the global bar community like no other. Not just the ceremony with the announcement of The World’s Best Bar list, it is now a week-long cocktail festival with the host city jam packed with guest shifts, events and networking like you’ve never seen. North America’s 50 Best is also one to look out for – this year in Vancouver for the first time on 28-30 April – and also Asia’s 50 Best Bars, dates and location to be confirmed.
London Cocktail Week
9-19 October
The big UK cocktail celebration, London Cocktail Week 2025 was founded by industry luminaries Hannah Sharman-Cox and Siobhan Payne. This 11-day festival will feature hundreds of participating bars, each crafting exclusive £8 cocktails for wristband holders. From masterclasses to tastings, parties and events there is something for everyone to enjoy while they soak up the dynamic and exciting hospitality scene.
Lagos Cocktail Week
October - TBC
Lagos Cocktail Week, Africa's largest cocktail festival, is an annual celebration of Nigeria’s vibrant cocktail culture. Launched in October 2014 by Lara Rawa, chief executive of Eventi Cocktails, the festival features a variety of events, including bar tours, workshops, conferences and a cocktail village, all designed to educate, inform, and be fun. It brings the community together through culture, drinks and people and is gaining momentum in the global bar community.
Abidjan Cocktail Week
31 Oct-10 Nov
Now in its second edition this is the only drinks event in Ivory Coast that showcases some of the country’s premium spirit brands and key industry players. This year’s signature ACW event is dedicated to ‘craft cocktails’ and ‘cultural relevance’, as it highlights the very best of local ingredients.
Bangkok Bar Show
November 2025
Located in one of the Asia’s most vibrant cities, the Bangkok Bar Show is an event that celebrates the South East Asian bar industry, providing seminars and masterclasses, together with countless guest bartenders from world-renowned bars. It aims to showcase what Thailand’s various regions can offer an international audience. Think incredible flavours, food, ingredients and warm and smiley hospitality.
Athens Bar Show
2-6 November
Seen by many as the last hurrah of the bar season, this show has a special magic about it, located as it is in the city centre and headed up by Babis Kaidalidis. Expect warm hospitality, great food, bars that stay open way beyond your bedtime and lots of street drinking. The show’s outside location creates a festival feeling, culminating in a closing party before everyone spills out on to the streets in search of a drink at the legendary Clumsies, Baba au Rum, The Bar in Front of the Bar or a non0descript spot for local beer and souvlaki before a final tipple at Barra Negro.
The She Side
9-10 November
A community project for professional women in the hospitality industry that launched last year is the passion project of Chiara Buzzi and Daniela Garcea, who brought together an amazing line up of speakers, workshops and talks. Their drive to make positive change is infectious and inspiring.
Ajabu Cocktails & Spirits Festival Capetown
19-23 November
Happening twice a year in March across Johannesburg and Capetown, and then again in Capetown in November, this festival’s aim is to connect across the continent and beyond, bring people together, inspire and innovate and celebrate Africa’s diversity, people and ingredients. Behind the project are Colin Asare-Appiah and Mark Holmes, with the likes of Cassandara Eichhoff on the advisory board. The line-up sees local and international come together for guest shifts, events, great food and drink.
What really makes these shows special? It’s more than about cocktails; it’s the connection they bring to the community – globally.